Greece - Korina Miller [260]
Hatzigiannis Tours ( 25520 25666; cnr Konstantinoupoleos & Emmanouel Riga) Sells plane, boat and train tickets.
Post office ( 25520 22435; Athanasiou Pantazidou)
Web ( 25520 25012; Athanasiou Pantazidou 64; per hr €2; 24hr) Internet access.
Sights & Activities
Orestiada’s humble Folk Museum ( 25520 28080; Agion Theodoron 87; 11am-1pm & 7-9pm Tue-Sat) has traditional Thracian furnishings and costumes, old weaponry and, intriguingly, a fragment from the original Lausanne Treaty, which stipulated the Greek–Turkish population exchange.
The Metropolitan Church of the Saints Theodoros (cnr Konstantinopoleos & Orfeas), west of the plateia, is an old and unusual red-brick structure that contains some nice icons.
Almost 3km from Orestiada on the Didymotiho road, Cataract Water Park ( 25520 28922) has various pools and slides for keeping cool in summer and Mojito, a popular disco – plus a licentious new bouzoukia.
Sleeping
Hotel Elektra ( 25520 23540; www.hotel-electra.gr; Athanasiou Pantazidou 52; s/d €38/50; ) The bright B-class Elektra is a friendly and well-kept hotel in a restored neoclassical mansion. The lobby decor may be a bit gauche, but considering the cheap attic singles (€25), the Elektra offers Orestiada’s best value for money. Helpful owner Ismini Diamanti can assist with local trip planning.
Hotel Alexandros ( 25520 27000; Vasileos Konstantinou 10; s/d/tr €45/58/65; ) Fancier (and pricier) than the Elektra, the Alexandros has good-sized balconies and airy rooms near the train station.
Eating & Drinking
Taverna Petinos ( 25520 22071; Lohagou Diamandi 3; mains €4-7) has simple taverna fare in a friendly, hospitable setting, while the popular Safran ( 25520 29088; Vasileos Konstantinou; mains €5-7), just down from the Hotel Elektra, does more international cuisine.
Orestiada’s cafes line Emmanouel Riga, between Konstantinopoleos and Athanasiou Pantazidou, and work from early morning until midnight or later. Popular places include Café Café, Bel Air and Social.
Getting There & Around
From Orestiada’s bus station ( 25520 22550), hourly buses serve Didymotiho (€1.70, 20 minutes), many continuing to Alexandroupoli (€9.50, 1¼ hours). Change in Alexandroupoli for buses to Komotini, Xanthi and Thessaloniki.
Buses also go northwards to Dikea (€5.20, four daily) and the Bulgarian border at Ormenio (€5.30, two daily). The Turkish border crossing at Kastanies is served six times daily (€1.50).
From the train station ( 25520 22328) trains head south to Alexandroupoli (€4.30, three hours, seven daily) via Pythio, Didymotiho, Soufli and Feres; five continue from Alexandroupoli west to Komotini (€6.30, four hours, seven daily), Xanthi (€7.40, 4½ hours, seven daily), Thessaloniki (€16.40, 8½ hours) and Athens (€52, 15 hours).
Trains also go from Orestiada northwards to Dikea (€1, 35 minutes, seven daily), with four continuing another 10 minutes to Ormenio. The train that leaves Orestiada at 8.07am continues to Svilengrad, Bulgaria.
Get around Orestiada by walking or catching a taxi ( 25520 25025).
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AROUND ORESTIADA
Some 18km southeast on the old road, running parallel with the Evros River and the train line, the Byzantine castle of Pythio stands solemnly atop a tall bluff. Built above Pythio village, which has attractive traditional Thracian brick-and-wood houses, the castle has a commanding view out over the Thracian plain and the river’s dark tree line. Built in 1347 by Byzantine Emperor John Kantakouzenos, during a turbulent period of civil wars and Turkish invasions, this castle is Thrace’s best surviving example of Byzantine defensive architecture. Renovations continue, so you might find it’s closed when you visit. Even if you can’t sneak in, nevertheless you can get near enough to appreciate the castle’s grandeur.
If you’re hankering for pheasant, venison or wild boar, rustic Pendalofos 35km northwest of Orestiada, has a game restaurant, Evrothirama ( 25560 61202; mains €7-10). It’s open only on weekends, and is well off the