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Destinations / Greece

Thessaloniki

Byzantine churches, waterfront walks and Greece's best food

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Plan your trip to ThessalonikiSee the top 10
319,045Population
GreekLanguage
EURCurrency
3 daysIdeal stay
$110-180Typical day

Thessaloniki is Greece's second city, a laid back port with a long seafront, Roman ruins and many Byzantine churches. It has a big student population, lively bars and an excellent food scene. Fewer foreign tourists come than to Athens, so it feels local. It is also a gateway to Halkidiki beaches and Mount Olympus.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. A round 15th century tower on the seafront and the city's symbol. Inside, a museum tells Thessaloniki's story floor by floor, and the roof gives harbor views.

    1 hourTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.

    Official siteSee on the map

  2. A seafront promenade several kilometers long, ending at the Umbrellas sculpture by George Zongolopoulos. Locals walk, cycle and gather here in the evenings.

    1 to 2 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Walk it at sunset.
    See on the map

  3. The city's grand main square opens onto the sea, lined with arcaded buildings. It is the setting for big events and celebrations.

    30 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead
    See on the map

  4. One of the best archaeological museums in Greece, focused on ancient Macedonia. Highlights include gold wreaths, jewelry and finds from royal tombs.

    2 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.

    Official siteSee on the map

  5. Two Roman monuments built around 300 AD for Emperor Galerius. The arch is covered in carved reliefs, and the massive Rotunda later served as a church and a mosque.

    1 hourTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.

    See on the map

  6. A large basilica dedicated to the city's patron saint, Demetrius, rebuilt after the 1917 fire. Its crypt holds Roman era remains.

    45 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead
    See on the map

  7. The old upper town keeps steep lanes, wooden houses and long sections of Byzantine walls. The Heptapyrgion fortress at the top gives views over the city and gulf.

    2 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Taxi up and walk down.
    See on the map

  8. Covered and street markets in the center selling olives, cheese, spices and fish. Modiano reopened after renovation with eateries inside.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead
    See on the map

  9. An 8th century Byzantine church modeled on its namesake in Istanbul. Its dome has a mosaic of the Ascension.

    30 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead
    See on the map

  10. An underground museum built around the royal tombs at ancient Aigai, including that of Philip II of Macedon. The gold and painted finds are remarkable.

    Full dayTime needed
    recommendedBook ahead

    Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.

    Tip. Car or bus via Veria, about 1h15.
    See on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Thessaloniki in three days

Day one waterfront, day two museums and Ano Poli, day three Vergina or a Halkidiki beach.

  1. White Tower1 hour
  2. Waterfront Promenade and Umbrellas1 to 2 hours · Free
  3. Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki2 hours
  4. Aristotelous Square30 minutes · Free
  5. Rotunda and Arch of Galerius1 hour
  6. Church of Agios Dimitrios45 minutes · Free
  7. Ano Poli and Heptapyrgion2 hours · Free
  8. Modiano and Kapani Markets1 hour · Free
  9. Hagia Sophia30 minutes · Free
  10. Vergina Royal TombsFull day
Beyond the city

Day trips

Mount Olympus (Litochoro)

Hiking on Greece's highest mountain.

56 mi · Car or bus, about 1.5 hours

Meteora

Monasteries on rock pillars, a long day.

143 mi · Train or tour, about 3 to 4 hours

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: April to June and September to October. Warm, pleasant days for walking and day trips.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.1JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

47°F
Typical daily high
Average40°F
Rain1.9 in
About6 rainy days
Sun strength1.9 kWh/m²

Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Nov

Thessaloniki International Film Festival

November

A major film festival.

Sep

Thessaloniki International Fair

September

Large trade fair that fills hotels.

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Know before you go

At a glance

5/5
Safety

Greece is at US State Department Level 1 (exercise normal precautions); petty theft is the main visitor risk.

4/5
Walkability

The center along the waterfront is flat and easy, with hills in the old upper town.

4/5
Public transport

The new metro opened in 2024 and buses cover the rest; pay by card or ticket.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
123

1. Ladadika

$$

Best for: nightlife, food

Restored warehouses with tavernas near the port.

2. Aristotelous Square area

$$

Best for: first-timers

Central and close to the sea.

3. Ano Poli

$$

Best for: couples

Quiet old upper town with views.

Getting there and around

Main airportThessaloniki Airport Makedonia (SKG), 9 mi from the center
To the centerBus 01X takes about 40 minutes to the center; taxis about 25 minutes.
Around townWalk the center and use the metro or buses; taxi to Ano Poli to save the climb.
Ride appsUber, FREE NOW
Taste it

What to eat

Bougatsa

Flaky pastry with cream or cheese.

Koulouri

Sesame bread ring.

Trigona Panoramatos

Cream filled triangle pastries.

Good to know

PlugsType C and F, 230 V
Tap waterSafe to drink
TippingLeave 5 to 10 percent in restaurants.
PaymentsCards are common.
EtiquetteDress modestly in churches.
  • Many museums close one day a week.
  • Bougatsa breakfast is a local ritual.
  • Summer evenings start late.

A short history

Thessaloniki was founded in 315 BC by King Cassander and named after his wife, a half sister of Alexander the Great. It became a major Roman city on the Via Egnatia and later the second city of the Byzantine Empire, leaving many churches now listed by UNESCO. Under Ottoman rule from 1430 it was home to a large Sephardic Jewish community, which was almost entirely destroyed in the Holocaust. A great fire in 1917 burned much of the center, which was rebuilt on a new plan. The city joined Greece in 1912.

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Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Thessaloniki