Western Thrace, Greece

Western Thrace highlights

Thrace has a dramatic natural scenery, from the lush delta of the Evros River to the deeply forested Rhodopi Mountains, and a unique mix of cultures, religions and languages, forged by centuries of various empires and migration flows.

Other places we know in Greece

Antirrio - Known for bridge, fortress, viewpoint

Arachova - Known for free time, mountain town

Argos - Known for ancient settlement, ancient theatre, archaeological site, castle, orthodox cathedral; archaeological site is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Arta - Known for bridge, byzantine empire, castle, museum, orthodox cathedral

Athens - Known for archaeological site, museum; historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Chalkida - Known for beach, castle, coastal town, marina, museum, viewpoint

Corinth - Known for ancient theatre, archaeological site, beach, bridge, coastal town, fortress, landmark, viewpoint

Delphi - Known for ancient theatre, archaeological site, museum; archaeological site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Diros - Known for cave, coastal town

Dodoni - Known for ancient theatre, archaeological site; archaeological site is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Epidaurus - Known for ancient theatre, archaeological site; archaeological site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Galaxidi - Known for coastal town, free time, marina

Hosios Loukas - Known for orthodox monastery; monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Igoumenitsa - Known for beach, coastal town, seaport

Ioannina - Known for ancient settlement, fortress, lake, museum, park, venetian empire, orthodox monastery

Kalamata - Known for beach, castle, museum, orthodox cathedral

Koroni - Known for beach, coastal town, fortress, viewpoint, orthodox church, orthodox monastery; fortress is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Lamia - Known for castle

Larissa - Known for ancient theatre, archaeological site; ancient theatre is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Livadeia - Known for castle, medieval old town, river, waterfall

Messene - Known for ancient settlement, ancient theatre, archaeological site, landmark, viewpoint; archaeological site is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Mesolongi (Messolonghi) - Known for beach, coastal town, lake, landmark, wildlife

Meteora - Known for landmark, nature, viewpoint, orthodox monastery; monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Methoni - Known for beach, castle, coastal town, viewpoint; castle is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Metsovo - Known for architecture, mountain town, museum, viewpoint, winery

Monemvasia - Known for ancient settlement, beach, coastal town, island, medieval old town, viewpoint, orthodox church

Mycenae - Known for ancient settlement, archaeological site, viewpoint; archaeological site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Mystras - Known for ancient settlement, archaeological site, viewpoint, orthodox monastery; archaeological site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Nafpaktos - Known for beach, castle, coastal town, marina

Nafplio - Known for beach, coastal town, fortress, marina, viewpoint; fortress is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Olympia - Known for archaeological site, museum; archaeological site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Palace of Nestor - Known for archaeological site, architecture, landmark

Parga - Known for beach, castle, coastal town

Patras - Known for archaeological site, beach, castle, coastal town, museum, seaport, viewpoint, winery, orthodox cathedral

Porto Kagio - Known for beach, coastal town, marina, viewpoint

Preveza - Known for castle, coastal town, marina, museum, seaport

Pylos - Known for beach, bridge, castle, coastal town, fortress, marina, venetian empire, wildlife

Rio - Known for beach, bridge, coastal town, fortress, seaport, viewpoint

Sparta - Known for ancient settlement, archaeological site

Thermopylae - Known for landmark, monument

Trikala - Known for castle, park

Volos - Known for ancient settlement, archaeological site, beach, coastal town, marina, museum, nature, seaport

Last updated on: 9 August 2019

Western Thrace description

Thrace is an area of amazing natural beauty, a land where Greek legend has placed the mythical home of Orpheus. It is famous for its pristine, beautiful countryside that makes it a paradise for outdoor recreation, adventure and exploration. You will have an unforgettable experience in nature of Northern Greece.

Western Thrace (West Thrace) is a geographic and historical region of Greece, between the Nestos and Evros rivers in the northeast of the country; East Thrace, which lies east of the river Evros, forms the European part of Turkey, and the area to the north, in Bulgaria, is known as Northern Thrace.

Topographically, Thrace alternates between mountain-enclosed basins of varying size and deeply cut river valleys. It is divided into the three regional units (Xanthi, Rhodope and Evros), which together with the Macedonian regional units (Drama, Kavala and Thasos) form the Region of East Macedonia and Thrace.

This part of Greece has it all: from the Rodopi Mountain Range National Park, the Mt. Saos (the tallest mountain in the Aegean island of Samothrace in the Thracian Sea), Evros river (the longest river that runs solely in the interior of the Balkans, and one of the largest by discharge.), Nestos river (it rises in the Rila Mountains and flows into the Aegean Sea near the island of Thasos ), the National Park of Nestos Delta and lakes Vistonida-Ismarida (one of the most beautiful wetlands in Greece and the fourth largest lake in the country), Dadia Forest (the impressive lush vegetation, filled with pine trees, will put a spell on you with trails leading to some magnificent hillsides.), the Evros Delta National Park (it shelters a great variety of bird and animal species which is unique in the European continent), fertile valleys, dense forests and to endless stretches of white sandy beaches.

Thrace is bordered by Bulgaria to the north, Turkey to the east, the Aegean Sea (Greece) to the south and the Greek region of Macedonia to the west. Alexandroupoli is the largest city.

Thrace and in particular the Rhodope mountains, its northern mountainous part, is home to one of the two surviving brown bear (species Ursus arctos) populations in Greece (the other is in the Pindus mountains, in central Greece).

The Evros Delta Nature Reserve is ideal for birdwatching and for nature lovers. Just southeast of Alexandroupoli, where the Evros River reaches the Aegean, 188 sq km of coastal lakes, lagoons, sand dunes, swamps and reed beds harbor an immensely rich amount of wildlife. In the spring migrations, thousands of wader birds pause here to feed in the nutrient-packed waters.

Since 1974 half of the delta, where internationally acclaimed wetlands are located, has come under Ramsar protection, allowing its fauna to flourish.

An incredible 325 bird species have been observed here. Three species of European swan glide through these waters, while geese forage through meadows, including endangered lesser white-fronted geese, who winter here. Meanwhile eagles (spotted, white-tailed and imperial) wheel overhead along with more common buzzards and hen harriers.

There's more to the delta than just feathered friends. Forty species of mammal live around the delta, including prowling wild cats and boar in winter, and sousliks (European ground squirrels) scamper along the banks in summer. The waters are also home to 28 reptile species, including terrapins and water snakes.

Inhabited since paleolithic times, it has been under the political, cultural and linguistic influence of the Greek world since the classical era. Greeks from the Aegean islands extensively colonized the region, especially the coastal part.

Western Thrace related tours

Sorry, we have no any pre-designed tour passing trough this place yet. If you would like to visit this place, please contact us.