Drama

Drama is a city in Northern Greece

Covering an area in a valley between a mountainous area Drama is a central city in Northern Greece known for a number of events and sights around it. Its name means "rich in water" in Greek.

The best way to reach Drama is by the Bus, frequently travelling from Thessaloniki (€15 for a single ticket), you can also travel there by train but the train station is about a 10 minute walk from the centre of the city. The bus station is about 3 minutes from the center of the city near "plateia elefterias" (freedom square) the main square.

You can travel to Kavala international airport and then catch a bus to Drama.

You can get a train from either Thessaloniki or Athens. Cost is cheaper than the bus.

• 41.1404524.147051 Drama railway station (Σιδηροδρομικός Σταθμός Δράμας).  (updated Mar 2022)

With the Egnatia freeway you can reach Drama in less than 2 hours from Thessaloniki, and around 30 minutes from Kavala.

You can take the KTEL (Greek national busservice) from Thessaloniki (around 2 hours, €15) or Kavala.

• 41.149124.14592 KTEL Drama.  (updated Mar 2022) ^{[dead link]}

The nearest harbour is Kavala, mainly serving the routes between Kavala-Thassos-Lemnos.

One of the best things in Drama is the outstanding natural beauty of the surrounding areas. This might be tricky to reach and Drama does not get the tourism it deserves therefore it is best reached by car. But if you are thinking of seeing a part in Greece that is not spoiled by tourism then this area is for you. In the city there are cozy restaurants and Ouzo places as well as a booming nightlife of very luxurious cafe-bars for the size of the city. There are also nightclubs, some near the city centre and some a little further out of the centre.

Downtown:

• 41.149424.14081 Agia-Varvara-Park. The park of St. Barbara is the main attraction in drama. Springs, small lakes with waterfowl, streams and beautiful restaurants and cafes under old trees by the water invite you to linger or to go for a walk. The park is also an experience for children.  (updated Jun 2018)
• 41.147824.14622 City Park. The city park in the center is a nice place to relax under tall trees and many watercourses. Popular cafes line the park.  (updated Jun 2018)
• 41.1523424.146713 Arab mosque ruin. The mosque has not been restored yet and is in deplorable condition.  (updated Jun 2018)
• 41.1530124.144344 Byzantine castle and city wall. The remains of the former city wall and castle are a bit hidden and are completely neglected  (updated Jun 2018)
• 41.1479624.143285 Archaeological Museum. Interesting exhibits from the area and Philippi.  (updated Jun 2018)
• 41.163824.15936 Lookout Cafe Enaston. The viewpoint overlooking the city with a cafe in a pine forest is one of Drama's must see attractions.  (updated Jun 2018)

Further away:

• 41.025724.01117 Cave of Alistrati (6 km southwest of the town of Alistrati). 30 km from Drama towards Seres, near the village of Alistrati, is one of the most beautiful limestone caves of Northern Greece, the cave of Alistrati. If you want to save yourself the long drive from Kavala, you can reach the cave also on foot through the Aggitis Canyon, near the village of Nea Mpafra.  (updated Jul 2025)
• 41.024424.01798 Aggitis Canyon. Another attraction in the area is the little-known Aggitis Canyon near the village of Nea Mpafra. Approx. 800 m after the village direction Drama there are grain silos on the left side of the road. After the silos, turn left and in 3 km you reach a large parking lot on the edge of the Canyon. The junction is not signposted. It is recommended to check the route in e.g. OpenStreetMap before going. The parking lot is the starting point of walkways along the Canyon and to the opposite side leading to the Cave of Alistrati. At the cave there is the only coffee shop with cold drinks and ice cream around. In summer its quite hot in the canyon! In three points of the canyon, rock paintings have been found depicting camels, deer, horsemen who hold the reins of horses and spears, and abstract designs. These paintings are estimated to date from the Bronze Age. Rich is the flora and fauna of the area, and over the centuries have created several caves and arches along the ravine. The river is home to sports like rafting, canoeing, and kayaking.  (updated Jul 2025)

