For most tourists from the post-Soviet space, their acquaintance with Greece begins from here. International airport, seaport, railway station – Thessaloniki, the second largest Greek city, the capital of the region of Macedonia is a major transport hub. But thanks to its rich history, Thessaloniki (Greece) also has its own attractions. The city contains monuments of three eras: Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine.
Therefore, when you fly to Thessaloniki, you should not use this place only as a transit point on the way to the famous Greek resorts; devote a few days to it yourself. There are more than enough interesting things to see in the city of Thessaloniki, where ancient excavations can be seen in the courtyards of modern residential areas. Using the advice of those travelers who have been here more than once, we will try to guide you around the city and tell you what you can see in Thessaloniki in 3 days.
For many, this city initially makes a contradictory impression due to the incredible combination of eras and architectural styles. Nearby there may be a beautiful park, flowers, domes of old and new temples, ancient excavations and right there – rusty fences, unsuccessful sloppy graffiti on the walls of dull high-rise buildings... and suddenly, on the wall of another house – a completely original work of modern art! And all this alternates in Thessaloniki, block after block.
But gradually you find some special harmony in this leapfrog and kaleidoscope. Some tourists leave Thessaloniki having understood the soul of this city and even fallen a little in love with it.
And our journey has just begun. What is a must see in Thessaloniki and cannot be missed?
Rate the Greek answer to Starbucks
If you ask Greeks where to drink coffee in Thessaloniki, 9 out of 10 will recommend Mikel coffee shops. The coffee here is really excellent. If you like it black and unsweetened, order “sketo” - without sugar and milk, if on the contrary, say “gliko”. A mid-sweet option is called metrio, and if you ask for a frappe, you'll get iced coffee with whipped milk foam and chunks of ice.
Takeaway coffee in a bright branded cup is cheaper, and Mikel chain establishments also offer promotions on coffee and fresh pastries - an excellent option when you need a quick meal in Thessaloniki: you can take coffee and a croissant with you and have a snack on the embankment with a picturesque view.
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What to see with children?
If you come for just one day , then the ideal option is a walk along the embankment with a boat ride and a photo shoot at the “Umbrellas” installation. You can have time to visit the White Tower and go to the local market, where a lot of fruits and souvenirs are sold.
If you are vacationing in Thessaloniki for several days, be sure to take your children to the technological museum. It will be an unforgettable experience! The most suitable entertainment options are the Waterland water park and a boat trip to one of the beaches in the surrounding area.
Climb the White Tower
The sunset you look at from the White Tower in Thessaloniki will be remembered for a long time.
Choose tickets by clicking on the photo! The White Tower on the shores of Thermaikos Gulf in Thessaloniki has a dark history. It was built by the Turks as a defensive structure, but in addition to the fort, it managed to be a prison and a place of mass executions. After 1826, when, by order of the Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II, a monstrous massacre of prisoners was carried out here, it was nicknamed the “Bloody Tower”. This name, along with the “Red Tower,” was in use until the end of the 19th century.
In 1912, the city of Thessaloniki came under Greek rule - then the tower was repainted white to symbolically cleanse it of its dark past. Now there is a museum here that tells about the history, culture and famous people of the city. At the top you will find a wonderful observation deck with wonderful views, and the flagpole for the Greek flag above the White Tower is the mast of the Turkish battleship Fehti Buland, sunk by the Greeks at the beginning of the Balkan Wars.
Other interesting museums in Thessaloniki:
- Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki
- Museum of the Macedonian Struggle
- Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art
- State Museum of Modern Art (especially interesting to look at the Russian avant-garde from the Costakis collection)
- Folklore and Ethnological Museum of Macedonia and Thrace
- Museum of Ancient Greek, Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Musical Instruments
- Museum of Photography in Thessaloniki
- Science Center and Technology Museum
- Cinema Museum of Thessaloniki
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Context
Thessaloniki, or Thessalonica, is the name of the sister of Alexander the Great, whom his successor married. From the 3rd century BC. e. Many monuments from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine eras, the period of Ottoman rule and modern times have accumulated here. Since 1912, Thessaloniki has been part of free, independent Greece. After a huge fire in August 1917, the center began to be rebuilt according to the design of the Frenchman Ebrard, but the money soon ran out, and the surrounding areas were built with less pomp. Over the course of centuries and millennia, dynasties, political regimes, empires and entire civilizations have repeatedly replaced each other in Northern Greece. Hence the cultural diversity of the region: slightly sagging Byzantine churches are adjacent to the ruins of a Roman palace and modern high-rise buildings; from the Jewish quarter you go to Turkish baths and elegant mansions with French-style attics.
