Travel guide · Greece
Thessaloniki travel guide
Byzantine churches, a seafront promenade and northern Greece's food capital
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Thessaloniki, Greece's second city, curves around the Thermaic Gulf with a seafront promenade running for several kilometres from the port past the White Tower. Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman layers sit side by side: the Rotunda and Arch of Galerius, a ring of UNESCO-listed churches, Ottoman baths and the walled hill quarter of Ano Poli. A large university population keeps cafés and tavernas full late into the night, and the city is the natural base for Vergina, Mount Olympus and the Chalkidiki beaches. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are May–June and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- Greece
- Best time to visit
- May–June and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- SKG
- Mid-range daily budget
- $110–$190 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- White Tower, Byzantine churches, Bougatsa and Seafront promenade
Why visit Thessaloniki
- Fifteen early Christian and Byzantine monuments, including Hagios Demetrios, Hagia Sophia and the Rotunda, are listed together by UNESCO and most are free to enter.
- The city has a strong claim to the best food in Greece: bougatsa for breakfast, meze and tsipouro in Ladadika, and mussels from the Thermaic Gulf.
- The seafront promenade from the White Tower to the Concert Hall is a flat, car-free walk of several kilometres lined with themed gardens and cycle lanes.
- Prices for hotels, tavernas and coffee are noticeably lower than in Athens or the islands.
- The royal tombs at Vergina, Mount Olympus and the beaches of Chalkidiki are all within about 90 minutes.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 17 things to do.
.JPG){kind=link}
Landmark · White Tower and the eastern seafront
White Tower
The cylindrical Ottoman tower on the waterfront, built in the 15th century and once used as a prison, is the symbol of the city.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Kids
Historic site · Kamara and Navarinou
Rotunda of Galerius
Built around 306 AD as part of Emperor Galerius's palace complex, this massive brick drum later became a church and then a mosque, and its Ottoman minaret still stands beside it.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Historic site · Kamara and Navarinou
Arch of Galerius (Kamara)
The surviving piers of a triumphal arch raised around 300 AD celebrate Galerius's victory over the Persians, with marble reliefs of battles and imperial processions.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Iconic
- After dark
.jpg){kind=link}
Landmark · City Centre (Aristotelous Square)
Aristotelous Square
Designed by the French architect Ernest Hébrard after the 1917 fire, the city's grand square opens from Egnatia Street down to the sea between arcaded buildings full of cafés.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Architecture
Religious site · City Centre (Aristotelous Square)
Church of Hagios Demetrios
The city's largest church is dedicated to its patron saint, Demetrius, martyred here in the early 4th century.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
.jpg){kind=link}
Religious site · City Centre (Aristotelous Square)
Hagia Sophia
This 8th-century church, modelled on the great churches of Constantinople, has a mosaic of the Ascension filling its dome, with Christ seated on a rainbow above the apostles.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Art
- Architecture
Where to stay
City Centre (Aristotelous Square) is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, food lovers and couples
City Centre (Aristotelous Square)
Hébrard's grand square, Tsimiski shopping street and the markets
$$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers and couples
Ladadika
Restored warehouse lanes of tavernas and meze bars beside the port
$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and culture
Ano Poli
Steep lanes, Ottoman-era houses and the city walls above the centre
$$ · Best for budget, solo travellers, nightlife and culture
Kamara and Navarinou
Roman monuments, student cafés and cheap eats near the university
What to eat
- Bougatsa — Thin layers of crisp filo wrapped around custard cream, cheese, minced meat or spinach, cut into squares and eaten for breakfast.
- Thessaloniki koulouri — A thin, crunchy bread ring coated in sesame seeds, sold from street carts and bakeries all over the city.
- Trigona Panoramatos — Crisp filo triangles soaked in syrup and filled with thick custard cream, named after the hillside suburb of Panorama where they were first made.
- Mussels — The Thermaic Gulf is Greece's main mussel-farming area, so mussels appear on almost every menu: steamed, saganaki with tomato and feta, fried, or cooked into pilaf.
- Soutzoukakia smyrneika — Oval meatballs flavoured with cumin and garlic, baked in a tomato sauce and served with rice or chips.
- Meze with tsipouro or ouzo — Thessaloniki's ouzeri and tsipouradiko culture revolves around small plates — grilled sardines, octopus, peppers stuffed with cheese, aubergine salad — shared alongside small bottles of tsipouro or ouzo diluted with water and ice.
When to go
The best times to visit Thessaloniki are May to June and September to October, when days are warm, the sea is swimmable in Chalkidiki and sightseeing is comfortable. July and August are very hot and the city is quieter as locals go to the beaches. Winter is cold and grey but low-priced, and November brings the film festival.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Mild, increasingly sunny weather for walking the seafront and Ano Poli, with Orthodox Easter processions and the documentary festival. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot and dry, often above 30°C, with long seafront evenings and beach trips to Chalkidiki; August is quiet in the city itself. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm sea in September, the international fair, Saint Demetrius celebrations in October and the film festival in November. |
| Winter | December–February | Cold, damp days and the occasional biting Vardaris wind, but low prices, Christmas lights and warming tavernas. |
Getting there and around
Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia is about 15 km south-east of the centre. OASTh buses run between the airport, the city centre and the coach station, taking about 40–50 minutes depending on traffic. A taxi to the centre takes about 20–30 minutes.
Central Thessaloniki is long and narrow, stretched along the gulf, and most sights lie within a walk of the waterfront between the port and the White Tower. City buses and the metro, which opened in late 2024 under Egnatia Street, cover longer distances, and taxis are plentiful and fairly priced.
Plan your days
Two days covers the waterfront, the White Tower, the Roman monuments, the main churches and an evening in Ladadika. A third day adds the Archaeological Museum and Ano Poli at a slower pace; four or five days lets you add Vergina, Mount Olympus or a beach day in Chalkidiki.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- Greek
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is treated and generally considered safe to drink in the city, though many locals prefer bottled water.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Tipping
- Service is not always included.
Thessaloniki is generally relaxed for visitors. Watch for pickpockets on crowded buses and in busy markets, and take care crossing the fast traffic on Egnatia and Tsimiski. In summer, heat is the main issue, so carry water and avoid walking at midday.
Flights to Thessaloniki
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Thessaloniki?
Two days covers the waterfront, the White Tower, the Roman monuments, the main churches and an evening in Ladadika. A third day adds the Archaeological Museum and Ano Poli at a slower pace; four or five days lets you add Vergina, Mount Olympus or a beach day in Chalkidiki. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Thessaloniki?
The best times to visit Thessaloniki are May to June and September to October, when days are warm, the sea is swimmable in Chalkidiki and sightseeing is comfortable. July and August are very hot and the city is quieter as locals go to the beaches. Winter is cold and grey but low-priced, and November brings the film festival.
+What is Thessaloniki known for?
White Tower, Byzantine churches, Bougatsa, Seafront promenade, Ano Poli, Student nightlife and Meze and tsipouro. Fifteen early Christian and Byzantine monuments, including Hagios Demetrios, Hagia Sophia and the Rotunda, are listed together by UNESCO and most are free to enter.
+Is Thessaloniki expensive?
Thessaloniki is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $110–$190 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Thessaloniki?
Not in the city, where parking is hard and public transport and walking cover everything. A car is useful for day trips to Vergina, Mount Olympus and the Chalkidiki beaches, though buses also serve them.