White Tower of Thessaloniki
The waterfront tower that has become the symbol of Thessaloniki, now a museum with a floor-by-floor story of the city and a rooftop view over the bay.
Central Macedonia (Greece)
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is the port city of northern Greece, founded in 315 BC and shaped ever since by Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans, Sephardic Jews and the Greeks who rebuilt it after the great fire of 1917.
It is a city of layers you can walk through in a day: a Roman rotunda and triumphal arch, early Christian churches with glittering mosaics that are listed by UNESCO, Ottoman baths and markets, and a waterfront promenade that ends at the White Tower. Museums here are among the best in Greece, from the Archaeological Museum with its golden Macedonian treasures to the Museum of Byzantine Culture. The city is also the country's food capital in the eyes of many Greeks, with bougatsa pies for breakfast, trigona pastries, covered markets and meze tavernas in the old Ladadika quarter. Beyond town, day trips reach the royal tombs of Vergina, the Dion ruins at the foot of Mount Olympus, the beaches and villages of Halkidiki, the monasteries of Meteora, the waterfalls of Edessa and the ruins of Philippi. This guide shows what to book, what is open in winter and the quieter months, how to split your days and where to stay, from a grand hotel on Aristotelous Square to a simple room in the centre.
Don't miss
White Tower of Thessaloniki
The waterfront tower that has become the symbol of Thessaloniki, now a museum with a floor-by-floor story of the city and a rooftop view over the bay.
Modiano and Kapani Market Food Tour
A walking tasting tour of Thessaloniki's covered markets and old quarters, with cheese, pastries, olives and Greek coffee along the way.
Vergina and Pella Day Trip
A full-day trip to the royal tombs of Vergina and the museum at Pella, the places that tell the story of Philip II and Alexander the Great.
Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki
The city's great museum of ancient Macedonia, with gold from royal tombs, Roman mosaics and finds that explain what you will see on a trip to Vergina.
Things to do in Thessaloniki
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki
The city's great museum of ancient Macedonia, with gold from royal tombs, Roman mosaics and finds that explain what you will see on a trip to Vergina.
Museum of Byzantine Culture
A prize-winning museum of early Christian and Byzantine life, with icons, mosaics, tombs and everyday objects that explain the churches you see around the city.
FreeChurch of Agios Dimitrios
The great five-aisled basilica of the patron saint of Thessaloniki, rebuilt after the 1917 fire, with early mosaics and a crypt museum beneath the altar.
45 minutesDetails →
Thessaloniki Highlights Walking Tour with a Local
A guided walk with a local through the headline sights of the centre, a good first morning for making sense of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman layers.
Modiano and Kapani Market Food Tour
A walking tasting tour of Thessaloniki's covered markets and old quarters, with cheese, pastries, olives and Greek coffee along the way.
Museum of Illusions Thessaloniki
A playful hands-on museum of optical tricks and sensory puzzles, a reliable rainy-day choice for families and groups of friends.
Vergina and Pella Day Trip
A full-day trip to the royal tombs of Vergina and the museum at Pella, the places that tell the story of Philip II and Alexander the Great.
Mount Olympus and Dion Day Trip
A day by coach to the ancient sanctuary of Dion and the foothills of Mount Olympus, with a stop at the national park information centre and the village of Litochoro.
Kassandra Halkidiki Private Day Trip
A private day trip from Thessaloniki to the first finger of Halkidiki, with a beach stop at Hanioti, the stone village of Afitos and a coastal lunch.
Meteora Monasteries Day Trip from Thessaloniki
A long but unforgettable day by coach to the monasteries perched on sandstone pillars in central Greece, one of the great sights of the country.
Edessa Waterfalls and Pozar Thermal Baths Day Trip
A day trip to the town of waterfalls and to natural hot-spring pools in the hills, a gentle nature break after a run of museums.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$$Electra Palace Thessaloniki
Aristotelous Square, city centre
The grand five-class hotel on Aristotelous Square, with a rooftop restaurant, an indoor pool, a spa, a 24-hour gym and a free breakfast buffet.
Check rates →S Hotel Boutique Thessaloniki
City centre, near Aristotelous Square
A five-class boutique hotel in the city centre, a block from the sea and close to Aristotelous Square, with a breakfast room built over Roman ruins.
Check rates →
$$Andromeda Hotel Thessaloniki
Aristotelous Square, city centre
A four-class hotel at Komninon and Kalapothaki streets by Aristotelous Square, with a restaurant and bar, balconies and a central address.
Check rates →Anatolia Hotel
Mikis Theodorakis Avenue
A four-class hotel with 69 rooms on Mikis Theodorakis Avenue, with a spa and gym, a rooftop terrace, a garden, a restaurant and a buffet breakfast.
Check rates →
$Orestias Kastorias
Agnostou Stratiotou Street
A simple two-class hotel at 14 Agnostou Stratiotou with soundproofed rooms, free wifi, air conditioning, a 24-hour desk and coffee in the lobby.
Check rates →The Excelsior Small Luxury Hotels of the World
City centre, near the port and Tsimiski Street
A five-class central hotel two minutes from the port and Tsimiski Street, with free breakfast, a restaurant, a bar and balconies in many rooms.
Check rates →Antigon Urban Chic Hotel
City centre, near Aristotelous Square and the Roman Forum
A five-class design hotel near Aristotelous Square with a restaurant above Byzantine ruins, a rooftop patio with a hot tub and bike rentals.
Check rates →Mediterranean Palace Hotel
City centre, near the port
A 118-room five-class hotel by the port, with an indoor pool, a spa, a gym and a Mediterranean restaurant, close to Tsimiski Street.
Check rates →Thessaloniki guides
First Time in Thessaloniki: What to Book, How to Get Around and How Many Days
A practical primer for a first visit to Thessaloniki: how many days to stay, what to book ahead, how to get around and which museums and day trips fit where.
Where to Stay in Thessaloniki: Aristotelous Square and the Centre
How to choose a base in Thessaloniki, from Aristotelous Square to a quieter address, with five hotels at different budgets and notes on breakfast and parking.
Thessaloniki in Three Days: A Practical Itinerary for Sights, Food and One Day Trip
A three-day plan for Thessaloniki that groups the Roman and Byzantine sights, the waterfront and markets, and a day trip, with swaps for rain and tired legs.
Eating and Drinking in Thessaloniki: Pastries, Markets, Meze and Coffee
A guide to eating in Thessaloniki, from bougatsa breakfasts and covered markets to long ouzeri lunches, late dinners and the city coffee habit.
Day Trips from Thessaloniki: Vergina, Olympus, Halkidiki, Meteora and More
How to choose between the day trips from Thessaloniki, from royal tombs and Mount Olympus to Halkidiki beaches, Meteora, Edessa and Philippi.
Best Time to Visit Thessaloniki: Seasons, Weather and What Is Open
When to go to Thessaloniki: what each season is like, how museum hours change, when beaches and day trips are best, and the festivals that fill hotels.