In 1925, one of the largest Balkan universities, the Aristotle University, was founded in Thessaloniki. Thanks to him, the city is full of young people. There are many clubs, bars and cafes, inexpensive housing, bike paths, graffiti, scooter rental stations, and the city poster is aimed at residents 18–35 years old (this is the floating age of a Greek student).
Take photos of floating umbrellas
The installation “Umbrellas” by George Zangolopoulos on the Thessaloniki embankment was installed in 1997, when the city was recognized as the cultural capital of Europe. Since then, the sculpture Ομπρέλες του Ζογγολόπουλου, an eight-minute walk from the White Tower, has become perhaps the most Instagrammable place in Thessaloniki.
This part of the embankment is usually quite windy, so it is difficult to resist taking a photo as Mary Poppins. “Umbrellas” by Zangolopoulos looks especially fabulous in the evenings when the lights turn on.
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Description of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is the cultural capital and second largest city of Greece. Its area is 19,307 km², and the population of the city, together with the surrounding areas, is over 1.1 million people.
This Greek city has a rich history. The Macedonian king Cassander founded Thessaloniki in 315 BC and named it after his wife, whose name was Thessalonica. The history of the city can be divided into several periods: ancient, Byzantine, Ottoman and the period of re-Hellenization.
Enjoy the sweet triangles of panoramatos
Greek confectioner Yorgos Elenidis came up with delicate triangles of panoramatos made from puff pastry with custard back in the 1960s, but never patented his recipe. Today in Thessaloniki and throughout Greece you can try different versions of these cakes, but the most correct one is when the cream filling is added right before serving so that the dough does not soften. You can try classic Thessalonian triangle panoramatos at the Trigona Elinidi cafe.
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Have fun in the colorful Ladadika quarter
The dubious reputation of the Ladadika quarter is a thing of the past - today it is a vibrant and distinctive district of Thessaloniki, where it is interesting to walk during the day and have fun relaxing at night.
Come to Ladadika to wind your way through narrow cobbled streets lined with picture-postcard houses, listen to live music in taverns, sample ouzo and Greek wine in atmospheric bars and dance until the early hours with the locals in trendy clubs.
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Immerse yourself in history at the Museum of Byzantine Culture
An ancient mosaic at the entrance to an early Christian house in the Museum of Byzantine Culture in Thessaloniki
It is worth setting aside at least a couple of hours for the Museum of Byzantine Culture in Thessaloniki and it is better not to plan other attractions for this day: it houses one of the richest collections of artifacts of early Christian culture and history in Europe - there will be a lot of impressions.
The first hall of the museum introduces the structure of a paleo-Christian temple, in the second you can study in detail how people lived in the era of early Christianity: what kind of dwellings they built, what they dressed in, what they ate and what utensils they used. The third room, entitled “From the Champs Elysees to the Christian Paradise,” talks about paleo-Christian cemeteries and funerary art, and the fourth talks about monasticism, iconoclasm and the activities of Cyril and Methodius. Two more exhibitions are dedicated to Byzantine emperors and life in the fortresses of Byzantium. Finally, in the last two rooms you can admire a collection of ancient icons and a collection of religious engravings.
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Experience the atmosphere of the Modiano market
At the large Modiano market in Thessaloniki you can buy everything from fresh octopus to a beach pareo. If you want to bring olive oil, pickled olives or unusual spices like hot peppers with Greek strawberry flavor as a gift to your loved ones, this is the place for you again.
Having a snack at the Modiano market is also a great idea. Here they bake delicious pancakes with a variety of fillings and layered bougatsi pies with custard or cheese, and they also serve gyros - it’s something like shawarma or doner kebab, only the dish is served with French fries and tzatziki sauce.
Shopping in Thessaloniki can be continued on the famous Tsimiski shopping street. For new items from popular brands, go to the Attica shopping center, for luxury brands - to Notos Galleries. If you are interested in Greek fashion stores, head towards Hagia Sophia Boulevard and Ermou Street next to the Modiano Market - for example, there are Lynne and Pin Up boutiques.
When is the sales season in Thessaloniki?
There are two main sales seasons in Thessaloniki: summer sales start on July 15 and end in August, winter sales start immediately after the New Year and last from January 15 until the beginning of spring.
In addition, many stores in Thessaloniki organize off-season sales. The best chance of getting one is in the first weeks of May and November. At the beginning of September, a major trade fair takes place at the HELEXPO exhibition center.
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Relax on Aristotle Square
It’s great to spend one of the evenings in Thessaloniki on Aristotle Square. This is the central square - it starts from the promenade along the Thermaikos Gulf and rises to the hill on which the Basilica of St. Demetrius stands.
