Season guide · Thessaloniki · Greece
Thessaloniki in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Prof. Vlasis Vlasidis, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Mild, increasingly sunny weather for walking the seafront and Ano Poli, with Orthodox Easter processions and the documentary festival. Expect highs up to 24°C (75°F) and lows around 5°C (41°F), with about 21 rainy days across March–May. May is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 5°C (41°F) to 24°C (75°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 21
- Sea
- 13°C (55°F) to 19°C (66°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 14°C (57°F) | 5°C (41°F) | 7 | 11.8 h | 2/5 |
| April | 19°C (66°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 7 | 13.2 h | 3/5 |
| May | 24°C (75°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 7 | 14.4 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 19°C (66°F) against a yearly 20°C (68°F), and 21 of the year's roughly 71 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- March: Thessaloniki Documentary Festival (usually March)
- March: Independence Day parade (25 March)
- April: Orthodox Easter (usually April, date varies)
- April: Alexander the Great Marathon (usually April)
Make the most of the weather
.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
Neighbourhood · Ano Poli
Ano Poli, Heptapyrgion and the city walls
Take a taxi or bus up to the Heptapyrgion and walk downhill through Ano Poli to the centre.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Photo spot
- Couples
Religious site · Ano Poli
Vlatadon Monastery
A working monastery founded in the 14th century beside the walls of Ano Poli, with a frescoed church, peacocks in the courtyard and a terrace overlooking the city.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Off the beaten path
Waterfront · White Tower and the eastern seafront
Nea Paralia seafront and the Umbrellas
Rent a bike and ride the full length in the early evening, when locals come out for their walk.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Couples
- Photo spot
Historic site · City Centre (Aristotelous Square)
Roman Forum (Ancient Agora)
Excavated in the 1960s when the site was cleared for a courthouse, the forum includes a small theatre-odeon, colonnades and an underground cryptoporticus.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Outdoors
Day trips in spring
- Vergina (Royal Tombs of Aigai) (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car) — The underground museum at Vergina, ancient Aigai, protects the royal tombs discovered in 1977, including the tomb attributed to Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, with its gold larnax and wreaths.
- Mount Olympus and Dion (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car) — Greece's highest mountain rises above the village of Litochoro, where the Enipeas gorge trail starts.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is spring a good time to visit Thessaloniki?
Yes: May is among the best months. Mild, increasingly sunny weather for walking the seafront and Ano Poli, with Orthodox Easter processions and the documentary festival.
+What is the weather like in Thessaloniki in spring?
Highs of up to 24°C (75°F) and lows around 5°C (41°F), with about 21 rainy days over the season.