Soufli Folklore Museum "Ta Gnafala"
67.7 km from the center
About
For three generations the Bourouliti family has been collecting and preserving objects that keep Soufli's traditions alive. The result is "Ta Gnafala" - named after the first threads a silkworm spins for its cocoon - a folklore museum with a rich collection of old everyday, agricultural and ecclesiastical objects, traditional local costumes, jewellery, clasps and handicrafts of every kind.
Since 2006 the museum has expanded its activities beyond the exhibits themselves, and since 2007 it has hosted the annual "Ta Gnafala" cultural festival every summer, featuring theatre performances, concerts, dance groups and exhibitions of painting, video art, photography and poetry.
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- 45 λεπτά - 1 ώρα
Weather in Alexandroupoli
LiveFrom April to June and from September to October you get warm days, calm sea, and fewer crowds. July and August are hot and busy along the seafront, while winters stay mild but rainy.
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ΠΡΟΤΕΙΝΟΜΕΝΟNEWAn Unforgettable Weekend in Alexandroupoli
A carefully planned two-day itinerary for anyone who wants to experience Alexandroupoli like a local over a single weekend: traditional bougatsa in the morning, a swim at an organised beach, a sunset walk to the Lighthouse and an evening out for dinner and drinks. Saturday: bougatsa, the sea, a harbour sunset, dinner and a drink. Sunday: morning coffee, shopping, a swim and lunch by the beach, evening souvenir shopping. A good starting point if arriving from Turkey: stop at Jumbo and Lidl on the way into the city.
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ΠΡΟΤΕΙΝΟΜΕΝΟNEWA Walk by the Harbour
The walk along Alexandroupoli's harbour is one of the city's most beautiful and characteristic experiences, ideal for relaxing at any time of day. It usually starts right after the Lighthouse square, heading down towards the sea, with unobstructed views over the Thracian Sea and Samothraki. The best time for the walk is sunset, when the sky is painted in unique colors. Along the harbour you will find the historic stone Customs House buildings, a landmark of the area. The old stone Customs Warehouses have been restored and transformed into a cultural venue; Warehouses 1 and 3 have been named in honour of former mayors Georgios Alexandris and Triantafyllos Arvanitidis, and host exhibitions, talks, book presentations, conferences and cultural events, while in summer the surrounding area comes alive with open-air events, concerts and festivals. You will see the picturesque fishing boats and caiques of the city moored there, giving the place its traditional atmosphere. Right on the harbour you will find N.O.A. (Nautical Overseas Adventures) , an all-day cafe-bar-restaurant with a huge outdoor area by the water, ideal for coffee, food or a cocktail, with its own free parking.
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ΠΡΟΤΕΙΝΟΜΕΝΟNEWEvros Delta National Park
A boat ride through the channels of the Evros Delta, one of Europe's most important Ramsar wetlands, rich in birdlife. Organised boat excursions are run by Delta Evros Explorer, departing from the Information Centre in Traianoupoli or with hotel pickup in Alexandroupoli (extra cost).
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NEWByzantine Castles of Avantas and Potamos
The ruins of two Byzantine castles in the villages of Avantas and Potamos, inland from Alexandroupoli - a reminder of the area's role as a military stronghold on the border with Constantinople during the Byzantine period. The surrounding gorges are today an ideal spot for hiking and eco-tourism.
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NEWAncient Doriskos
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NEWDadia Mushroom Festival
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Presents the rich tradition of the nomadic Sarakatsani people.
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NEWDadia Forest National Park
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NEWDadia Forest: Wild Nature, Hiking and Birds of Prey Watching
One of the most important nature excursions in Evros leads to the Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli Forest National Park, a large protected area in the heart of Evros, known throughout Europe for its unique importance for birds of prey. The National Park covers approximately 428,000 stremmata and lies in a distinctive geographic position, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and near a major bird migration corridor. The landscape is a mosaic of forests, clearings, scrubland and agricultural land, shaped by the long coexistence of people and nature. The area is protected for its exceptionally rich biodiversity, and in particular for the birds of prey that nest or pass through here. The Dadia Forest The forest is characterised by extensive wooded areas, with oak and pine, glades and ravines that create a very different landscape from the lowland and coastal parts of Evros. The area is a habitat for many species of wildlife. Among the animals one may encounter in the wider area are roe deer, wild boar, foxes, hares and wolves, while the presence of many bird species makes the forest particularly interesting for nature watchers. Dadia's great value, however, lies mainly in its birds of prey. The Cinereous Vulture and the Raptors Dadia is one of the most important sites in Europe for the Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus), one of Europe's largest birds of prey. Despite the heavy losses caused by the 2023 wildfire, the species' population continues to show remarkable resilience. According to the most recent data from OFYPEKA, 44 active Cinereous Vulture pairs were recorded during the June 2026 breeding season, a number that remains close to the high of 47 pairs recorded the previous year. The area is also home to black storks, short-toed eagles, common buzzards, lesser spotted eagles and other raptor and forest species. Sightings are not guaranteed, as these are wild animals, but their very presence is one of the main reasons Dadia has gained international renown. Dadia Information Centre Before setting out to explore the area, it is worth stopping at the Information Centre of the Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli National Park, in the village of Dadia. There you can learn about the ecosystem, the area's species, the routes currently available and the current access conditions. The Centre is open daily 08:00-16:00, and for information on visits and routes you can call 25540 32202. OFYPEKA also provides the number 25540 32209 for information and bookings for the Birds of Prey Observatory. Hiking in the Forest Dadia has historically had a network of marked hiking trails running through forest, clearings, old cart tracks and ravines. 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NEWTraianoupoli: Thermal Baths, History, River and Platanotopos
