Thessaloniki

Do you want to visit antiquities, eat well, and party hard? This large coastal city has a distinctive multicultural past and renowned nightlife.

The seafront of Thessaloniki including high residential buildings and the promenade.
photo: Herbert Frank / CC BY 2.0

Thessaloniki Things to Do

The cemetery's entrance has a tall dome and an icon of byzantine hagiography nad it's surrounded by cypress trees.
photo: Ωριγένης / CC BY-SA 3.0
#1

Zeitenlik Graveyard

In the Zeitenlik Graveyard lay 20,000 tombs of Serbian, French, British, Italian, Russian, Bulgarian and Greek soldiers from WWI.

Water fountains, people relaxing or walking under the blue sky at the promenade of Thessaloniki.
photo: mapa mundi / CC BY-SA 2.0
#2

Waterfront of Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki's waterfront lends the city its sea-breeze feel and sometimes a view of Olympus. Open and alive, it is a local favorite.

The distinctive, spacey shape of OTE tower among other buildings.
photo: Nikolai Karaneschev / CC BY 3.0
#3

OTE Tower

The distinctive shape of the Telecommunications tower catches the eye. Ideal for a coffee with panoramic view from the top deck.

A picture showing the two buildings of the Concert Hall of Thessaloniki.
photo: Tilemahos Efthimiadis / CC BY-SA 2.0
#4

Concert Hall of Thessaloniki

At the Thessaloniki Concert Hall you enjoy concerts and other high-quality performances, less often opera, and also exhibitions.

The small Vlatadon monastery with a portico and a dome in the middle of a spacious yard.
photo: Herbert Frank / CC BY 2.0
#5

Vlatadon Monastery

You can appreciate ancient hagiography in the partly restored Vlatadon monastery of the 13th century and visit the garden and the peacocks.

The beginning of Seih Su forest, and the city of Thessaloniki and Thermaic Gulf in the background.
photo: EntaXoyas / CC BY-SA 3.0
#6

Seih Sou Forest

Thessaloniki's forest was planted in 1920s with mostly foreign tree species. Locals' favorite escape from city's buzz into a serene environment.

The theater has an arched-roof building and an adjacent flat-roof building.
photo: ΚΘΒΕ / CC BY-SA 3.0
#7

Royal Theatre

A theater with a costume exhibition, a small library, and a rooftop art café-bar suitable for taking pictures of the White Tower and the port.

A small boat anchored by the seafront promenade in front of a stylish lamp.
photo: Jean Housen / CC BY-SA 4.0
#8

Cruise Bars

This pirate boat will cruise you around Thessaloniki's gulf. With bubbles or a beer in hand, enjoy a different view on the city.

+ 24 Thessaloniki Things to Do →

Thessaloniki Attractions

A brick-built Byzantine church with a few arched windows among blocks of apartments.
photo: Armineaghayan / CC BY-SA 4.0
hidden gem
#1

Church of the Virgin Mary Acheiropoietos

Built in the place of an ancient Temple of Venus, the Church of the Virgin Mary Acheiropoietos has the finest columns and mosaic floors.

The front part, including a part of the yard, and the main entrance of the church of St. Demetrius.
photo: Dan Lundberg / CC BY-SA 2.0
must visit
#2

Church of Saint Demetrius

It's worth visiting the cathedral of Thessaloniki's patron, St Demetrius. It is included in UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.

The arches of the brick-built church of St. Panteleimon pointing to the sky.
photo: Leandro Neumann Ciuffo / CC BY 2.0
#3

Byzantine Church of St. Panteleimon

St. Panteleimon is a Byzantine church still in use. A piece of living history surviving on Egnatia, a busy street. Worth a short visit, if you come across it.

The statue of Alexander the Great with skaters in front of it and the sea in the background.
photo: Guillén Pérez / CC BY-ND 2.0
hidden gem
#4

«Alexander the Great» Statue

The city takes pride in its ancient history, and in particular its Macedonian heritage. Alexander's statue attracts tourists and skaters.

The White Tower among green trees against a blue sky at the background.
photo: Balcon del Mundo / CC BY-SA 2.0
#5

White Tower

Thessaloniki's trademark, the White Tower, was built by Eastern Romans, turned into a prison by the Ottomans, and into a museum by the Greeks.

The front and the main entrance of Hagia Sophia of Thessaloniki including a big part of the churchyard.
photo: Andrew Zorin / CC BY-SA 3.0
#6

Hagia Sophia of Thessaloniki

For more than 1300 years, Hagia Sophia of Thessaloniki has been attracting believers. It has excellent mosaics and a heavy but elegant architecture.

A stack of see-through umbrellas viewed from below with the sky as background.
photo: Annatsach / CC BY-SA 4.0
#7

Zongolopoulos Umbrellas

A urban-environment contemporary art piece decorates the seafront promenade. Enjoy a long walk and you will encounter Zongolopoulos Umbrellas.

The brick-built Byzantine Church of Panagia Chalkeon behind the paved park and a few trees, surrounded by block of apartments.
photo: XeresNelro / CC BY-SA 4.0
#8

Byzantine Church of Panagia Chalkeon

A small oasis of history, the Byzantine Church of Panagia Chalkeon is in the heart of a small park. Certainly get inside for a spiritual break.

