Greece plans world's first Alexander the Great theme park near Amphipolis

Greece is set to construct the world's first educational and entertainment theme park dedicated to Alexander the Great, as announced by Grigoris Avanidis, project manager at DreamWorkers, during a recent tourism and real estate development conference hosted by The American College of Thessaloniki, according to Greek City Times. The Alexander Theme Park will be built on an 8-acre site near Amphipolis, between the cities of Kavala and Serres, and aims to serve as both a cultural landmark and an economic driver for local tourism.

"This will be the first theme park in the world dedicated to Alexander," Avanidis stated, noting that the project avoids "heavy historical themes" to appeal to a broad audience. "The excavation of the Kasta tomb, the great discussion that took place, and the undeniable fact that Alexander lived and pieces of his own history were written in that place, give the right to develop the Theme Park, the first in the world dedicated to him," he added.

The Alexander Theme Park will feature a mix of indoor and outdoor family-friendly attractions that blend interactive learning with entertainment. By focusing on engaging experiences rather than purely academic content, the park aims to attract visitors of all ages and backgrounds. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2026, with official announcements regarding the project expected within 2025. The estimated investment for the park will amount to many millions of euros but is under €10 million.

Conference speakers emphasized Greece's need to develop more thematic attractions to remain competitive in the global tourism market. Avanidis noted growing interest from Greek and international investors in developing similar projects nationwide, including parks. In his presentation at the conference, he emphasized that theme parks are attractive and have potential. "Today there is a clear gap in our country, where there is a lag in their development compared to what is happening in the rest of Europe and the world," he said.

The theme park aims to boost tourism and attract investment to the Northern Greece region, enhancing the tourist appeal of the area. Avanidis stated that the idea for the theme park draws inspiration from the region's connection to Alexander the Great. "Real estate helps in the creation of tourist products in areas that even today are 'buried in the sand' and has the power to transform them into diamonds," he said.

Tasos Andreadis, CEO of STANTA S.A., emphasized the importance of strategic tourism development, cautioning against unchecked growth. "Each area must be evaluated for its capacity to handle tourism, or we risk overburdening the places we aim to promote," he stated. He emphasized the need to develop other areas of Greece that are not currently on the accommodation map for tourists, both Greek and foreign.

In addition to the Alexander Theme Park, major urban developments are underway in the region. Thessaloniki, for instance, is experiencing a shift toward luxury hotel developments, with five-star hotels gaining more ground. "The hotel market of Thessaloniki is steadily developing," said Stefan Merkenhof, Director of Tourism & Leisure at CBRE Atria and Managing Consultant at GBR Consulting.

Foreign investment in Northern Greece rose. According to Georgios Zografos, PhD, Property Development Consultant and Adjunct Professor in Tourism at the Hellenic Open University, foreign investment in Northern Greece rose to €3 billion in 2024 from €2.1 billion in 2023, with total foreign investments from 2015 to 2024 amounting to €153.1 billion. He emphasized the development that Northern Greece is experiencing and predicted that underutilized areas will become major tourism and residential hubs. "The future looks even more promising for property investments in Northern Greece," Zografos estimated.

He also emphasized Northern Greece's geographic advantage due to its proximity to the Balkan countries and Eurasia. "Tourism has two legs, geography and marketing, and while more emphasis may be given to the second, the time has come to highlight the importance of the first, which can elevate a destination," Zografos stated.

At the conference, speakers also discussed the global shift toward thematic and experiential tourism. They noted that projects like the Alexander Theme Park could position Greece as a more competitive player in the international tourism market. Avanidis estimated that in the coming years, theme parks will experience growth in Greece. "Real estate gives life to places and supports local communities that, if they did not exist, perhaps they would not manage to stand upright," he said.

The planned theme park reflects a broader trend in Greece toward leveraging historical and cultural assets to enhance tourism offerings. With the renewed global interest in the area following the excavation of the Kasta Tomb, the region is poised to become a focal point for visitors interested in the legacy of Alexander the Great.

Conference speakers praised the innovative focus of the event, emphasizing the intersection of tourism and real estate development. The conference, titled "Tourism and Real Estate Development," has been held continuously every year since it started, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Greetings were addressed by Anestis Anastasios, head of the Academic Program in Tourism and Hospitality at The American College of Thessaloniki, Dr. Nikos Chourvouliadis, director of the ACT Entrepreneurship Center, and Prodromos Monastiridis, president of the board of directors of the Thessaloniki Convention Bureau.

The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.