Two cream-colored neoclassical buildings arranged in a semicircle are the five-star Electra Palace Hotel and the Olympion Cinema, where the Thessaloniki International Film Festival takes place each year. Next to the cinema, don't miss the statue of the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, mentor of Alexander the Great. Along the perimeter of Aristotle Square there are many cafes, restaurants and bookstores - this is not just another tourist attraction, but a favorite place for meetings and relaxation among the residents of Thessaloniki.
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Tourist information
- Population - more than 300 thousand people (agglomeration - more than 1 million people).
- Area - 19.31 km².
- Currency - euro.
- Visa - Schengen.
- Language: Greek.
- Time: UTC +2, summer +3.
- Thessaloniki is famous for its shopping streets. The main ones are Tsimiski and Proxenou Koromila.
- Thessaloniki cuisine has an oriental character and is distinguished by a large number of spices. The Greeks consider the city one of the gastronomic capitals. This all refers to local delicacies and inexpensive traditional dishes, and not to haute cuisine.
- Thessaloniki is a youth city. Therefore, street food is very common here: souvlaki, gyros, crepes, roasted chestnuts. Young people often prefer the fast food chain Goody's.
- Popular areas with many cafes and restaurants: Ladadika, Athonos, Ano Poli.
Travel back in time under the Arch of Galerius
At the turn of the 3rd and 4th centuries AD, the Roman Emperor Galerius ordered the construction of a triumphal arch in Thessaloniki in honor of his victories. The majestic arch became part of his funeral complex and, unlike the mausoleum and palace, with which it was connected by galleries, it has partially survived to this day. Today you can look at a 29-meter fragment of the western wall of the arch and at the tomb of Galerius.
In the 5th century, the funeral ensemble was transformed into a church dedicated to St. George the Victorious, hence the second name: Rotunda of St. George. Since the end of the 16th century, the building was used as a mosque, and in 1912 a museum of Christian art was opened here - since then, services in the rotunda have been held only on major church holidays. In the late 1980s, the arch and tomb of Galerius were included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
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Take a look at the legendary cheese shop on Komninon Street
After the Asia Minor disaster of 1922, a refugee from Turkish Samsun, Cosmas Sotiriadis, settled in Thessaloniki and soon opened his first grocery store. The locals fell in love with the store, and Kosmas’s work was continued by his children and grandchildren.
You can still look into Pantopolio tis Thessaloniki at 12 Komninon Street and feel the special, family atmosphere. And also - choose several varieties of cheese to try, buy juicy vegetables and fruits and try unusual Mediterranean products - for example, wild dandelion stamnangafi from the island of Crete, marinades with “Greek wild garlic” tsitsiravla from the island of Chios, stuffed peppers mustopiperia, salted mackerel tsiros from Mramornye sea or unusual halva.
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Take a ride on a pirate schooner along the Thermic Gulf
To admire Thessaloniki from the water, choose the cheapest tickets to Greece now!
Thermaikos Gulf can be admired not only from the shore. Every half hour or hour, guests of Thessaloniki can go out into the Aegean Sea on a pirate schooner and see cargo ships and the city port from a new angle.
A half-hour boat trip along the Thermic Gulf is free of charge: you don’t need to pay for entry to the pirate deck, but you will have to buy some kind of drink on board - at least a bottle of water. This investment will definitely pay off, especially if you decide to take a boat ride at sunset: the views are priceless!
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Geography and climate
Thessaloniki is located on the northern edge of the Thermaikos Gulf (Aegean Sea) and is bordered in the southeast by the Chortiatis Mountains. The climate is subtropical. Summers are quite hot and dry with average temperatures of 25 - 27 °C. Winters are cool with rare negative temperatures. The sea water temperature from July to September is 24 - 26 °C. You can swim from May to October.
Thessaloniki street
Sunbathe on the beaches outside the city
No matter how great it is to walk around Thessaloniki, going to Greece and not going for a swim is not the same. The second Greek capital is located on the shores of the Aegean Sea, but the best beaches are located outside the city limits.
Holidays in Thessaloniki can easily be made by the sea. Find out the price for tickets by clicking on the photo!
The best beaches near Thessaloniki. Perea Beach
Distance from Thessaloniki to Perea Beach (Περαία): 22 km
The sandy beach of Peraia Beach is located in the resort suburb of Thessaloniki - in the town of Peraia. During the day they sunbathe, swim and play beach volleyball, and in the evenings they dance in discos. Sun loungers, umbrellas, playgrounds, cafes and bars are at your service.
