Thessaloniki
Discover Thessaloniki
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. Its Byzantine churches, in particular, are included in UNESCO's world heritage list. Once the biggest port of the Balkans, Thessaloniki is a city that has been conquered by many empires, with each one leaving its mark. One can find Ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman buildings all throughout the city.
What to Experience in Thessaloniki
Taste of Thessaloniki...
Greeks consider Thessaloniki a gourmet city - but bear in mind that this refers to the excellent local specialities and cheap-and-cheerful ouzo taverns rather than to haute cuisine or a range of foreign restaurants. The latter are best avoided in Thessaloniki. Go for a meal in one of the many central ouzo restaurants (ouzeri). Accompany your ouzo or tsipouro with a battery of small dishes - by far the best way to eat in Salonica. Particularly good are the fava beans, octopus either grilled or in wine sauce and mussels (fried, or in pilaff, or with a hot cheese sauce, saganaki). If you see "boiled vegetables' on the menu in wintertime, you'll be amazed at how good they taste. Another typical winter salad is politiki, a combination of shredded cabbage and pickles. Many fast food options are found on the Dimitriou Gounari Street (between Rotonda and the sea). Thessaloniki is by far the liveliest city in Northern Greece, maybe even the whole country. Most of the trendy bars at the old sea-front (Nikis Ave.) and around, many of the tavernas are either downtown or in the old city (Kastra). You can also find numerous bars and tavernas at Krini, an area in eastern Thessaloniki. If you want to check out what the whole bouzoukia scene is all about, try the clubs Pyli Axiou and Mamounia, at Vilka. You will also find a lot of night clubs, bars and restaurants in Ladadika, the neighbourhood with the old warehouses next to the port.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Thessaloniki into what it is today.
King Philip II of Macedon, after a victory in the region of Thessaly, named his next daughter "Thessalonike" (Thessaly Victory). Cassander, a later king of Macedon, married her, and founded the city in her name in 315 BC. The city grew over time, becoming a major metropolis of the Roman Empire, and then the second largest and wealthiest city of the Byzantine Empire after Constantinople. During the Ottoman years a sizeable Jewish community formed in the city (at times even majority-Jewish), giving it the name 'The Jerusalem of the Balkans'. Muslims, Jews and Christians lived together in Thessaloniki for over 400 years. During the 1923 Greco-Turkish population exchange hundreds of thousands of Christians arrived from Asia Minor and most of the Muslims moved to Turkey. The 55,000 strong Jewish community was eradicated during the 1941-1945 German occupation, with 2,000 remaining after the war. Thessaloniki lies on the northern fringe of the Thermaic Gulf on its eastern coast and is bound by Mount Chortiatis to the east. The City Centre is bound by the waterfront, up the hill to Olympiados Street to the northeast, and the Byzantine-era city walls on the sides - Dimokratias Square to the northwest, the University campus and Thessaloniki International Fair to the southeast. Most commercial, entertainment and educational facilities can be found here, while it also remains a densely populated residential area....
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Thessaloniki.
