Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki, Greece

Byzantine churches, crumbling ruins, modern architecture, intense nightlife and the stunning sea — this is the essence of Thessaloniki. The second largest city in Greece, Thessaloniki combines more than 2,300 years of history with young student population. The city is a perfect destination for urban explorers and a gateway to the prefecture of Halkidiki in the southeast, with the characteristic shape of the three 'legs' — Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos — a favorite vacation destination for locals. Pristine beaches and charming villages aplenty.

Population:

Urban: 824,676 (2019)
Metro: 1,030,338 (2019)

Currency:

€1 = 100 cents

Emergency Numbers:

Alongside 112, the following emergency numbers are available:
100 — police
199 — fire brigade
166 — emergency medical service
171 — tourist police

Opening Hours:

Stores in the centre are open 9am–9pm. Most supermarkets will be closed on Sundays.

In the suburbs, expect the stores to be open in shifts:

— Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am–2:30pm and 5:30pm–8:30pm and
— Monday, Wednesday and Saturday 9am–3pm.

On Sundays, most large shopping malls and a few shops in tourist areas are open until 2pm. Mini-markets and kiosks will stay open all day long, every day.

Newspapers:

The City

The city was established in 316 BC by King Cassander of Macedonia and named after his wife, Thessalonike, half-sister of Alexander the Great. Thessaloniki, in Greek, actually means the "victory of the Thessalians". It was the second most important city of the Byzantine Empire, next to Constantinople. The city has lived through the rise and fall of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires, occupations and earthquakes, and has continuously rebuilt itself adding new layers to its complex structure.

These days, Thessaloniki is the capital of the region Central Macedonia and is home to both ancient history and an exciting present.

The city centre, as well as local centres of a few districts, is bustling with life and movement. Yet walk a few blocks away from the main streets — and you'll find yourself in the quietest and narrowest streets where you can walk uninterrupted for hours, stumbling upon old churches, ruins and quirky features of vernacular architecture. Large avenues, parks and squares provide nice green spaces, and trees line the commercial streets. There are old houses and Neoclassical buildings that stand side by side with modern constructions. The people of Thessaloniki are known for their friendliness and hospitality throughout Greece and English is spoken by most.

Top Five

Whether you're only staying in Thessaloniki for a couple of nights or planning a longer city break (remote work, anyone?) — you'll find lots to do and see every day.

Here is our top 5 picks for Thessaloniki to get you started:

Do & See

Thessaloniki is home to numerous historic sights, including The White Tower, once a part of the ancient walls that protected the city.
The romantic alleyways and streets make Thessaloniki a perfect destination for romantics and explorers of all ages.

Beach Life

Although there. is no beach in the city centre, you can visit the nearby beaches of Perea, Nei Epivates, Agia Triada, Nea Michaniona and Epanomi. There are many hotels, marinas, play courts, camping places, taverns, etc. Most of the beaches have been awarded with the blue flags by the European Union thanks to the high standards and the clear waters.

The Halkidiki region (also spelled Chalkidiki, Halkidhikí, Chalkidike, Chalcidice or Khalkidhiki) with the characteristic shape of the three 'legs' — Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos — a favorite vacation destination for locals. Pristine beaches and charming villages aplenty. Any list of beaches for this region will be incomplete, so we'll just outline some main attractions.