Geographical and historical region of Greece
Photo: en:user:Papatrexas (creation) Christaras A (upload in WikiCommons), Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Western Thrace is a region in Greece. In Greek, it is referred simply as Thrace (Greek: Θράκη), as there is no other Thrace in Greece. Eastern Thrace is part of Turkey.
By road
Some private companies running comfortable buses are Simeonidis Tours, Crazy Holidays and the low cost Alpar Tourism (€20).
By train
A railway winds through the mountains from Thessaloniki to Strymonas (where the line branches to Sofia), Serres, Drama, Xanthi, Komotini and Alexandroupolis; it doesn't serve Kavala on the coast.
By bus
Even the smallest rural villages can be accessed by using a combination of local run buses.
By train
Frequent stops all along the region's sole train line and cities dotted along the Evros River. A scenic route for some but rather slow for the busy traveler.
By boat
SAOS will sail you to Samothraki daily or even more frequently during the summer period.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Alexandroupolis · Regional · AXD
Loading places around the airport…
Administrative centre of the Greek region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, with a sizable Muslim/Turkish community
Coastal city with ferry links to Samothrace
An old town with pleasant cobbled narrow streets and old buildings
A typical Greek town, but well worth a detour if you are interested in Byzantine and Ottoman styles of art.
A town with a 12th century Byzantine style church adorned with numerous frescoes.
the ancient Ismaros, the largest and most important of all Greek colonies of Western Thrace, mentioned by Homer in the Odyssey.
The largest and most important of the villages of Nestos river near the National Park of East Macedonia and Thrace. The old town still preserves its traditional flair, attracting plenty of tourists from Thessaloniki and other Greek cities.
Lake and site of Anastasiopolis a Byzantine archaeological site
One of the wealthiest cities of Ancient Greece,
Comprises freshwater lakes and ponds that offer refuge for birds and various mammals. Further north extends the “Kotza Orman" (Great Forest), once a very large forest but today restricted to some fragments along both sides of the river.
Articles and travel topics about Western Thrace and Greece.
Find out how much does a trip to Greece cost in 2026. Compare daily budgets for island ferries, hotels, taverna dining, and ancient archaeological sites.
8 min read
Plan an ideal 10-day Greek island-hopping itinerary for 2026. Explore Athens, Naxos, and Santorini with ferry tips, timings, and realistic costs.
8 min read
Find the best time to visit Greece in 2026. Compare island ferry seasons, sea temperatures, Meltemi winds, ancient ruins weather, and hotel costs.
8 min read
Compare taking a ferry versus flying from Athens to Santorini. Examine transit times, ticket costs, luggage rules, seasickness risks, and scenery tips.
6 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.