• 41.221123.89149 Cave of Maras. 25 km northwest of Drama at the village Aggitis is the stalactite cave of Maras. Because of an underground river course in the cave, there are stalactites only, but no stalagmites.  (updated Jul 2025)
• 41.203624.017210 Petroussa's Canyon. The gorge of Petrusa begins north of the village of Pyrgos and ends in Petrousa. With a length of more than 10 km, it is a magnet for nature hikers who can traverse it under vertical rocks in an amazing natural beauty landscape. In many places, the gorge is quite narrow with a width of not more than 3-5 m with some pools. In winter, the river carries a lot of water, so you can not walk there. In summer, in the small open-air theater at the entrance of the gorge in Petrusa concerts are performed, which are worth the visit just for the view and the special atmosphere.  (updated Jun 2018)

• 41.480524.324511 Forest Village of Elatia. The "Dassiko Horio" hotel is in the middle of the Elatia Forest, the southernmost point of Europe, where you can find alpine vegetation. The Elatia Forest Hotel is the starting point for walks in the "Frakto mediterranean primeval forest". You drive from Drama passing the Nestos dam and the village Sidironero on a paved road to Skaloti. From there follow the dirt road for 15 km to the hotel. Elatia is the largest forest in Greece with a variety of special plants and animals. UNESCO has classified the forest as a natural monument with protected areas, especially the pristine part of Fraktos. Hiking in the uninhabited area requires proper preparation.  (updated Jun 2018) ^{[dead link]}
• 41.321723.94412 Falakros Mountain. About 50 km from Drama on the mountain Falakros is the ski centre of the same name. The environment is wonderful and the views impressive, so you should not miss a visit even in the summer.  (updated Jun 2018)
• 41.305523.857813 Fortress Lisse. Fort Lisse is one of the fortifications of the Metaxas line from World War II, on the northern border of Greece near the village Ochyro, about 2 km from the city of Kato Nevrokopi. In this fortress, the Greek army fought on 6 and 7 April 1941 against the invasion of the Wehrmacht in Greece. In memory of this battle a monument was erected and a small museum was built. The museum's exhibits include firearms from the Greek and German armies, uniforms, medals, various personal belongings of soldiers and officers, as well as a map from 1941 depicting the Battle of the Forts. There is an artillery in the courtyard with which the forts were defended. You can participate in a computer simulation game, which makes the museum interesting for young people.  (updated Jun 2020) ^{[dead link]}

• 41.190724.268514 Castle ruin of Adriani. From the ruined castle Adriani only the foundation walls are left. What makes the approximately 5 km dirt road nevertheless worth going, is the fantastic view over the mountains and the Pangaion Mountain range. On the ruins of the castle, a chapel (Ag.Ioannis) was built, which is very photogenic despite its simplicity because of the stunning landscape.  (updated Jun 2018)
• 41.164423.906515 Dionisos Temple Ruin. The sanctuary was the centre of the Dionysian cult of the area from the end of the 4th century BC. The sanctuary is open to the public after consultation with the Archaeological Museum of Drama and on Epiphany and August Full Moon.  (updated Nov 2018)
• 41.184724.434816 Castle ruin Acropolis Platanias. Inhabited from prehistoric times to the 6th century AD.  (updated Nov 2018)
• 41.17238324.32323617 Drama Bridge (Drama Köprüsü). The 200- to 300-year-old "Drama Bridge" is not a bridge, but a 50-cm-wide, narrow aqueduct near the village of Nikiforos on the main street to Paranesti. The bridge is the theme in a well-known Turkish folk song.  (updated Feb 2020)
• 41.222224.031318 Ancient ruins of Pyrgi castle. Coming from Petrussa, shortly after the end of the gorge, on the right side you can see the ruins of an ancient fortification with the Greek flag visible from afar. Tradition has it that the wife of Alexander the Great (Roxane) was imprisoned here after his death, since she was not welcome as a Persian to the Macedonians. A few kilometres further you come to the very worth seeing mountain village Pyrgi, which means towers. In the village you can see the ruins of several towers built of natural stone, which were probably residential towers, comparable to those in the well-known villages on the Mani (Peloponnese). These defensive towers were multi-story houses with small windows, designed to defend its inhabitants. The village is in a fantastic mountain landscape with some photogenic churches and a recommendable simple restaurant, where you can sit cool even in midsummer.  (updated Feb 2020)
• 41.224323.890219 Ruined castle Aggitis. A fortress was built on the hill above the Maara cave in the late Roman or Byzantine times. In several places the height ranges from 1 to 3 m. The thickness is 1.30 m and gives the inhabitants (probably the settlement found on the right bank of Aggitis) control over the valley and the passes of the region.  (updated Feb 2020)

