Thasos

The green island of the northern Aegean, where pine forests ring emerald bays and a coastal road links ancient Greek ruins with marble beaches.

Thasos is Greece's northernmost Aegean island, part of the East Macedonia and Thrace region and only about 8 km from the mainland coast at Kavala. Roughly round in shape, it is circled by a coastal road about 95 km long. Dense pine forests cover its mountains, which rise to 1,204 m at Mount Ypsarion, earning it the nickname "the Green Island", and it is known for its white marble, honey, olives and walnuts. Ancient Thasos was founded in the 7th century BC by settlers from Paros and grew rich on gold mining and the marble trade; today's capital, Limenas, is built on top of the ancient city. Where to go: on the north coast, the capital Limenas has the ancient agora, the archaeological museum, the acropolis and the ancient theater, with Marble Beach to the east; on the east coast are the mountain villages of Panagia and Potamia, plus Golden Beach and Paradise Beach; the south coast has the ancient quarry at Aliki, the Monastery of the Archangel Michael and the natural pool of Giola; on the southwest coast, Potos and Limenaria are lively resort towns, while inland lie the old villages of Theologos and Kastro. The best time to visit is Jun–Sep when the sea is warm, with Jul–Aug the peak season, drawing mainly visitors from the Balkans and Eastern Europe; May and October suit hiking and visiting the ruins, and most hotels close in winter. Getting there: ferries run frequently from Kavala to Skala Prinou (about 75 minutes) or from Keramoti to Limenas (about 35 minutes); Kavala airport is about 15 minutes by car from the Keramoti port. Buses circle the island, but a car or scooter gives you the most flexibility. Allow 3–5 days; a one-day drive around the island takes in most of the beaches and mountain villages.

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Where to eat