Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The east coast
he busy
east coast
between Liménas and Alykí, occupying roughly a third of the
clockwise circuit of the island - the logical way to conduct an island tour if you want
to maximize the sun's presence on the beaches - contains many of the more attractive
coves and best alternative bases to the capital.
9
Panayía
The first place worthy of a halt southeast from Liménas is
PANAYÍA
, the attractive
hillside village overlooking Potamiá Bay. It's a large, thriving place where life revolves
around the central square with its huge plane trees, fountain and slate-roofed houses.
Up above the village towers the island's highest peak,
Mount Ypsárion
.
Potamiá
POTAMIÁ
, much lower than Panayía in the river valley, is far less prepossessing - with
modern red tiles instead of slates on the roofs - though it has a lively winter carnival. It
also offers the modest
Polygnotos Vayis Museum
(May-Oct daily 10am-1pm &
6-8pm; €2), devoted to the locally born sculptor; though Vayis emigrated to America
when young, he bequeathed most of his works to the Greek state.
Skála Potamiás
The road from Potamiá towards the coast is lined with rooms for rent and apartment-
type accommodation. A side road some 12km from Liménas takes you down to
SKÁLA
POTAMIÁS
, at the southern end of the bay. From the harbourfront a road of to the left
brings you to sand dunes extending all the way to the far northern end of the bay.
Khryssí Ammoudhiá
Water taxis ply between Liménas and Khryssí Ammoudhiá twice daily in summer (10am & 4.30pm; €8)
The north end of Skála Potamiás beach,
Khryssí Ammoudhiá
- often anglicized to
“
Golden Beach
” for the benefit of tourists - is quite built-up but edges the southern
end in the quality of both sand and sea; it can also be approached by a direct road that
spirals for 5km down from Panayía.
Kínyra and its beaches
The dispersed hamlet of
KÍNYRA
, some 24km south of Liménas, marks the start of the
burnt zone which overlooks it, though recovery is under way. Although not having
much to recommend it per se, Kínyra is convenient for the superior
beaches
of
Loutroú (1km south) and partly nudist Paradise (3km along) - officially called
Makrýammos Kinýron - both of which can be reached down poorly signposted dirt
tracks. The latter ranks as the most scenic of all Thassian beaches.
ACCOMMODATION, EATING AND DRINKING
THE EAST COAST
400m inland and so called after the owner who
advertises his resemblance to footballer Eric Cantona
widely. The rooms and studios are spotless, and there are
Premiership
match
es on satellite TV and a swimming
pool with bar.
€45
Hera
T
25930 61467.
Just inland from the far south end
of the beach, this four-storey cream-coloured building
contains neat rooms and larger st
udio
s, set behind a small,
well-tended garden. June-Sept.
€50
Theagenis
T
25930 61481.
Popular local taverna by the
fishing harbour, which serves some oven-baked meat and
veg dishes, grilled meat and fish, plus decent wine.
May-
Oct daily 10am-midnight.
PANAYÍA
Ì
Hotel Thassos Inn
T
25930 61612,
W
thassosinn
.gr.
Up in the Tris Piyés district near the Kímisis church, with
fine views over the rooftops, this hotel's bright yellow walls
mirror the colour of the mature carp in its fishpond. The ro
oms
are fine and the terrace cafeteria very relaxing. April-Oct.
€35
Iy Thea
T
25930 61265.
Excellent
psistariá
at the southeast
edge of town en route to Potamiá, with fine views from the
terrace, where you can enjoy simple but succulent grills and
aromatic local wine.
Daily noon-midnight.
SKÁLA POTAMIÁS
Eric 's
T
25930 61554,
W
erics.gr.
On the main road
