Porto Lagos

At Porto Lagos the Vistonida lagoon meets the Thracian Sea through narrow channels, and on a rock in the water stands the chapel of Agios Nikolaos, reached by a wooden footbridge from the shore; a second small church sits on the bank, both dependencies of the Vatopedi monastery on Athos. The image of the white chapel on its islet with the flat water around it is one of the best known in northern Greece. The lagoon system, part of the Nestos-Vistonida-Ismarida national park, is a major wintering ground for flamingos, pelicans and ducks, easily seen from the causeways and the roadside. Fishing boats and traditional traps work the channels, and mussel and fish farming continue in the shallows.

What you actually see

• The islet chapel - Agios Nikolaos on its rock, reached by a footbridge.
• The lagoon birds - flamingos, pelicans and wildfowl on the shallow water.
• The channels - fishing traps and boats where lagoon meets sea.
• The causeways - roads across the water with viewpoints on both sides.

When to go

October to May for birds in numbers; winter brings flamingos in their thousands. Summer is hot, hazy and much emptier of wildlife. Early morning gives the best light and calmest water.

Honest expectations

The site is small and beside a busy road, and the surroundings include fish farms and industrial buildings. The chapel is often locked, and the walkway can be closed in storms. Bird watching needs binoculars, as the flocks keep their distance.

Nearby

Xanthi lies west, Komotini east; the Nestos delta is along the same coast.