When visiting the northern Greek region of Kavala we are often pointed in the direction of Thassos, the city of Kavala, and the world-renown beaches that lay the coastline. And for a good reason, Kavala is full of beautiful destinations along her shorelines but we cannot overlook the neighbouring regional units of Kavala, Serres and Drama, as each offers a variety of beautiful opportunities.

The city of Drama was built at the foot of Mt. Falakro in a verdant area with an abundant water source and is the capital of the Drama regional unit. In the heart of the city is the wonderful green park of Santa Barbara boasting small lakes, waterfalls, and fountains created from springs. The town is full of parks and all around there are restaurants, bars, coffee shops and trees providing a comfortable shade which coupled with the water makes the air cool and refreshing. We suggest you take the park trails, cross over the wooden footbridges, and walk the city oasis which is home to swans, ducks, fish and the call of Nightingales.

The city also hosts a large number of cultural events including the Drama International Short Film Festival which is Greece’s leading short film festival and is hosted during the last week of September (20 – 26.2020.) Follow this link to the Festival’s official website.

While you are here you should also check out** the archaeology museum** which houses the cultural history of Drama dating from the Middle Stone Age, till 1914. For more information here, you won’t regret it.

If you happen to be in Drama during the winter months we suggest you try skiing at Mt. Falakros, only 44km north, for more information click here.

The cheapest way to get from Kavala to Drama is by bus which costs 3-6e and takes 50 minutes with services that depart hourly and operate every day. If you decide to rent a car for your adventure do not forget that Phillipi’s archaeological site lies halfway between Drama and Kavala. We have already described what the Phillipi site looks like on our webpage.

You can find more information, services and news about the Prefecture of Drama here and here.


At a distance of 88km to the west of Kavala is the city of Serres, the capital of the Serres region, which is home to a rich history dating back to the ancient times. While in the city of Serres you shouldn’t expect much of a crowd as this is a quieter, less frequented area. The region of Serres is blessed with its natural beauty, rich flora and fauna in the beautiful landscapes of mountains, rivers and caves that are all worth exploring.

The Cave of Alistrati is 50km east of Serres, 25km S.W. of Drama, 65km N.W. of Kavala and 6km from the town of Alistrati. It is considered one of the largest and most beautiful caves not only of Greece but of Europe. The variety and uniqueness of the stalactites and stalagmites are breathtaking. The cave is said to be the passageway that Hades took Persophone down into the underworld after he kidnapped her. It is worth imagining. If you have your own or rental car the town of Alistrati is easy enough to navigate using Google Maps, if you are taking the bus you can reach Alistrati from any neighbouring cities for relatively cheap (3-6e) and for a few euros take a taxi up to the cave. Alistra is open all year round and you can find more information here.

The main archaeological attraction of the cities prefecture is the archaeological site of Amphipolis, the official site, which is located 55km south of the city of Serres and west of Kavala hosting an astounding number of artifacts dating back from the prehistoric and Byzantine period. We have written an article here about the finer details of the experience. If you are interested in day tours to Amphipolis you will want to check with local agencies as tours begin around 35e from Kavala/Serres and will vary from different locations.


If you are entering Greece through the N.W Serres region or you are travelling further into Kavala’s neighbouring regions we highly suggest visiting Lake Kerkini located approximately 60km N.W of Serres. The lake and surrounding area is home to one of the premier bird-watching sites in Greece and is situated along the migratory flyway for birds en route to the Aegean Sea, the Balkan region, the Black Sea, the Hungarian steppes and beyond. If you visit Kerkini, it is worth visiting the old railway station of Vyroneia (history here) for a coffee, cake and a bite of Balkan history.

You can find more information, services and news about the Prefecture of Serres here.

Lastly, Roupel Bunker is a highly interesting historical place and everybody interested in local and regional military history should visit it. The bunker was built in 1914 and became famous for its defense during the German invasion of Greece in April 1941. It is located 40km north of the city of Serres and 2km from the Bulgarian border. The official website of Serres provides more information here. It is free to visit and the tour guides are army personnel who know their history very well.