A preserved old town, tobacco wealth and Thrace's exuberant carnival.
Xanthi pairs colourful mansion streets and Ottoman-era quarters with a lively student culture, regional food and major carnival traditions.
Xanthi's old town climbs above the modern centre in a mix of tobacco merchants' mansions, traditional houses, mosques and churches. Folk and history museums occupy restored buildings, while the bazaar remains one of northern Greece's most animated markets.
The city is known nationally for its pre-Lenten carnival and Old Town Festival. Pomak villages, the Nestos gorge and mountain forests extend the cultural and natural landscape beyond the city.
Practical information
Trains and buses connect Xanthi with Thessaloniki and Alexandroupoli. Carnival and festival dates require early booking; use local guides for sensitive minority villages.
