Thassos
Thassos Travel Guide
Thassos is the northernmost Greek island, located in the Aegean Sea. It occupies an area of 393 m2, with a population of over 13,000 inhabitants. It is also called the Green Island because of the evergreen plants - coniferous, deciduous and olive trees. In the past 9/10 of the island was covered by abundant vegetation, but trees in the southern parts were devastated by fire in 1980 and the newly planted trees cannot yet overgrow the areas. The terrain is mostly mountainous but it also boast numerous beaches and good road network. The perimeter of the island is 98 km and may be passed by car along the main road that follows the coastline. Thassos has drinking water, no ban on direct human consumption.
The island can be reached by ferries departing from Kavala, Nea Peramos (not regularly) and Keramoti. The ferries departing from Kavala arrive at the port of Skala Prinos on the west coast, they travel a little longer and prices are slightly higher. The Keramoti ferry arrives in Limenas, the capital of Thassos situated in the northeastern part. The journey from Keramoti is just 30 minutes and ferries run every 30 minutes in the summer. You will notice that the ferry is followed all the time by seagulls and people throw them bread and other small things to eat. Seagulls are so accustomed to this that they can grab something directly from your hand. It is best to have a private car to drive between the villages and visit any beach you want but you can use the public buses on the island as well.
Thassos has rich history and according to the legend it was named after the son of the Phoenician king Agenor, who set out to find his missing sister Europa but was fascinated by the island and stayed there. Before becoming part of Greece in 1913, Thassos was capture by the Persians, Arabs, Venetians, Turks and Bulgarians, so today you can see archaeological remains from different cultures. The most important historical sights are in Limenas - the Ancient Acropolis, Agora and Theater.
Thassos offers both calm and dynamic holidays, depending on the place you choose to stay. Do not expect lively nightlife and sunrise-welcoming bars, although beaches get crowded with tourists in the summer, but yet the island provides lots of services and facilities. The biggest settlements are Limenas and Limenaria, there is the most extensive range of services but plenty of accommodation and food options are available all over the island. The hotels are generally small and family run, offering rooms and studios without food, but there also larger hotels of four and five star category.
Thassos is a popular destination for tourists mainly because of its various and numerous beaches. Some are sandy, others gravel or mixed but the water is crystal clear anywhere. However, keep in mind that sea life is here and except for mussels, sea stars and small crabs, you can encounter sea urchins. Urchins love rocky spots so look carefully for prickly brown balls in the water if the beach has rocks or stones in the water. For you safety wear aqua shoes - you may not need them because water is transparent and it is easy to see the urchins but thus you will feel safer and walk on the sea floor without fear. The sandy beaches are safe from urchins and they are well organized with beach bars, sunbeds and parasols.
