Komotini

Komotini is the capital of the Greek region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. The provincial town is strongly influenced by Muslim culture and is the center of Thrace. It is also the seat of an Orthodox bishop and home to Democritus University of Thrace since 1973. Life in Komotini is influenced by students, as the local university is a popular study site.

Komotini is located on the railway line connecting Thessaloniki and Alexandroupolis. The train station is about 1 km southeast of the city center. KTEL buses serve regional destinations.

Since the city is small and flat, you can reach all tourist attractions on foot.

Major monuments include the New Mosque (Yeni Cami, 1600-1618), Clock Tower (1884), Old Mosque (Eski Cami, 1608/9 or 1677/78), Orthodox Church of Kimiseos tis Panagias (1800), and ruins of the Byzantine fortress dating from the 4th century AD. The Imaret of Komotini (1360-1380) is one of the oldest Ottoman monuments in Thrace.

Hiking is available in the forest of Nymphaea north of the city, which features beautiful walking paths and a restaurant with views. About 30km south of Komotini are very beautiful and uncrowded beaches from Fanari in the west to Platanitis in the east.

The Old Market is a shopping street next to the Yeni Mosque. All major Greek supermarket chains are represented in Komotini, with big markets located on arterial roads.

Sultan Tepe (10 Vasileos Paulou St) serves Turkish cuisine. Ta Aderfia (33 Orfeus str, aderfia.gr) offers Oriental cuisine. Farma Kreaton on Adrianoupoleos St is a steak house. Ta Pyrofania (10 Kyriakidi Stilpnos St) is a fish taverna. Diamond (6th km Komotini-Iasmou Rd, Fri-Sat-Sun evening, diamondr.gr) is a renowned restaurant with live music. Nedim Patisserie (Kriton 15-17, Orfeos) specializes in special cookies and Eastern Mediterranean sweets.

Popular cafe bars include AVANT GARDE, MOCCA CAFE BAR, AWAY CAFE BAR, and LOBBY CLUB. Greek young people tend to go to newly opened bars, so what's trendy changes quickly. The best approach is to ask on site.

Accommodation options include Hellas Hotel (1-star, 31 Dimokritou Str, built 1995, renovated 2008), Democritus Hotel (2-star, 8 G. Vizyinou Square, hoteldemocritus.gr, built 1967, renovated 2011), Olympos Hotel (2-star, 37 Orpheos Str, hotel-olympos.gr, built 1932, renovated 2012), Kyridis Hotel (3-star, 6 Leontos Sofou Str, hotelkiridis.gr, built 2001), Orpheus Hotel (3-star, 1 Parassiou Str, main square, hotelorfeas.gr, built 1976, renovated 2010), Rodopi Hotel (3-star, 3 Ethnarchou Makariou Str, rodopihotel.gr, built 1988, renovated 2010), Arcadia Hotel (4-star, near university campus, arcadiahotel.gr, built 2003, renovated 2008), Archontiko Chris & Eve Mansion (4-star, 3rd km Komotini-Alexandroupoli Old National Rd, chris-eve.com), Achillio Hotel (4-star, 4th km Komotini-Xanthi Old National Rd, achillio.gr), Astoria Traditional Hotel (4-star, 28 Irinis Square, astoriakomotini.gr), and Anatolia Hotel (3-star, 53 Anchialou St, anatoliahotel.gr, built 1985, renovated 2010). Fanari Hotel (2-star, fanari-hotel.gr) is in Fanari.

Nearby destinations include Maroneia (archaeological site), Samothrace and Thasos islands, Kavala, Alexandroupolis, and Kardzhali in Bulgaria. The E90 highway runs west to Kavala and east to the Kipi/İpsala border crossing near Alexandroupolis.