Do go for a coffee on one of the luxurious coffee places and do eat at a local taverna. Drama is well known for its night life which attracts lots of people from surrounding cities.

There are also an archaeological museum and a religion history museum in the city. Surrounding the city there are a number of archaeological sites, including the Philippi ancient theatre. This is an operational theatre and remakes of ancient Greek theatre plays are played here.

• 41.129324.31291 Bird of Prey Park. There is a small bird of prey park in the village Agora east of Drama. The Birdwatching Park from 15 June to 15 September will be open daily from 17:00 and the weekend from 11:00. Birds flying will take place on Saturday and Sunday at 19:00.  (updated Jul 2018)

Volunteering work in the area of Drama is possible during the Christmas period where the central square is transformed into a theme park known as "oneiroupoli" (city of dreams), you can contact the city municipality for information.

Drama has a very competitive market for its size and you can find practically anything you would expect in a major city. The market is closely packed together surrounding the main square.

There are a number of places to eat in Drama. The quality of the food offered is very good and since the city is virtually tourist-free you can expect to have a decent meal for a normal price

• Honey Bar Cafe, Venizelou 47, Drama (from the main square (plateea) of Drama, head up towards Mitropoly via Venizelou - on the left (aristera plevra) side of the road), ☏ +30 2521300996. Midday til late. Coffee and drinks in a lively bar setting that occupies a historic building, but it also serves brunch.  ^{[dead link]}

• Stefanos, follow the road towards the west from the main square, offers Greek "suvlaki" änd "gyros" sandwiches (around €5 per person for 2 sandwiches).
• Kalamia, towards the east of the main square next to a bank, offers "kebab" style grill, (around €5 per person for 2 servings).
• Black & White (Ασπρο Μαυρο):Dim. Gounari 7Α, offers Greek "bugatsa" (cream filled pasty), around €1.5 per serving.

Nisaki: between the agia varvara park and the kapnomagaza. Serves cooked food, grills and fish. Prices around €15 per person

• Εntrades (Εντράδες), ☏ +30 2521 022600. Mon-Sat 12ː30-17ː30. It kind of feels like you're eating in a museum, with careful preparation of food and even perhaps an aperitif. (updated Jun 2021)

• Kafe Elefteria Probably one of the oldest coffehouses in the city, in the now renovated old building serves plenty of hot and cold drinks. North of the main square.
• Kafe Aigeo Serving a younger crowd this lively bar is west of the Agia Varvara square. It gets very crowded on weekends and the music is loud.

Hotels:

• Emporiko, +30 2521 037903. Kind of looks like it could fit in on a street in Tehran somewhere.
• Marianna, +30 2521 031520. A multi-story hotel.
• Xenia^{[dead link]}, +30 2521 033195. Very elongate and otherwise nondescript-looking.
• 41.150624.1421 Hydrama Grand Hotel. This 5-star hotel is in a restored 19th-century tobacco house at the wetland of Santa Barbara in the town centre.  (updated Dec 2017)

If you do not wish to stay in the centre there are numerous hotels in the villages around Drama, including Petalo Resort +30 694 824 8104

In a city that is unspoiled by tourism you should try to maintain a respectful communication towards others as extreme behaviour towards people might cause a scene. Also try to avoid getting involved with any local disputes. Crime in Drama is nearly non-existent.

City hall: +30 25210 25555 Hospital: +30 25210 23351 Police: +30 25210 22341

The weather can be very hot during summertime and the winters are usually cold and breezy with some snow.

• Kavala
• Serres
• Philippi – The most important archaeological site in Northern Greece and a 'must-see' for every visitor to the area.