Discovering Alexandroupolis in One Breath

It was around three thirty in the afternoon when I arrived in Alexandroupolis. Unfortunately, I did not have enough time to get to know the city and explore every corner of it. Therefore, I had to plan my travel route well and choose experiences that reflected the spirit of the city as much as possible. I did just that and experienced all the places to visit in this city in one breath.

Before we start exploring the city, let’s take a quick look at the city’s history. Alexandroupolis, like many other coastal towns located along the Mediterranean, is a very old fishing settlement. This calmness continued until the 19th century. In the 19th century, the fate of this small town began to change. At that time, a serious railway network construction had begun in the Balkans and Alexandroupolis was one of the places located on this railway network.

After the railways were completed and services began, the number of people visiting the city increased rapidly. Due to this increasing human density, Alexandroupolis has become an important commercial center and port city in the region. The city, which is becoming more popular every year, has a current population of around 70,000.

The best thing to do in a city neighboring the sea like Alexandroupolis is to walk along the coast and fill your lungs with the iodine smell of the deep blue sea. That’s what I did and started exploring Alexandroupolis from the coast.

As soon as I got down to the coast, the first thing I saw was the Alexandroupolis Lighthouse, the symbol of the city. Built by a French company in 1850 and put into operation in 1880, the lighthouse was visible even to ships 40 km away. The top of the snow-white lighthouse is green. Since the lighthouse is the symbol of the city, every tourist visiting the city has a photo in front of it.

Of course, taking a breather and enjoying food and drinks by the sea was on my to-do list in this coastal city. I discovered that a cafe-bar called Argo Sea & City is one of the best places for this. The place located on Vasileos Alexandrou Street is quite spacious. You can find many different things on the menu of the place. Argo Sea & City is a good alternative to relax both in summer and winter.

When you go to Greece, you will have the chance to eat different delicious appetizers and seafood. If you want to enhance these experiences with music and entertainment, be sure to visit a tavern. Since taverns are an important part of Greek food, drink and entertainment culture, a trip to the country without a tavern is considered incomplete. For this reason, I had to go to a tavern before leaving Alexandroupolis and my choice was Nisiotiko Tavern, which is highly praised by everyone.

Nisiotiko Tavern located on Zarifi Street is a very famous place. Many tourists visiting the city want to have dinner here. There are two important reasons for this: delicious food and friendly and quality service. Additionally, since it is in the city center, it is also quite easy to return to the hotel after dinner.

The tavern has a very wide menu. I chose Greek salad, tzatziki, fried zucchini, grilled octopus, calamari with onions and of course a bottle of ouzo. All the food was very fresh and delicious. While we’re on the topic, I should mention that in Greece, ouzo is served in 20-liter bottles. The usual practice is to leave the bottle on your table for self-service. So don’t expect the waiter to serve your ouzo.

Especially on weekends, you have a very high chance of encountering musician groups at Nisiotiko Tavern. These groups, consisting of clarinet, violin, darbuka and guitar quartet, cheer up the atmosphere with the songs they play and sing. (http://www.nisiotiko.gr/)

For those who ask if there is a nice place in Alexandroupolis for coffee lovers and those looking for a little peace, my answer is: Kafka Bookstore & Cafe. Located at number 41 Emporiou Street, the cafe offers a comfortable atmosphere with its decoration mostly made of bricks and books. It is the right address for those who want to slow down their journey in a calm environment and with a cup of coffee. The café hosts a variety of meetings on different art-related topics from time to time. Kafka Bookstore & Cafe is open until late at night.

Before ending my short trip to Alexandroupolis, I thought it would be a good idea to take a break from Greece’s carbs. So, I decided to go to Salgamis Bakery for breakfast. As soon as I entered the shop, I was struck by the fresh and delicious looking food on the counter and in the cabinets. Although there were many options, I quickly decided and bought one cheese and one sausage pastry. And a cup of coffee, of course. Although I didn’t like the coffee very much, I liked the pastries. The cheese pastry had both a crispy dough and a delicious cheese.

I think Salgamis Bakery, located on Leof. Dimokratias 206-220, is a good alternative for those who want to have breakfast in the city.

To comfortably explore Alexandroupolis, it was essential for my hotel to be in the city center. While researching my hotel, I saw that the best alternative among the hotels in terms of location, price and cleanliness was the 2-star Marianna Hotel on Malgaron Street. I can recommend Marianna Hotel to those who want to stay in a budget hotel in the city center. (https://mariannahotel.gr/)

Alexandroupolis is an ideal destination for a weekend trip. It is a destination that does not get tired with the development, departure and discovery of people. To learn how to get to Alexandroupolis from Istanbul, you can take a look at my article “How to Easily Travel to Alexandroupolis (Dedeağaç) from Istanbul?“