Thessaloniki

Greece's second city and food capital, with the White Tower waterfront, Byzantine churches and Roman ruins, lively nightlife, and a gateway to the beaches of Halkidiki.

Thessaloniki sits on the northern shore of the Thermaic Gulf in the region of Central Macedonia in northern Greece, and is the country's second-largest city and the transport hub of the north. Founded in 315 BC by King Cassander of Macedon, it lay on the Via Egnatia in Roman times, was the second city of the Byzantine Empire after Constantinople, and under Ottoman rule became the "Jerusalem of the Balkans," home to a large Sephardic Jewish community. As a result, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and Jewish heritage are layered on top of one another, and 15 Early Christian and Byzantine monuments are listed as a World Heritage Site. Areas to explore: the waterfront promenade stretching from the White Tower to the Umbrellas sculpture; Aristotelous Square, the Modiano and Kapani markets and the Ladadika nightlife district in the city center; the Rotunda, the Arch, the Palace of Galerius and the major churches along Egnatia Street; and the hillside Upper Town (Ano Poli) with its Byzantine walls. Day trips include the royal tombs at Vergina and ancient Pella, Dion at the foot of Mount Olympus, and in summer the beaches of the Kassandra peninsula in Halkidiki. April–June and September–October are the most pleasant; July–August is hot and best combined with the beach; winter is damp and cold but prices are low. Getting around: Macedonia International Airport is about 15 km from the center, about 40 minutes by the X1/N1 airport bus; the city opened its metro in 2024, and most sights are walkable. Allow 2–3 days, plus 1–2 days for side trips. Good to know: museums and archaeological sites have shorter hours in winter, and some sights close on Tuesdays; shoulders and knees must be covered when visiting churches.

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Itineraries