Stavroupoli

Hamidie Bridge

Stavroupoli is a traditional settlement in Western Thrace.

Understand

Stavroupoli is the largest and most important of the villages of Nestos river, located on the forested slopes of Rodhopi mountain range. The village is built on the banks of Nestos river, close to the Nestos Gorge, a top-rated tourist attraction of Western Thrace. The municipality of Stavroupolis encompasses the north western part of the Prefecture of Xanthi, bordering to the north with Bulgaria. The northern areas feature rough alpine scenery with sharp crests and few tiny hamlets.

Get in

By road

Coming from the east, the quickest way to reach Stavroupolis is to exit at the Xanthi East Junction, and to follow the National Highway to Stavroupolis and Drama.

By rail

1 Railway station

See

Nestos Gorge

• 1 Nestos Gorge. A gorge with steep rocky slopes covered by forest. It's also an important wildlife refuge for golden eagles and a variety of other native birds. Hiking in Nestos Gorge is easy; You can follow the path along the railway line south of Stavroupoli. The most popular section of the trail starts near the abandoned station of 1 Livera and ends at the village of 2 Toxotes, a popular staging point for kayakers and hikers alike. The views are spectacular and breath-taking. Stone tables and resting benches are available on the trail. (updated Feb 2016)
• Museum of Folklore. (updated Feb 2016)
• 2 Hamidiye Bridge. An Ottoman bridge across the river Kossinthos. The bridge was built in 1903 and exploded by the retreating Greek army in 1941. (updated Feb 2016)
• Church of Evaggelistria. (updated Feb 2016)
• 3 Leibaditis waterfall. 35 metres high (updated Feb 2016)

Do

The Rodhopi mountains are full of routes and trails for cycling, hiking and horse riding.

• Hiking - A signed 5km trail, starting at Karyofyto village, leads you to Gyftokastro peak, with an altitude of 1745m and a panoramic view to contiguous Bulgaria.

Sleep

Budget

• 1 Forest Village "Erymanthos", ☏ +30 25420 21008, +30 25420 63710, +30 697 678 1945 (mobile). Wooden cabins owned by Greek forest rangers and available to rent. (updated Feb 2016)
• 2 Iniochos Guest-house (Komnina village), ☏ +30 25420 22483. Little bungalows surrounding a pool with hills in the backdrop. (updated Feb 2016)
• 3 Kallithea Mountain hut (Kallithea village), ☏ +30 254 202 2215, +30 697 235 2048 (Mobile). (updated Feb 2016)
• 4 Drimia Mountain Hut (Drimia village), ☏ +30 254 106 3710. State owned (updated Feb 2016)
• 5 Livaditis Mountain Hut, ☏ +30 6934 244 449 (mobile). (updated Feb 2016)

Mid-range

• 6 Agnantio (Karyofyto village), ☏ +30 693 726 0508 (mobile). (updated Feb 2016)
• 7 Xenios Zeus Guesthouse, ☏ +30 693 674 7366 (mobile). (updated Feb 2016)
• Karyon (Karyofyto village), ☏ +30 697 401 0956 (Mobile), +30 697 722 2270 (Mobile). Tourist rented maisonettes (updated Feb 2016)
• 8 To Archontiko - Guest House Villa, ☏ +30 25420 22225, +30 6936 512162 (Mobile), +30 6936 47366 (Mobile). A renovated mansion built in the 1920s. Three bedrooms. (updated Feb 2016)
• 9 Tzivaeri Guesthouse (Lykodromi village), ☏ +30 25410 74843, +30 6973 988823 (Mobile), +30 6973 6972 242728 (Mobile). Furnished apartments to let (updated Feb 2016)

Splurge

• 10 Kyveli Hotel (Karyofyto village), ☏ +30 25420 31031. A 4-star hotel built in 2008.Six double with balcony. (updated Feb 2016)
• 11 Nemesis Hotel (Komnina village), ☏ +30 25420 21005, +30 25420 21007. A 3-star hotel. 32 double (updated Feb 2016)

Go next

• Kavala
• Xanthi