A short excursion from Alexandroupoli combining history, hot springs, old baths and lush green scenery. The Traianoupoli area is ideal for anyone who wants to leave the city and the sea behind for a while and discover a different side of the Municipality, with archaeological remains, Ottoman monuments, water and outdoor recreation areas. Ancient Traianoupoli Traianoupoli was founded by the Roman emperor Trajan in the early 2nd century AD and grew into an important administrative, military and ecclesiastical centre of Thrace. Its position on the route of the ancient Via Egnatia contributed significantly to its development. Its hot springs were already, since antiquity, one of the main reasons the area attracted visitors. Parts of the archaeological site and remains testifying to the city's long history survive in the wider area. Also of particular interest is the ancient Via Egnatia itself, sections of which are preserved in the Traianoupoli area and further east, offering a glimpse of the route travellers followed almost two thousand years ago. The Han of Gazi Evrenos One of the area's most distinctive monuments is the Han of Traianoupoli, also known as the Han of Gazi Evrenos Bey. It is an Ottoman caravanserai, a place where travellers and merchants moving along the Via Egnatia could stop and be accommodated. The building dates to around 1370-1390 and ranks among the oldest Ottoman monuments in the Balkans. The large stone structure is today one of Traianoupoli's most recognisable landmarks and is worth including in a visit even when the modern baths are not operating. The Old Baths Behind the Han lie the remains of the old bath facilities. The area is linked to the long tradition of the hot springs and their use during both the Roman and Ottoman periods. The surviving bath structures include vaulted buildings and remains of the facilities once used for bathing. So, within a relatively small area, you can see Roman remains, the Han of Gazi Evrenos and the old baths, essentially tracing the area's history across the centuries. The Thermal Springs The hot springs remain Traianoupoli's best-known feature. The natural spring of the Traianoupoli Baths has been officially recognised as therapeutic, and the spring water reaches a temperature of around 51°C. The modern facilities include a hydrotherapy centre with individual tubs, as well as hotel accommodation. Today, however, the Thermal Baths are out of operation. In 2026, TIEDA (the Municipality's development company) began a process for the operational and energy upgrade of the hydrotherapy centre, aiming to bring it back into service. The area is therefore worth visiting even without the option of a spa treatment, though it's worth checking whether the baths have reopened before a future visit specifically for that purpose. Nature, Water and Plane-Tree Groves The excursion in the wider area can continue with a stop in nature. The flat lands around Traianoupoli and the neighbouring settlements offer a very different picture from Alexandroupoli's coastal scenery, with water, plane trees, greenery and outdoor recreation spaces. For a more organised stop in nature, especially if you want to pair the trip with food or a picnic, Platanotopos Maistrou stands out. The site is particularly popular for outings and family activities. For May Day 2026, the Municipality of Alexandroupoli announced that Platanotopos was ready to welcome visitors, with picnic tables, public taps, football and basketball courts, chess, table tennis and outdoor gym equipment. It is therefore a spot better suited to those who want a more relaxed excursion, with time in nature, play for the kids, or a picnic under the trees. An Excursion for Every Season The area can be approached differently depending on the season. In spring, the green spaces and outdoor areas are great for picnics and family outings, with May Day being a classic day for a trip into nature. In summer, the plane trees and areas with water offer a pleasant change from the heat of the city, and a visit to the historic monuments can be combined with a longer stop in nature. In autumn and winter, the historical side of Traianoupoli becomes more appealing, as you can spend more time at the Han, the old baths and the archaeological site without the summer heat. What to See and Do A complete excursion can combine: Traianoupoli archaeological site → Han of Gazi Evrenos → old baths → hot springs → a walk in nature → Platanotopos Maistrou → picnic and outdoor activities. If the Thermal Baths have reopened by the time you visit the area, you can also add a spa treatment to the plan. Traianoupoli is thus more than just a destination for therapeutic waters. It is a short excursion that combines almost two thousand years of history with nature and outdoor recreation, offering a different experience just a few kilometres outside Alexandroupoli.
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NEWTychero Ecotourism Centre & Lake
A short excursion to Tychero, half an hour from Alexandroupoli, around the artificial Lake Tychero (Lyra dam) and the Ecotourism Centre at the entrance to the town. The site combines recreation, sport and relaxation, with a guesthouse, pool, amphitheatre and riding club, while the lake itself is used for canoeing. The Ecotourism Centre also houses rare fossil finds from the area. Every August the Tychero Youth Festival is held here, with concerts and cultural events. A good base for trips onward to the Evros Delta and Dadia Forest.
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NEWSoufli Silk Museum
Housed in a neoclassical building from 1886, the Silk Art Museum has operated since 1990 and is one of Greece's first thematic museums of technical heritage, part of the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation's museum network. It traces every stage of pre-industrial silk production - from raising silkworms to unwinding the cocoon thread, dyeing and weaving - within the social and economic context that made Soufli a major Greek silk-production centre from the late 19th to the mid-20th century. Dedicated sections cover everyday life in Soufli during the heyday of the silk trade, with rare period tools and machinery on display.
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NEWA Nearby Excursion to Avantas and Agioi Theodoroi
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