Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The largest town beyond Alexandroupoli, Orestiada has shopping, social life and surpris-
ingly fine dining. Perhaps because they don't get many tourists, Orestiada locals are
friendly, down-to-earth, proud of their town and Evros in general. It's a good base for
Evros day trips, and a jumping-off point for Bulgaria and Turkey - the latter is accessible
from nearby Kastanies village, which hosts the summertime
Ardas River Festival
.
Orestiada was built for the 1923 population exchanges. Unlike the many ragged
refugees dispersed throughout Greece, Orestiada's dignified founders collectively re-
settled across the river here.
Sights & Activities
Folk Museum
MUSEUM
( 25520 28080;
www.musorest.gr
;
Agion Theodoron 103; €2; 10am-1pm & 7-9pm Tue-Sun)
This museum exhibits Thracian furniture, costumes, old weaponry and, intriguingly, a
fragment from the original Lausanne Treaty, which stipulated the Greek-Turkish popula-
tion exchange.
Metropolitan Church of the Saints Theodoros
CHURCH
(cnr Konstantinopoleos & Orfeas)
West of the
plateia,
this unusual red-brick structure con-
tains beautiful icons.
Cataract Water Park
SWIMMING
( 25520 28922)
Almost 3km from Orestiada on the Didymotiho road, Cataract has vari-
ous pools and slides for beating the summer heat, a disco, a bar and a
bouzoukia
.
Sleeping
Hotel Elektra
HOTEL $
( 25520 28922;
www.hotelelectra.gr
; Athanasiou Pantazidou 52; s/d €40/58; )
This
friendly and well-kept hotel in a restored neoclassical mansion is just off the square, near
the best restaurants and cafes. Ask the helpful Ismini or Manya for info on nearby sights.
Hotel Alexandros
HOTEL $$$
(
25520 27000; Vasileos Konstantinou 10; s/d/tr €50/60/70;
)
Located near the
train station, the Alexandros has breezy rooms with balconies.
