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Nea Peramos is a small town in Macedonia, Greece. It is well-known for its vibrant tourist scene, flat, sandy beaches, and its proximity to some of the most beautiful beaches in northern Greece.
The small, picturesque wine-growing village boasts a beautiful promenade lined with restaurants and bars. Its proximity to the famous beaches makes it the main tourist destination near Kavala. From the Byzantine castle, you can enjoy wonderful views of Peramos, the coast and the Pangaion Hills. The castle was built on the ruins of the ancient city of Oisymi.
Understand
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The area has been inhabited since ancient times. In the 7th century BC, the Thasian colony of Oisyme was located here. From the 10th to the 15th century, the city flourished under the name Anaktoropolis. The well-preserved ruins of the Byzantine fortress, Anaktoroupoli, are located to the west of the town. Anaktoropolis was the Byzantine successor settlement of the ancient city of Oisymi. The oldest fortification walls date back to the 6th–9th centuries. The walls were repaired between the 12th and 13th centuries. Alektryopolis appears to have gained particular significance in the 14th century. During this period, the name was changed to Eleftheroupolis (not to be confused with the modern city of the same name). Between 1383 and 1387, the Ottomans conquered and destroyed the settlement.
The present-day settlement emerged in the 1920s as part of the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1922/1923, when Greek refugees from Peramos in Asia Minor (now Karşıyaka on the Sea of Marmara) were resettled here.
The town stretches along a sheltered bay with a gently sloping, sandy beach, framed by rolling hills. The surrounding fertile countryside is characterised by olive groves and extensive vineyards where local wines and table grapes are cultivated.
As a fishing village from the 1950s to the 1980s, the town's economy relied heavily on fishing, olive oil production and winemaking. The first summer visitors were primarily locals from nearby Kavala and inland Greeks seeking peaceful days on the beach away from the main tourist centres. The expansion of the road network, particularly the Egnatia Odos motorway, significantly improved accessibility. The old fishing and sailing harbour and the coastal promenade were gradually modernised, leading to the construction of the first guesthouses, apartments and fish tavernas in the 1990s and 2000s. The biggest boost to development came with the opening of the nearby Ammolofoi beach. From the 2010s onwards, the kilometres of dunes were transformed into a summer hotspot with modern beach bars and water sports facilities, which are equally popular with younger crowds and families. The opening of the border and the ease of road traffic also established Nea Peramos as a popular travel destination for tourists from Southeastern Europe, particularly Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia.
July and August are the peak months, with mass tourism on the beaches and in the restaurants. The off-season (May/June and September/October) is significantly more relaxed. Those with flexible travel dates should consider visiting in June or mid-September. June has the advantage of longer days, while September has warmer water.
Get in
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The nearest airports are in Kavala and Thessaloniki. The town is regularly served by bus from Kavala.
- 1 Harbor. The somewhat remote harbour is mainly used by commercial shipping. As there is no marina, pleasure boats are left to anchor freely in the water.
Get around
[edit | edit source]The town is relatively small, so everything can be reached on foot – especially given the difficult parking situation in summer.
See
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- 1 Castle (Anaktoropolis). The ruins of the 10th- to 15th-century Byzantine town and castle of Anaktoropolis have been preserved. The town was strategically located near one of the few ports between Thessaloniki and Constantinople. The castle fell to the Ottomans between 1383 and 1387, after which it was destroyed and rendered insignificant. The remains were later used as building materials for the surrounding settlements. The fortress ruins lie just under a kilometre southwest of the town centre, on a hill that overlooks Eleftheres Bay, offering an impressive panoramic view of the coast and the Ammolofoi Dunes. The ring of walls has a circumference of around 650 metres and features several well-preserved rectangular and round defensive towers, as well as a citadel standing at over 11 metres high on the south-east side.
