Where to stay in Kavala

Panagia is the historic settlement on the peninsula, rising from the harbour to the castle, under 1 km from Eleftherias Square. The centre around the square and the harbour is the commercial city, crossed by the arches of the Kamares aqueduct; Kavala is the main seaport of eastern Macedonia, on the A2 motorway, about 160 km east of Thessaloniki.

West of the centre, Kalamitsa and Batis form the beach district, about 4 to 5 km from the square by road; Batis holds a Blue Flag for 2026. Nea Peramos, a coastal town on the Bay of Eleftheres about 22 km from the centre by road, lies in the Municipality of Pangaio. Keramoti, east of the airport in the Municipality of Nestos, is a small resort with a sandy beach and the port for the shorter crossing to Thasos. Both towns lie outside the Municipality of Kavala.

Panagia is the one place where the car cannot come. The municipal regulation for the peninsula reserves the area inside Poulidou, Gravias, Pipinou and Kimonos streets and the aqueduct for the cars of permanent residents with permits and says that visitors may not park. Guests of rented apartments may load and unload their cars where stopping is allowed, and that is all.

The centre has a controlled zone under a new regulation approved on 25 May 2026. Visitors use the white bays, and may also pay to use the blue residents' bays, on weekdays from 08:00 to 21:00 and on Saturdays from 08:00 to 16:00, paying EUR 1 for one hour, EUR 2 for two and EUR 4 for three, the maximum, in the Novoville app or at partner sales points. Sundays, public holidays and the hours outside those times are free. Three hours at a time does not fit a car parked for days, so a hotel or flat with its own space is the practical choice in the centre.

For Kalamitsa, Nea Peramos and Keramoti no parking rules were found, so ask the host. The airport is about 31 km from the centre and 12 km from Keramoti by road. GetCar's car rental page for Kavala covers the hire.

Thassos Ferries runs two crossings: Keramoti to Limenas and Kavala to Prinos. On the company's price page a car up to 4.25 m costs EUR 22 on either crossing and a longer car EUR 27; a passenger pays EUR 6 from Keramoti and EUR 7 from Kavala. Tickets are not sold online, only at the company's offices immediately before departure. The page carries no date, so check the price at the office.

Greece charges a climate resilience fee per night and per room or property, paid by the guest before departure. Article 44 of the Code of indirect taxes (Law 5177/2025) sets the amounts, unchanged for 2026: from April to October EUR 8 in a short-term rental, EUR 15 in a detached house over 80 m2 or a tourist villa, EUR 2 in rented rooms and EUR 2 to 15 in hotels by stars; from November to March between EUR 0.50 and EUR 4.

Hotels and professional hosts also charge the municipal visitors' fee on the price of stays under six months. Kavala set it at 0.5% for every kind of accommodation from 1 January 2026 in council decision 254/2025, after withdrawing a recalculation; no decision raising it was found for Pangaio or Nestos. Private hosts who let one or two properties do not charge it. Every short-term rental must show its 11-digit AMA, or a ΕΣΛ or ΜΑΓ number if licensed, and since 1 October 2025 must meet the safety rules of Law 5170/2025.

Street parking in the centre is free on Sundays and public holidays, which suits a weekend arrival. The climate fee falls from EUR 8 to EUR 2 a night in a short-term rental from November to March. Compare prices on this page before booking.

The old town on foot, with the car elsewhere: Panagia. A city base with services all year: the centre and harbour. A beach stay in the city: Kalamitsa and Batis. A beach town towards Thessaloniki: Nea Peramos. Thasos and the airport: Keramoti.