+ 9 Thessaloniki Attractions →

Thessaloniki Why visit?

  • Named after one of Alexander the Great's sisters.
  • Second only to Constantinople, Thessaloniki is rich in Eastern Roman history.
  • Hosting 15 monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Thessaloniki Museums

The main entrance of the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki and an exhibit of a sarcophagus (stone coffin).
photo: Dan Lundberg / CC BY-SA 2.0
#1

Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki

The modern house of Ancient Macedonia, the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki has so many interesting exhibits. Not to be missed.

Exposés on the walls of an oval room and two traditional costumes close to the entrance.
photo: Museum Macedonian Struggle / CC BY-SA 3.0
#2

Museum of the Macedonian Struggle

As the Ottoman Empire was slowly collapsing, competing nations strived to capture pieces of Macedonia. The Museum of the Macedonian Struggle tells their story.

A fighter jet pilot on the screen of the simulator room and seats thrusting forward.
photo: NOESIS / CC BY-SA 3.0
#3

Noesis Science Museum

A fun place with tons of educational experiences. Science exhibitions, a dome screen room, a cosmotheater, a simulator, and a planetarium. Anything else?

A guy's head that look like it's cut appears in a plate on a table.
photo: tiqets
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#4

Museum of Illusions Thessaloniki

The Museum of Illusions of Thessaloniki uses geometry and illusions to create scenes for unforgettable pictures that you want to share on social media.

Old machine guns and other weapons in display in a shiny room of the War Museum of Thessaloniki.
photo: Macedonian Heritage / CC BY-SA 3.0
#5

War Museum of Thessaloniki

In the last century, Thessaloniki went through two world wars, two Balkan wars, and civil strife. Learn more in the War Museum of Thessaloniki.

An old industrial ceiling over a room with photos on the walls.
photo: Macedonian Heritage / CC BY-SA 3.0
#6

MOMus - Thessaloniki Museum of Photography

House of many impressive exhibitions on topics as diverse as COVID's impact on city life, identity in psychology, and urban landscape.

The Teloglion Fine Arts Foundation is a large white building with outdoor stairs leading to the upper floors.
photo: G.Garitan / CC BY-SA 4.0
#7

Teloglion Fine Arts Foundation A.U.TH.

The Teloglion Foundation is a fantastic cultural space with curious exhibits, impressive presentation, and several artistic events.

A room of the Byzantine Culture Museum of Thessaloniki with artifacts in displays and icons hanging on the walls.
photo: Herbert Frank / CC BY 2.0
#8

Museum of Byzantine Culture

Probably the biggest Byzantine museum in the world, it hosts a difficult-to-find and complete exhibition of the Eastern Roman Empire through time.

+ 8 Thessaloniki Museums →

Thessaloniki Festivals

A press conference with John Malkovich and the former president of Thessaloniki Film Festival, Georges Corraface.
photo: tom.tziros / CC BY 2.0

International Film Festival of Thessaloniki

Every year, the Thessaloniki International Film Festival hosts rising-star and established filmmakers. Directors, actors, cinephiles, and flashing cameras.

A panoramic view of the facilities of the International Fair of Thessaloniki (TIF-HELEXPO)
photo: Public domain

International Fair of Thessaloniki (TIF-Helexpo)

The Thessaloniki International Fair is a week-long event in September that gathers attention from global industry and commerce.

A picture showing the crowd among the benches of various publishers at the International Book Fair of Thessaloniki.
photo: ΔΕΒΘ

Thessaloniki International Book Fair

An annual event that brings Thessaloniki in the center of bookworms' interest. There are books in many languages that satisfy every niche.

Hundreds of runners of all ages with colourful t-shirts run on Thessaloniki's seafront.
photo: Marathon ALEXANDER THE GREAT

Alexander the Great Marathon

The Marathon starts from the Macedonian palace of Pella and finishes at Alexander's statue in Thessaloniki. It also hosts 5km and 10km competitions.

Thessaloniki Day Trips

A panoramic picture showing numerous blocks of flats that correspond to a neighborhood of Nea Kallikrateia.
photo: Ilya Schurov / CC BY-SA 2.0
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Nea Kalikratia

If you are trapped in Thessaloniki during summer, Nea Kalikratia is your easy escape to an OK beach. It's well-organized and superbly family-friendly.

A picture taken from the Nea Apollonia spa showing Volvi lake.
photo: Timeheritage / CC BY-SA 4.0
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low rating
distant ≈ 54.8km
temp. closed

Apollonia Spa

Loutra Volvis

The Apollonia spa and thermal springs are good enough for a few relaxing hours. The waters are not too warm but the sulfuric smell is.

A central street of the village of Galatista with shops and other traditional buildings.
photo: Geovagrand / CC BY-SA 3.0
distant ≈ 47.6km

Galatista

Polygyros Halkidiki

Picturesque village with old-style stone architecture and a Byzantine tower. A fantastic place to relax and stroll around in the beautiful streets.

The beach of Perea with the city of Thessaloniki in the background.
photo: anatakti / CC BY-SA 2.0

Peraia

Thessaloniki

A coastal resort town accessible also by the White tower waterbus. Easy escape for Thessalonians in hot summer days as there's good food and an OK beach.

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