Explore Kavala through different aspects of its history: the streetscape of the Old Town, historic buildings and places devoted to its tobacco history. If you are looking for a hotel in Kavala, these themes can help you shape your stay around your own cultural interests. The sights offer different starting points—from a walk through the Old Town to museums and architectural landmarks.
The Old Town and a walk to the Kamares
The streets in the Old Town are paved with cobblestones. Most of the houses have wooden balconies, fragrant gardens and courtyards. These features make not only individual buildings but also the townscape itself part of the exploration. As you walk, you can notice the contrast between the street and the decorated façades; the gardens and courtyards are also part of the Old Town’s architecture as described here.
A suggested walk through the Old Town ends at the Kamares, the old aqueduct. The Kamares mark the boundary between the old and modern parts of the city. This gives the end of the walk a clear connection to the transition between these two areas. If you want to explore Kavala on foot, this suggested route links the Old Town with a notable historic structure without requiring a comprehensive sightseeing itinerary.
Historic buildings and museums
Most of Kavala’s Acropolis was built in the first quarter of the 15th century. Another architectural landmark is the Konaki of Mohammed Ali, a surviving example of 18th-century Ottoman architecture. The two buildings can be placed in context by their different periods of construction: the Acropolis dates to the first quarter of the 15th century, while the Konaki represents 18th-century Ottoman architecture. For a cultural and historical stay, this comparison offers a specific way to explore different periods in the city’s past.
The museums also cover different subjects. The Archaeological Museum of Kavala has been open since 1964. The Tobacco Museum displays objects and archival material related to the cultivation, production, and agricultural and commercial processing of tobacco. If you are interested in the material and economic history of this subject, the areas covered by the museum provide a useful starting point. The Museum of Greek Refugees in Kavala preserves keepsakes that refugees brought from their homeland, including religious images, embroidery, everyday objects, books, documents and photographs.
Tobacco history in the urban landscape
The Municipal Tobacco Warehouse is a cultural venue for permanent and temporary exhibitions, as well as events such as concerts and conferences. The Tobacco Museum and the Tobacco Warehouse therefore focus on different aspects: the museum on objects and archival material related to cultivation and processing, and the warehouse on exhibitions and events. The Tobacco Warehouse’s individual programs vary. If an event is important to your plans, check the current program in advance.
Another reminder of the tobacco workers’ movement is the monument in Kapnergatis Square. It depicts two men and a woman who took part in the movement. Alongside the museums and cultural venue, the monument explores the subject not only through collections but also through a public work of art. This gives you a choice of different ways to explore tobacco history during your stay.
Planning your stay
Kavala’s visitor information center is centrally located on Eleftherias Square and provides information about visits and stays in the city. As its location and services may change, check for current information before visiting. When choosing a hotel, you could first consider whether you would prefer to focus on a walk through the Old Town, the historic buildings, or the museums and tobacco-related sites. The places and themes mentioned here provide practical guidance without prescribing a fixed itinerary for your stay.
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