Thessaloniki is a city where location matters more than the number of stars, because the sights, the markets and the seafront are spread across the centre and a short walk can save you a lot of taxi rides. Here is how to choose where to stay, with five hotels that cover a range of budgets.
Aristotelous Square: the best base for most visitors
The square runs from the seafront up towards Egnatia Street and is the main public space of the city. From here you can walk to the waterfront, the White Tower, the covered markets and the central monuments, and many tour pickups are in the nearby streets. Three of the hotels in this list are at or near the square. Electra Palace is the splurge, a five-class hotel with a rooftop restaurant, an indoor pool, a spa and free breakfast. S Hotel Boutique is a stylish five-class boutique hotel about a block from the sea, with a breakfast room built over Roman ruins. Andromeda Hotel is the practical mid-range choice, a four-class hotel with a restaurant and bar and no parking.
Mikis Theodorakis Avenue: facilities over location
Anatolia Hotel is a four-class hotel with 69 rooms, a spa, a gym, a rooftop terrace, a garden and a restaurant. The hotel page does not describe how far it is from the main sights, so check the address on a map against your plans and expect to use taxis or buses. It suits those who value a spa and open space, and who are happy to ride into the centre.
Agnostou Stratiotou: the budget choice
Orestias Kastorias is a simple two-class hotel at 14 Agnostou Stratiotou, with soundproofed rooms, free wifi, air conditioning and a 24-hour front desk. It suits solo travellers and short stays, and again you should check the address on a map against your first-day sights.
Breakfast
Electra Palace and S Hotel Boutique include a free breakfast buffet. Anatolia offers a buffet breakfast for an extra charge. Andromeda and Orestias Kastorias do not list breakfast as included, which is easy to fix in Thessaloniki, where bakeries sell bougatsa, koulouri and coffee on almost every street.
Parking
If you are renting a car, plan the hotel around it. Electra Palace lists on-site car rental but not parking, Andromeda and Orestias Kastorias do not offer parking, and Anatolia has limited spaces according to guest reviews. For a city stay, you rarely need a car, so it is easier to rent one for a day trip only, or to take a coach tour with pickup.
Choosing by trip type
For a first visit and a short stay, choose Aristotelous Square. For a romantic trip, choose Electra Palace or S Hotel Boutique. For a family who wants a pool or a spa, Electra Palace or Anatolia are the better fit, and for a tight budget, Orestias Kastorias keeps the cost low.
Book early and read the details
Hotel details change, and the outdoor pool at Electra Palace is closed from 1 October to 30 April, so confirm what is open on your dates. Ask for a quiet room if you sleep lightly, since the centre is lively in the evening.