- 2 Oesyme. The ancient settlement of Oisyme was founded as a Thasian colony in the second half of the 7th century BC. As well as the beautiful view, the small Dipteros Temple, dedicated to the goddess Athena Parthenos, is well worth a visit. During the First World War, in 1916, the Bulgarian army set up a defensive position on the acropolis as part of the Salonika Front, which resulted in the partial destruction of the ancient remains. The acropolis can be accessed from the south via the paved road. A hiking trail begins at a model church dedicated to Protitis Ilias. This somewhat challenging path leads through undergrowth and is marked with red dots and knots of plastic tape.
- 3 Defensive positions. On the mountain are the remains of several artillery positions of a Bulgarian defensive wall, the so-called Salonika Front from World War I.
Do
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The village has a quite narrow long stretched beach directly at the promenade and on the peninsula on which stands the castle of Peramos there are other small beaches. Especially younger people prefer the beaches of Amolofos 4 km west of Nea Peramos.
- 1 Harbor beach. It's not the best beach, but it's the least crowded one with sand and a shallow entry into the water. Since there are also motorboats anchored in the bay, you have to be prepared to share the space with them.
- 2 Agios Konstantinos Beach. A beautiful, uncrowded, sandy beach without any beach bars.
- 3 Main Beach. This long, sandy beach stretches the entire length of the town. Some of the beach bars are on the beach itself, while others are not. Due to limited parking in the town centre, you will have to walk quite a distance. However, cafés and restaurants line the entire beach.
- 4 Castle Beach. There is an undeveloped sandy beach below the castle which is relatively easy to reach by car.
- 5 Vrasidas Beach. The beautiful beach has no beach bar and is only accessible via a bumpy dirt track. The bumpy access road often puts off owners of newer cars. However, a 4WD is not necessary. There are several other swimming spots along the track without beach bars. There is a canteen next to the beach offering snacks and drinks. Visitors should bring their own parasols and camping chairs.
- 6 Bay 1. It is the smallest bay on the west side of the peninsula. Although it is scenically beautiful, it is unfortunately often polluted by visitors who leave their rubbish there.
- 7 Bay 2. The middle bay boasts a beautiful sandy beach and is located in a picturesque setting. However, access is via a poorly maintained dirt track which is often littered with rubbish.
- 8 Bay 3. It is the largest and most beautiful of the hard-to-reach bays. However, it suffers from litter problems, often caused by wild campers or motorhome owners who leave their rubbish behind.
To the west of the peninsula lie the four beautiful, yet crowded, Ammolofos bays, which are among the most popular beaches in northern Greece. Most of them are managed by beach bars with their own car parks. During peak season, you should arrive before 11 am if you want to secure a parking space and a sun lounger. Prices for sun loungers vary depending on how close they are to the water. In most beach bars, there is a minimum spend of €10 per person, which includes a sun lounger at the back. Further forward, the price increases to over €100. It is advisable to ask about prices locally, as they can be quite high. There are also unmanaged areas between the beach bars, but parking is often scarce there. Overall, Ammolofos has transformed from a natural paradise into a mass tourism destination with crowds and loud music. Here, the focus is on activity. Most visitors arrive by car, but there are also bus connections from Kavala.
- 9 Ammolofos 1. Here you'll find a relatively large area without a beach bar, boasting a beautiful beach. It's one of the best places to spend a free day at the beach. However, parking can be difficult. At the western end, you'll find the Blue Beach Bar, which has the usual sun umbrellas and loungers.
- 10 Ammolofos 2. This bay is almost entirely taken up by beach bars, but there are some free spaces where you can hear music from both sides. Each beach bar has its own car park. The beach bars are Peponi, Ammos, Paradise, Koo, Breeze and Wave.
- 11 Ammolofos 3. Again, there's a relatively large amount of open space here, with only the La Roca and Liquid beach bars. Parking is also an issue here.
- 12 Ammolofos 4. There is plenty of free space here, too, as well as one large beach bar (Marrakech) and one small one (Phinikas). However, there are hardly any parking spaces.
