Xanthi's old town is one of the best-preserved 19th-century quarters in northern Greece, and one of the least visited by tourists despite its quality. The mansions that line its cobbled streets were built by tobacco merchants during the boom decades of the mid-to-late 1800s, when Xanthi was a major centre of tobacco cultivation and trade. The buildings show an eclectic mix of influences — Ottoman timber framing, neoclassical facades, Macedonian-style projecting bay windows — in rich ochres, reds, and greens.
The neighbourhood climbs the hillside above the modern town centre. The best approach is simply to walk uphill from the main square and let the lanes take you wherever they go. Several of the mansions have been converted into cafes, restaurants, or small guesthouses. The atmosphere is quieter on weekdays; on Saturday, the bazaar below the old town fills the streets with life.