Car & Van Hire - Tsifliki

Tsifliki is a suburb of Kavala, best known for its superb beach. If you're a sun-worshipper, you'll want to head straight there! Palio Tsifliki Beach is a beautiful stretch of golden sand, around 2 km long. The waters are crystal clear, making them perfect for snorkelling. This is the ideal beach to spend long, lazy afternoons. There are a number of beach bars and some tavernas where you can enjoy some tasty Greek treats before making your way back to your sunlounger to chill out.

When you've had enough of the beach, you can use car hire in Tsifliki to explore the nearby city of Kavala. Once a major tobacco trading hub, today, Kavala is better known for its tourist industry. Its blend of beautiful nature and stunning historical monuments attracts visitors from across Europe and beyond. As you wander its streets, you'll stumble upon impressive structures like the Kamares aqueduct or the Imaret. A curious sight in Greece, this was an Islamic education centre for half a century.

The Tobacco Museum of Kavala is an unusual tourist attraction. Kavala was known for its tobacco industry until 1950, although today, only the museum and the Municipal Tobacco Warehouse remain. The latter is also open to visitors and is worth visiting for its Ottoman architecture. The tobacco museum is a fascinating sight, as it offers a rare window into just how much the world has changed in the last century. It also tells the story of this region's social and economic development.

While in town, you should also take the time to visit Kavala Castle. This 15th-century structure was built while the Ottomans held Kavala, although a fortress has stood on this site since classical times. You can walk around the walls and admire the defensive structures. The castle is extremely interesting, and it also offers great views across the city and the sea.

Car or van hire in Tsifliki will also allow you to visit Philippi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can see impressive classical monuments. This was where one of the most important battles in history took place when Mark Antony and Octavian - the future Emperor Augustus - defeated Julius Caesar's assassins, the notorious Brutus and Cassius. Today you can admire the ancient ruins, including a beautiful amphitheatre. There's also the nearby Baptistery of St Lydia. Although this is a modern church, it was built on the site of what is said to be Europe's first Christian church, founded in Philippi by the Apostle Paul.

You won't find much traffic at all in Tsifliki, which is a very small village. The beach has its own car park. In summer, you'll want to get there early to ensure you find a space. If you leave it too late, you might struggle to park. Watch out for more cars on the roads from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon. The beach in Tsifliki makes it a popular destination for weekend visitors from Thessaloniki and other cities.

Kavala is a small city, but it still has a bit of a rush hour. The narrow streets are not ideal for driving, so you'll probably want to park your car, particularly if you're planning to explore the old town. Parking in the city centre requires a parking card, which you can buy from a kiosk or from the Visitors' Information Centre at Eleftherias Square. When the markets are closed, you can park in the centre for free.

You'll find far more traffic if you decide to visit the nearby city of Thessaloniki. This is the second largest city in Greece, so the streets can be quite chaotic. For your own peace of mind, it's best to avoid driving there during rush hour. Keep this in mind when planning your trip.

Driving in rural Greece is always a bit of an adventure. You can expect narrow roads, hairpin bends and wandering goats. Keep a careful eye out for mopeds and motorbikes, which can be a real hazard, along with stray dogs. Avoid driving on country roads in the dark, as the lack of lighting can make tricky road conditions even worse.

If you decide to drive between Kavala and Thessaloniki, you have different road options. Avoid the road that leads to Mount Koutra. While the other roads in the Pangaion Hills are accessible, this one, in particular, is not paved, has an incredibly steep gradient, and is very hard to drive on unless you have a 4WD. At the top of the mountain, there are some abandoned mines and a communication tower, so this incredibly difficult drive does not offer much of a reward! Alternative routes through the Pangaion Hills will give you great views without the stress.

Be sure to carry cash when you are driving in Greece. Many petrol stations do not have facilities for card payments.