Tsimiski is the main fashion street, which runs parallel to Egnatia Road and is southwest of it, with shops such as Zara and H&M. Proxenou Koromila and Mitropoleos, the next streets towards the water, also have shops. You won't find many bargains, but the shopping area is conveniently small and full of cafes when you get too tired. For cheaper clothing, check out Egnatia Road. Books and maps in various languages can be bought in stores such as: The Thessaloniki Book Fair is held annually in late spring. You can buy local food products, such as olive oil, sometimes at significantly lower prices than in nearby countries. For food specialities, go to Modiano Market and try the Terpsis and Omega delicatessens (the most famous is Kosmas, but it specialises in Asian food). Any Greek will expect you to bring back sweets from Salonica.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThessaloniki is an important rail hub within Greece and it is quite easy to travel here by passenger trains. Hellenic Train operates up to six daily trains from Athens via Larissa. The journey used to take 4 hours, but after a huge flood that destroyed the central part of the line in 2023, it now takes around 5 hours. Restoration and improvement works are on the way and by 2025 the journey will again take 4 hours, possibly even lower. Additionally, there are trains from Alexandroupoli via Komotini, Xanthi and Serres in Western Thrace region. Regional trains connect with Florina, Kilkis, Kalampaka and several other cities in Northern Greece. Thessaloniki also has a suburban railway also operated by Hellenic Train that connects the city to Larissa via Katerini running multiple times a day and stopping at many smaller cities and villages that the Intercity Trains do not. There are normally staff at all major stations to facilitate transportation of disabled persons....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
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. The trains run from 05:30 to 00:30 except on Fridays and Saturdays when the last trains are at 02:00. The standard fare is €0.60 (which is purchased only with cash inside the stations). 40.63694422.9419446 Venizelou station (Βενιζέλου). This station is worth a visit in itself: the station contains an active archaeological site dubbed the "Byzantine Pompeii" and a mini museum showcasing finds so far, which delayed the opening of the line by over 10 years. (updated Jul 2025) A new line with 5 stations is planned to open in November 2025 and will serve the Kalamaria area. 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.
Where to Stay
There are many hotels in the area a few blocks north of Aristotelous. Some of these are a bit upmarket, but if business is slack it is worth shopping around - they might give you a good discount rather than turn you away. As of 2021, Thessaloniki has 5G from Cosmote and 4G from Wind and Vodafone. WiFi is widely available in public places. Thessaloniki is generally a very safe city but watch your pockets and travel documents as there may be pickpockets, especially in buses during rush hour. Some people may feel uncomfortable walking in the areas around the railway station at night and it's better to avoid them along with places like Dendropotamos, and Sfageia. These areas are full of abandoned buildings and factories and are a hotspot for drug-use and prostitution. Tap water is safe to drink. In some places in the city centre you might get a slight "taste" from the water. That means that the pipes in the building are getting old, so you might want to buy bottled water.
Money & Budget
Tsimiski is the main fashion street, which runs parallel to Egnatia Road and is southwest of it, with shops such as Zara and H&M. Proxenou Koromila and Mitropoleos, the next streets towards the water, also have shops. You won't find many bargains, but the shopping area is conveniently small and full of cafes when you get too tired. For cheaper clothing, check out Egnatia Road. Books and maps in various languages can be bought in stores such as: The Thessaloniki Book Fair is held annually in late spring. You can buy local food products, such as olive oil, sometimes at significantly lower prices than in nearby countries. For food specialities, go to Modiano Market and try the Terpsis and Omega delicatessens (the most famous is Kosmas, but it specialises in Asian food).
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Thessaloniki is generally a very safe city but watch your pockets and travel documents as there may be pickpockets, especially in buses during rush hour. Some people may feel uncomfortable walking in the areas around the railway station at night and it's better to avoid them along with places like Dendropotamos, and Sfageia. These areas are full of abandoned buildings and factories and are a hotspot for drug-use and prostitution. Tap water is safe to drink. In some places in the city centre you might get a slight "taste" from the water. That means that the pipes in the building are getting old, so you might want to buy bottled water. Greece is a sunny place. If your skin is light-coloured, intense sunlight can be a serious danger. The sun can be strong at noontime and during the early afternoon, even during the autumn and spring. Use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Thessaloniki
an aerial view of a city next to a body of water
people walking on street near brown concrete building during daytime
brown and green concrete building under white sky during daytime
Thessaloniki White Tower on the focus from the sea view.
an aerial view of a city with lots of tall buildings
It was the first time me and my girl travelled to Thessaloniki. I wanted to go out in the city and shoot everything interesting I see. My brother told me, you are in the perfect city for landscape and street photography, go out and make some great shoots. I think I accomplished it with this photo and some more…
Thessalonikki view from the old city I would be grateful if you could credit me - www.instagram.com/dragosgontariu/
Elders in the market
an aerial view of a city and a body of water
Sailboats sailing in Thessaloniki's port in sunset.
an aerial view of a city next to a body of water
people walking on street near brown concrete building during daytime
brown and green concrete building under white sky during daytime