Where to go to the sea with a child from Thessaloniki. Agia Triada Beach
Distance from Thessaloniki to Agia Triada beach (Αγία Τριάδα): 26 km
The seaside village of Agia Triada near Thessaloniki is a good place to relax with the whole family. If you don’t want to drive a car, it’s convenient to get there by regular bus. You can change clothes in special beach cabins; there is a playground for kids, and tennis courts, taverns and bars for parents. The shore is sandy, the entrance to the sea is gentle, and the water is clean.
Where to surf near Thessaloniki. Angelochori beach
Distance to Angelochori beach (Αγγελοχώρι) from Thessaloniki: 30 km
If you are looking for a good surfing beach around Thessaloniki, take a look at Angelochori. Despite the fact that windsurfers and kitesurfers from all over the area come here, there are no crowds of vacationers in three layers on the local beach even at the height of the season.
Where to sunbathe and swim near Thessaloniki. Nea Michaniona beach
Distance to Nea Michaniona (Νέα Μηχανιώνα) from Thessaloniki: 33 km
The seaside town of Nea Michaniona is famous for its well-maintained sandy beach with cafes, bars, changing rooms, sun loungers and volleyball courts. In these places, the salty sea warms up quickly, and life flows slowly and sweetly - the perfect combination!
When is the best time to go to Thessaloniki?
Thessaloniki has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot summers.
Spring and autumn are best suited for excursion tourism, when it is not so hot. The swimming season on the beaches near Thessaloniki lasts from late May to mid-October. The most crowded months are July and August.
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When to go
In summer and the first half of September the city is slow and hot. Come in the fall and you’ll get to the Street Mode and Dimitria festivals. At this time, it’s still warm here, and you can comfortably drink signature cold frappe coffee on the open terrace by the sea, but the heat is no longer driven into the shade or under air conditioning.
At the end of October, on the 26th and 28th respectively, two main local holidays are held: City Day in honor of Thessaloniki's patron Saint Demetrius and the national Okha Day with ceremonial costume parades. This way you will receive an additional cultural program, which will include the president’s visit.
Dine in a panoramic restaurant at altitude
Thessaloniki is proud of its 76-meter OTE Tower. TV crews work here, international exhibitions are held and important meetings are scheduled. At the very top there is a revolving restaurant called Skyline Bar with wonderful views of the entire city and the sea. The restaurant makes a full turn in 40 minutes - you have time to enjoy both a cup of coffee and the panorama.
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How to get there
Thessaloniki Airport is located 15 km southeast of the city center and is connected to the following national and international destinations: Athens, Heraklion, Corfu, Santorini, Rhodes, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Basel, London, Stockholm, Oslo, Paris, Milan, Rome, Bergamo, Prague, Budapest, Warsaw, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Minsk, Bucharest, Yerevan. From the airport to the city you can take 24-hour buses 01X / 01N.
Trains and buses connect Thessaloniki with Athens, Sofia and Belgrade. Easily accessible by car from Athens, Istanbul, Belgrade, Tirana, Sofia.
Buy souvenirs in the Upper Town of Ano Poli
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The upper city of Thessaloniki Ano Poli is locally called Kastra - “fortress”. All that remains of its former grandeur are the Byzantine walls with massive towers, the temple at the Vlatadon monastery and old houses with maisonettes.
Near the Seven Towers of Eptapirgiou there is an excellent observation deck, and they also sell nice inexpensive souvenirs with the symbols of Thessaloniki - if you need to bring magnets to your colleagues and friends for 1 euro, this is the place for you.
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Housing
In the center there are relatively inexpensive and at the same time interesting areas of the Roman Forum and Dimitriou Street with elements of the belle epoque, the hippie quarter of Valaoritou with a club and bar cluster. Beautiful views open from the Upper Town - but this is an option for those who are ready for daily descents and ascents. The cheapest thing - 20-30 euros per night - is to rent an apartment or room in residential areas, especially if you are staying longer than a week: closer to ordinary shops and eateries where locals drink coffee in the morning, and away from tourist sites. Toumba meets these requirements - a very pleasant, intelligent and quiet place, except for the days of football matches at the stadium of the same name, the home ground of the Thessaloniki club PAOK.
Hostels
Take a look at Little Big House with a cafe and rooftop garden (from 13 euros) or Crossroads in the Upper Town (from 15 euros).
Hotels
Among the inexpensive ones, the Tourist Hotel is considered a legend, located in a beautiful building of the early twentieth century in the very center, with the best cafes and shops within walking distance. Two stars, high ratings, it’s almost impossible to rent a room during the season, but if you’re lucky, you’ll have to fork out no less than 65 euros.