Along the expressway from Nea Peramos towards Thessaloniki are more nice the beaches with crystal clear water and beautiful surroundings, most of them with beach bars. During weekend in high season they can be quite crowded. The best known are the beaches of 13 Oasis Beach Bar, 14 Baccalāria Beach Bar, 15 Almyra Beach Bar, 16 Sarakina. Further to the west, about 2 km after the turn of 17 Loutra Elefteron (hot springs) is a famous nudist beach[dead link].Further west follow the wonderful and touristic fully developed beaches of Orfrinou and Asprovalta.
Buy
[edit | edit source]Most tourists go to the Lidl supermarket in Nea Iraklitsa. However, there are also several supermarkets in the town itself where you can find everything you need.
- 1 Masoutis. This is the biggest supermarket in town. Its narrow aisles are completely packed. Spanning two floors, it offers everything you need for food, drink and daily life.
- 2 Guntzidis. It's a very well-organised shop with a clear layout. It has everything you could possibly need, and the selection of hot food is superb.
Eat
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There are restaurants lining the entire promenade of the town. Visitors arriving during the peak season shouldn't expect cosy, traditional Greek tavernas, as mass tourism is prevalent. Everything is overcrowded and expensive. Therefore, Airbnb apartments are becoming increasingly popular as they offer the option of preparing home-cooked meals at a lower cost. This is particularly important for families. Many Balkan tourists arrive in their own vehicles packed with groceries to help keep holiday expenses down. Those who prefer more authentic dining experiences should head to the villages in the Symbolos mountain range towards Eleftheroupoli and Pangaion Hills.
- 1 Apomero. Large, well-known restaurant with a beautiful outdoor area right by the sea.
- 2 Kostantaki's. This well-known restaurant is located in the second row from the sea.
- 3 Taverna Germanos. The restaurant itself is good, and it has a lovely outdoor seating area with views of the castle and the beach. They also serve a variety of German specialities, including schnitzel, currywurst and Leberkäse (a type of meatloaf).
- 4 Foinikas. Situated on Ammolofos Beach, it boasts a wonderful atmosphere and serves delicious food in generous portions.
- 5 Isalos Taverna. Situated on the outskirts of Peramos, this restaurant is a pleasant place to enjoy delicious food. While the prices could be lower, they are reasonable.
- 6 Xilini Kutala. You'll find delicious food, generous portions and a cosy atmosphere here, all at affordable prices.
- 7 Balkiza Kavala. It's located somewhat off the beaten track, but it serves good food at fair prices.
Drink
[edit | edit source]The nightlife scene is centred around the tavernas and cafés, which often feature live music during the high season. Keep an eye out for notices. The beach bars in Ammolofos host beach parties almost every weekend during the summer months. During the winter months, however, the town is very quiet and there is no nightlife at all.
Sleep
[edit | edit source]Airbnb is the most popular platform for booking accommodation in the town, as there are no large hotel complexes.
- 1 Senso. Modern 4-star hotel with pool, restaurant and bar.
- 2 Elysium Studios. This small hotel offers rooms in a quiet coastal location. It is distinguished by its swimming pool and pool bar, as well as its easy access to nearby beaches.
- 3 Bella Vista Boutique. Small luxury hotel in a central location.
Connect
[edit | edit source]Most cafes, restaurants, hotels and also private rooms and apartments have WiFi for free. If you want to be mobile online buy a sim card from a Greek provider, e.g. Cosmote. They have good offers for mobile internet.
Go next
[edit | edit source]- Kavala - It is one of the most beautiful cities in Greece, with many sights, museums, shops, restaurants and cafés along the promenade and in the old town. There is a lively day and nightlife even in the winter months.
- Pangaion Hills - The impressive high mountain landscape features picturesque villages and monasteries, and offers numerous hiking opportunities.
- Philippi - This ancient site is a World Heritage Site and one that you shouldn't miss.
- Amphipolis - Archaeological site on the Via Egnatia with a very worthwhile museum.