Thassos

Imagine sitting in an ancient theatre built of marble 2,500 years ago. There’s a fabulous view of the Aegean Sea across the red rooftops of a Greek town. It’s starting to get dark but is still beautifully warm. 

Then the theatre comes to life. It may be a costume drama, traditional dances or a concert. But the effect is magical. This is Thassos in the summer - one of the best times of year to be there.

From June to September the island enjoys daytime temperatures that average between 25 degrees Centigrade and 29 degrees. The night-time temperature will stay above 20 degrees – perfect for an evening spent outdoors.

Thassos, the most northerly of the Greek islands, rarely bakes in sizzling heatwave temperatures and it doesn’t have the meltemi wind that blows on some islands further south. Normally, no more than a light breeze will stir the olive trees in Thassos and there is little or no rain in the peak summer months. The sea stays pleasantly warm into September.

From the last week or so of July and throughout August this friendly island stages a series of events that enable visitors to experience the charming culture and traditions that the islanders cherish. They call it the spirit of Thassos.    

Concerts, plays, dances, exhibitions, children’s events and art exhibitions are staged at several venues. Some restaurants and bars lay on special entertainment too.

But the ancient theatre on a hill overlooking Thassos Town, the capital, is the centre of activity. National theatre groups, singers and children’s theatrical groups from elsewhere in Greece take part along with the island’s many cultural groups.  

Visitors can join locals in “jumping the fire” on July 31. It’s a traditional event that goes on year after year in several villages to welcome the month of August. The purifying power of fire is meant to guarantee health and wellbeing.

 Crowds flock to the inland village of Panagia for the Feast of the Assumption on August 15. It starts with an icon of the Virgin Mary being carried around the village – and it finishes with a party that spreads from the tavernas into the streets.

A mock wedding is held to demonstrate and preserve the cultural heritage of the mountain village of Theologos in August. It lasts several days, starting with a demonstration of the bride’s costumes and, of course, ending with a wedding feast.

Getting around Thassos is straightforward. It has well-maintained asphalt roads that reach most of the resorts and villages, including those high in the hills, and a good bus service.  The road that follows the circular coastline is about 60 miles long. There are some steep and twisty bits, but much of it is fairly flat.  

Buses:  They run clockwise and anti-clockwise around the coast road, so resorts and beaches are all accessible, and also inland to Theologos, Panagia and Potamia.  The bus depot is in Thassos Town. The services are regular and fairly reliable throughout the summer with eight buses Monday to Saturday and six on Sundays.

Car hire:  Cars, motorbikes, scooters, quads and mopeds can be rented from businesses in Thassos Town, Skala Prinos and Limenaria and some of the other larger resorts. An appropriate full licence will be required.

Taxis: Because of the good road system, taxis cover most of the island. They tend to congregate in the main resorts and are very busy in the peak summer months. Hotels will book cabs in advance. 

Fun train:  This road train does day-time tours of Skala Panagia and Skala Potamia, the villages at either end of Khryssi Ammoudia, the golden sands.  In the evening the fun train tours move to Thassos Town.  

Hiking and biking:  There are routes, both easy and hard, along the coast, through the olive groves and forests, into the mountains and even to an abandoned village. Cycles and mountain bikes can be hired.

Excursions: There are round-the-island sightsee-and-swim boat trips and water taxis that go between the larger resorts and outlying beaches. Explore villages, ancient sites, museums and more on a Thassos treasures tour. Or go sightseeing off the beaten track on a buggy or 4x4 vehicle.

Ferries: There are several return ferries each day to Kavala and Keramoti on the mainland. The crossings are short enough to allow several hours to be spent on the mainland before returning to Thassos.