Alexandroupoli

Although written off in some books about Greece as being mainly a military base, Alexandroupoli is in fact a very pleasant seaside resort with a long promenade and a long stretch of sandy beach. It is very much a family resort, and the beach has lots of facilities for children, as well as water-skiing, parascending and other watersports for the adults. 

Alexandroupoli, Close to the Border with Turkey

Narrow Old Town Streets

Beyond the promenade is the old part of the town, a warren of narrow streets with a delightful mix of workshops, junk shops, food stores, souvenir shops, bars and several good restaurants and cafés. In the evening the promenade fills with Greeks – locals and visitors alike – doing their evening volta, or parade up and down, prior to eating and drinking. It is a lovely sight, when you will see grandparents walking hand-in-hand with tiny grandchildren, and groups of girls and boys taking the chance to eye each other.

The Alexandroupoli Lighthouse

Also on the promenade is the town’s most notable sight, its lighthouse, which was built in 1800 and is illuminated at night to add to the atmosphere. Alexandroupoli is a port as well, with ferries to the North-East Aegean Islands and as far south as Rhodes and Kos in the Dodecanese.

It is also the closest town to the Turkish border (about 45kms/28 miles by road), and has rail links with Istanbul in Turkey, Sofia in Bulgaria, and with Athens via Thessaloniki.

Despite these links the town is not as multi-cultural as Komotini or Xanthi, as it only expanded in 1878 during the Russian-Turkish war when the Russians turned it into a purpose-built modern city. It was known then by its Turkish name of Dedeagac, which it had had since the 15th century, when it was merely a small and insignificant fishing village.

It only acquired its modern name in 1919 after the then Greek King, Alexandros. It still is a military base, and you will certainly see soldiers in the streets, but it is much more pleasant than that limited description implies.

Alexandroupoli Museums

The city has an Archaeological Museum, an Ethnological Museum, and a Natural History Museum.

Where to Stay in Alexandroupoli


Other Thrace pages

  • The city of Xanthi in Thrace is a lively university town with several museums, old mansions, and one of the best markets in Thrace.

    Xanthi in Thrace, Eastern Greece

    The city of Xanthi in Thrace is a lively university town with several museums, old mansions, and one of the best markets in Thrace.

  • Philippi is an ancient archaeological site near Kavala in East Macedonia and Thrace and is famous for being the place where the apostle St Paul was imprisoned.

    Philippi

    Philippi is an ancient archaeological site near Kavala in East Macedonia and Thrace and is famous for being the place where the apostle St Paul was imprisoned.

  • The Bradt Guide to Northern Greece is a detailed guide to Thessaloniki, Halkidiki, Macedonia, Thrace, The Pelion, The Sporades and the rest of Northern Greece.

    Northern Greece Guide

    The Bradt Guide to Northern Greece is a detailed guide to Thessaloniki, Halkidiki, Macedonia, Thrace, The Pelion, The Sporades and the rest of Northern Greece.

  • Macedonia and Thrace are the regions in Greece where travelers will find Thessaloniki, Mount Athos monasteries, Halkidiki and sites like Dion and Pella.

    Macedonia and Thrace

    Macedonia and Thrace are the regions in Greece where travelers will find Thessaloniki, Mount Athos monasteries, Halkidiki and sites like Dion and Pella.

  • Komotini is a town in eastern Thrace in Greece, with many Turkish influences, and it is also home to the Pomak people.

    Komotini in Thrace, Greece

    Komotini is a town in eastern Thrace in Greece, with many Turkish influences, and it is also home to the Pomak people.

  • The Evros Delta National Park is one of the most important wetlands in the whole of Europe, and a magnet for birdwatchers, with nearby accommodation.

    Evros Delta National Park in Thrace, Greece

    The Evros Delta National Park is one of the most important wetlands in the whole of Europe, and a magnet for birdwatchers, with nearby accommodation.

  • The Dadia Forest in eastern Greece is famous for wildlife, especially birds, with accommodation and information available at the Dadia Ecotourism Centre.

    Dadia Forest Reserve and Ecotourism Centre

    The Dadia Forest in eastern Greece is famous for wildlife, especially birds, with accommodation and information available at the Dadia Ecotourism Centre.

  • The village of Avdira, or Abdera, with its ancient archaeological site is close to Xanthi in Thrace, Greece, and has its own beach and nearby is Lake Vistonida.

    Avdira (or Abdera) and its ancient archaeological site in Thrace

    The village of Avdira, or Abdera, with its ancient archaeological site is close to Xanthi in Thrace, Greece, and has its own beach and nearby is Lake Vistonida.

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Latest Posts

RSS

  1. Florina: A Train Journey to a Most Charming Winter Destination

    Full of life and creativity, the northern Greek city of Florina will surprise you with the number of things it has to offer.

    Read More

  2. Kavala: 5 Cultural Experiences

    Follow roads less tourist-trodden to plenty of unexpected sights and stops in this charming historical city.

    Read More

  3. Thessaloniki Closer to Getting its Holocaust Museum

    The plan for a modern museum, illustrating to visitors the story of the Jews of Thessaloniki, has been in the works for a decade.

    Read More

  4. A Sweet Taste of Autumn at the Chestnut, Wine, and Cheese Festival of Griva

    Every autumn, in a small village on the slopes of Mount Paiko, the local harvest is celebrated in style.

    Read More

  5. Hollywood Returns to Thessaloniki

    Film producers are increasingly choosing Greece as a location, not just for shooting, but for post-production as well.

    Read More

  6. New Archaeological Museum in Sparti Gets Green Light

    The construction of a new archaeological museum in the Peloponnese town of Sparti has received the green light, the Greek Culture Ministry announced recently.

    Read More

  7. Pinterest: Athens, Santorini, Mykonos in Top 50 European Cities With Most Beautiful Homes

    Athens, Santorini and Mykonos are among the top 50 European cities with the most picturesque homes, according to research released recently by the Alan Boswell Group. Experts from the 35-year-old UK i…

    Read More

  8. ‘Thessaloniki: A Thousand Views, ONE CLICK!’ – Photo Contest

    A photo competition aiming to reflect Thessaloniki’s creative and original vibe and promote the city’s European Information Center has been recently announced.

    Read More

  9. Elafonisos Looking to Appeal to Remote Workers

    Elafonisos, a tiny island south of the Peloponnese, is taking steps to attract remote workers through an initiative launched by the Global Hellenic Diaspora network and supported by the island’s munic…

    Read More

  10. Athens is the World’s Leading Cultural Destination for 2022

    The city of Athens was awarded top honors as the World’s Leading Cultural Destination for 2022 at the World Travel Awards (WTA). held recently in Muscat, Oman.

    Read More