11 Most Charming Villages in Thasos

Theologos actually served as the administrative hub of Thasos back when the Ottoman Empire ruled over most of the Greek islands. Around the 18^th century, Thasos was briefly seized by the Russians and most of the island’s population moved to inland villages like Theologos to act as a stronghold.

Visiting Theologos, you’re treated to a mix of old and dilapidated stonemasonry and pretty whitewashed buildings that line the cobbled alleys. Check out the impressive Church Panagouda or pay a visit to the Folklore Museum to learn more about the island's history. At the northeast border of the village, you’ll find the ancient Theologos cemetery set on the slopes of a silent hill. Theologos is about a 50-km drive from Limenas.

Venture inland from the coast of Thasos to visit Kastro, a town with origins dating back to Middle Ages. Here, you can enjoy local specialities at the tavern and see a church built from stones from the castle that gave the town its name.

Though the town was abandoned for many years, recent renovations breathe new life into the historic Kastro. If you're lucky, you may even catch some local festivities. Many of the houses have been turned into cottages – a great option for accommodation when visiting Thasos. Modern roads keep Kastro well-connected with the rest of the island.

Maries is a small village in a verdant valley in Thasos, set at the foot of the island’s tallest peak, Mount Ipsarion. You can easily reach Maries after visiting Theologos, another nearby mountain village that lies some 4 km to the southeast. Charming sites to explore in Maries include the Ekklisia Agios Georgios church with its stone walls, archway and stairs, and Macedonian reliefs that date back to the early 19^th century.

The journey to Maries is a great part of the experience, as you enter forested hills, down through streets lined with olive trees. Most villages in Thasos have a coastal counterpart or annexe, often bearing ‘Skala’ in their name. Skala Maries is about 11 km (around a 15-minute drive) down the hilly slopes southwest from Maries.

Kallirákhi, or Kallirachi, is one of the larger mountain villages in Thasos, set on the western slopes of Mount Ipsarion. With a population of over 1,000 who mostly tend to local farmlands, work as fishermen or in the island’s tourism sector, Kallirachi offers cultural encounters where you can learn about the local ways of life.

Enjoy a quiet stroll through the village’s narrow alleys and come across beautiful stone buildings from ancient times, traditional houses (some of which have been turned into wonderful homestays) and landmarks such as the Kallirachi Temple church or the Church of Saint Thekla just outside the village borders. One home had been turned into a folklore museum, where you can admire old photographs and paintings in the layout and furnishings of an authentic traditional house.

Sotiras, also spelt ‘Sotiros’, is one of the small mountain villages on Thasos that offers spectacular views of both the mountains and the Aegean Sea. The mountain village is set on a small forested hilltop at about 300 metres above sea level, while its coastal village counterpart, Skala Sotiros, is just a 5-minute drive northwest. It’s around a half-hour drive from Limenas.

Walking through this quaint mountain village, you’re treated to rows of traditional houses along cobbled alleys that branch out from the village’s central square. Check out the water spouts made out of white marble that date back to the late 19^th century. The breathtaking view of the slopes and blue waters of the coast from the village will be one of the main highlights of your visit.

Rachoni is where you can learn more about the traditional village life in Thasos through olive farming, beekeeping and fishing activities. The mountain village is just a 20-minute drive southwest of Limenas. Its coastal village counterpart of Skala Rachoni is a 15-minute drive north of Rachoni.

Start off your afternoon of exploration in the charming main square that’s placid most of the time and which offers fantastic views of the surrounding mountainscape. On your stroll through the village, you’ll come across tavernas with great outdoor table setups under trees serving local fare such as grilled octopus. Historical landmarks include the Church of the Assumption at the northern edge of the village with its remarkable whitewashed façade set against a leafy hillside.

Potamia is one of the most charming villages in Thasos, set on the eastern pine-forested slopes of Mount Ipsarion and right before the beautiful stretch of sand called Golden Beach. Though a traditional village, Potamia has modern villas, tavernas and other facilities which make it a great short visit from Limenas, which is only an approximate 20-minute drive away.

Stone buildings line the quaint village streets and there are even paths from Potamia that lead you on to mountain treks up Ipsarion. For a bit of art and history, there’s the municipal museum of Polygnotou Vagi in Potamia, loaded with sculptural arts. On the other side of the village, another route leads you down to Skala Potamias, a holiday resort in a secluded bay at the southern end of Golden Beach.

Panagia is best known as the traditional village in Thasos that’s home to Sotirelis Olive Oil Museum. The museum is actually a repurposed olive oil factory dating back to 1915 that pressed olives using watermills. Only a quick 10-minute drive south of Limenas, Panagia is one of the highlights of a visit to Thasos.

Beyond olive oil, the village’s central square is colourful and bright with traditional whitewashed buildings lining the sloped streets, complete with small stone bridges over streams and tavernas with tables pleasantly laid out under tree shade. Just outside the village borders, other interesting sites include the so-called Dragon Cave and a small and lonely stone chapel in the woods.

Kinira is one of the most beautiful coastal villages in Thasos, offering splendid seascapes and being a holiday resort choice besides the main hub of Limenas. Around a half-hour drive south from Limenas and past the traditional village of Panagia, Kinira has a small and quiet bay with many small lodgings around the mountain slopes and beachfront from where you can enjoy it all.

There are in fact 2 beaches in Kinira, with the most popular being the one closer to the village called Paradise Beach. The view of the island of the same name, or Kiniriotiko in the local tongue, on the horizon simply adds to its scenic beauty.

Astris is a small traditional village on the southern edge of Thasos that’s best known as a base for enjoying some of the island’s remote beaches. Referred to by some locals as Astrida, Astris' has several beaches worth travelling for, including the namesake Astrida Beach as well as Psili Ammos, Salonikios, Kalami and one of the unique natural highlights on this southern part of Thasos known as the Giola natural pool, part of Aphrodite’s Myth ecological park.

Basically, if you’re looking for pristine natural landscapes in Thasos and with a stretch of coast that’s dotted with small but beautiful stretches of sand with unique outcrops and formations, a visit to the village of Astris is the way to go. Astris is about an hour’s drive from Limenas on the opposite side of the island.

Limenaria, although still considered a traditional village, is the second largest town in Thasos after Limenas. It steadily became one of the most popular beach holiday resorts in Thasos since the turn of the 20^th century, now with a scenic harbour and a collection of beautiful beaches both to its east and west.

You’ll find beachfront stays, restaurants and dive centres – Limenaria is a great base for dive trips in Thasos – all along this southern coast, together with several tiny and secluded coves and pebbly beaches. On clear days, you can often see the sacred Mount Athos on the Greek peninsula on the horizon. For a high viewpoint and perhaps a bit of urban exploration, check out Palataki, an odd monument-like abandoned building on a hilltop just above the harbour.