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Thessaloniki, Greece

Destination guide

Thessaloniki

Greece

Thessaloniki (Greek: Θεσσαλονίκη) is the capital of Macedonia, and with one million inhabitants (2025), the second largest city in Greece. It is a city with a continuous 3,000-year history, preserving relics of its Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman past and of its formerly dominant Jewish population.

AI insights

AI-written from the Wikivoyage listings, transport section and the video stats on this page

  • Use the OASTH 'Cultural Route' bus tour, which departs from the White Tower, to get an overview of the city's main historical and cultural monuments via a 50-minute circuit supported by audio-visual material.

  • When visiting historical landmarks like the Church of Saint Demetrios, the Church of the Acheiropoietos, or the Hagia Sophia, be mindful that these are significant historical sites with deep roots in Byzantine and Orthodox history, and plan your exploration to allow ample time for their detailed mosaics and architecture.

  • For an authentic dining experience, visit Evi Evan, a cozy, traditional-style tavern located near the ancient Roman Forum, which is noted for its regional plates and local music.

  • Explore the city's specialized bakeries to experience its culinary history: visit Terkenlis for 'tsoureki', Elenidis for cream-filled 'trigona', and Chatzis for 'politika glyka' sweets.

  • Stick to the dedicated seafront bicycle lane if you choose to cycle; avoid navigating city streets, as most roads are narrow and lack dedicated infrastructure, making them unsuitable for casual bike travel.

How we vet these picks

Every pick is drawn from real sources — YouTube creators, Wikivoyage, and Wikipedia. We only surface sources that actually exist and that we've checked for authenticity — no filler, no dead-end searches.

Best time to go

Best window: March–November

Kind weather all year — there is no month to avoid.

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IdealGoodOkayOff-season

Rated from ten years of daily temperature and rainfall recorded at this destination, via Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis. Hover a month for its real numbers.

Getting around

By metro

Thessaloniki has a single metro line with 13 stations that runs from the New Railway Station across the city centre and the southern and eastern suburbs to Nea Elvetia.

By bus

OASTH is the city's bus company and runs a total of 85 different bus lines. Moovit or Rome2Rio mobile apps can be used to plan the journey and check the schedule on the go. Bus services usually operate from 05:00 until just after midnight.

By taxi

Licensed taxis (dark blue with a taxi light) can be hailed in the streets and at taxi ranks. Ride hailing services (Freenow, Uber) are also an option. Most drivers are able to communicate in both Greek and English.

By bicycle

There is a decent bicycle lane that runs along the seafront, but most other roads are narrow and not friendly to novice cyclists. Bicycle lanes often do not exist, even on main roads. Sometimes, there are bicycle lanes on the pavement.

Tickets

Tickets can be bought at TheTA's ticket outlets, at machines on the buses, and in the OSETH App. Certain types of tickets (see below) are also available at various other sales points.

Transport notes from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0.

What to see

Saint Demetrios

· Free

Constructed in the mid-7th century on the ruins of a Roman bath complex, in honor of Demetrius, a Roman officer who was imprisoned and martyred here in 303 AD.

Hagia Sophia

· Free

A church from the 7th century, based on the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, with mosaics from the 9th century.

Church of the Acheiropoietos

opposite Makedonomachon Square· Free

A 5th-century church. The surviving original decoration includes fine 5th-century Ionian capitals, the green Thessalian marble columns of the tribelon and fragments of 5th-century decorative mosaics.

Latomou Monastery

· Free

A late 5th-century church, once part of a monastery. Many surviving elements of the Byzantine decoration are of high artistic quality, especially the 5th-century apse mosaic the Icon of Christ of Latomos.

Roman Forum

· Moderate

Excavations and an interesting museum underneath.

Arch of Galerius

Egnatia and Dimitriou Gounari streets· Free

The triumphal arch was dedicated in 303 AD to celebrate the victory of the tetrarch Galerius over the Sassanids.

What to do

Thessaloniki Concert Hall

near the Posidonio Athletic Centre of Thessaloniki - Kalamaria

The venue includes a main hall of 1,400 seats, designed by the Japanese architect Arata Isozaki and inaugurated on 2 January 2000. The Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra plays Italian Operas and works of Greek composers.

Cultural Route public bus tour

OASTH launched a special “Cultural Route” to make the rich historical and cultural heritage of Thessaloniki more accessible. The bus departs from the White Tower for a 50-minute tour around the city's main historical and cultural…

Nautilia Yachting

Skiathou 2

Licensed by the Greek National Tourism Organization, organizes skippered or bareboat yacht charters with a wide range of monohulls and catamarans for sailing.

Waterland

A large water park near Tagarades Hill. Free bus service starting at the city centre.

Discovery Yachting

Thermaikou 21

Bareboat charter or skippered sailing yacht, also night time tours.

World Naked Bike Ride

A celebration of Cycling, Environment, Body Freedom.

What to eat

Places are listed from Wikivoyage and our own sourced research. Worth it means a second, independent source names the place too; “3 sources agree” means three or more do — and each card names them, so you can check.

Diagonios

Worth it

Also recommended by Culture Trip

A must-visit for traditional Greek cuisine, famed for its soutzoukakia (spiced meatballs).

Vetted sources

Terkenlis

It is famous for its variety of "tsoureki", a sweet bread much like challah or brioche but containing spices too, covered and filled with several combinations of chocolates, creams, and nuts.

Chatzis

It is famous for its collection of Greek Asia Minor sweets (politika glyka) originating from Constantinople.

Elenidis

It is considered the expert in "trigona" (triangles made of thin phyllo dough layers and filled with cream).

Evi Evan

Bit-Bazaar

A nice small place near the ancient market of Thessaloniki. Very cozy and nicely decorated. The personnel are very friendly and helpful and eager to make you feel welcome. Very nice place with traditional style and music.

Vetted sources

Verges Lagies

Βενιζέλου 63

Reminiscent of old taverns from the 80s with very helpful staff and respect for the customer. Really nice charcoal grill food. Small bistro and worthwhile a try. Good quality for little money.

Vetted sources

Pizza Chris

Armenopoulou 17

One of the nicest pizzas in Thessaloniki. Well made dough and incredible flavors. The pizza slices are only

Vetted sources

Where to stay

Little Big House Hostel

24 Andakidou St· Moderate

This is a new hostel in Thessaloniki run by a brother and sister who are hosts. They have five rooms in a reconstructed house, each room with private bathroom and kitchenette and big lockers.

RentRooms Thessaloniki

Konstantinou Melenikou 9

Travellers and backpackers hostel. Nice & clean rooms and dorms with balconies. Cafeteria garden for drinks and snacks near a green park. It is in city centre's university side, overlooking "Rotonda" UNESCO World Heritage Roman monument…

Alexandria Hotel

there is a bus stop outside, buses link to train station, bus station and airport· Pricey

Bang in the centre of Egnatia Str., with easy bus connections. Friendly staff. Price includes private bathroom, A/C, WiFi, fridge and TV. Snacks and laundry for extra charge.

Rex Hotel

Monastiriou 39· Expensive

Cheap hotel opposite the train station towards the centre. Only a 5-min walk from train station. Not great, but adequate.

Backpackers Refuge

· Moderate

Near the city centre (5-min bus ride) and the water front (7 min on foot) is well connected to the train station, bus station and the airport. 24 hr hot water, free linen, washing machine, kitchen, free city map, info available about…

Vetted sources

Hotel Acropoli

· Expensive

Close to the train station. Clean but shabby rooms, most with a balcony.

Vetted sources

Travel essentials

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Travel content from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Encyclopedic context from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Videos via the YouTube Data API.