At a glance
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| What it is | Kavala's Ottoman aqueduct & old town + UNESCO-listed ancient Philippi |
| From Thessaloniki | ≈160 km · ~2 h east on the A2/Egnatia; KTEL bus ~2–2.5 h |
| Philippi | UNESCO site where St Paul preached (49–50 AD); theatre, forum, basilicas |
| Kavala | Kamares aqueduct (1520s), Panagia old town, Byzantine fortress |
| Philippi entry | ~€6–10 (site + museum); hours vary — confirm at the gate |
| Best for | Ancient history, UNESCO sites, early-Christian heritage |
| Time needed | Full day (16 km between the two) |
Two sights in one trip
East of Thessaloniki, past the plains of eastern Macedonia, sit two of the region's most rewarding stops — and they pair perfectly. Kavala is a tiered port city wrapped around a harbour, and Philippi, just inland, is a UNESCO-listed ancient city with a special place in Christian history. It's a longer day out (about two hours each way), but between Roman ruins, an Ottoman aqueduct and a swim in the Aegean, it earns the drive.
Philippi — where Christianity reached Europe
The archaeological site of Philippi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded by Philip II of Macedon and rebuilt as a grand Roman colony on the Via Egnatia, it became, in 49–50 AD, the first place in Europe where the Apostle Paul preached — and where he baptised Lydia, recorded as the first Christian convert on the continent. Today you walk among a well-preserved Roman theatre, the forum, monumental early-Christian basilicas, and the cell traditionally shown as Paul's prison, with the riverside Baptistery of St Lydia a short way off.
Kavala — aqueduct, old town and sea
Kavala (ancient Neapolis, where Paul first stepped ashore in Europe) is among the loveliest ports in northern Greece. Its symbol is the Kamares, a 270-metre Ottoman aqueduct of the 1520s that strides right through the centre. Above it rises Panagia, the old town — steep cobbled lanes, wooden-balconied houses and a Byzantine fortress with views across the harbour and the gulf toward Thassos. It's also the birthplace of Mehmet Ali, founder of modern Egypt's royal line, whose mansion is a museum.
How to do it from Thessaloniki
It's about 160 km / 2 hours east on the A2/Egnatia motorway; KTEL buses run frequently to Kavala in roughly 2–2.5 hours, and Philippi is only 16 km inland. Because it's a full day, many visitors take a guided tour that combines the ancient site, the old town and a beach stop, leaving the driving to someone else.
