THESSALONIKI, GREECE
Thessaloniki in Greece is a vibrant Greek port city and an important transport hub of Southeastern Europe, recognized as the country’s second most significant economic, industrial, commercial, and political center. It is often considered Greece’s “second capital” due to its great historical and strategic importance. The city stretches along 17 kilometers of the Thermaic Gulf and is composed of 13 municipalities. It also serves as the capital of the administrative region of Central Macedonia. In 2013, National Geographic named Thessaloniki one of the top travel destinations in the world, and in 2014, the Financial Times’ FDI magazine honored it as the best mid-sized European city of the future for its human capital and quality of life.
Thessaloniki was founded by Cassander in 315 BC and named after his wife, who was the half-sister of Alexander the Great. The name “Thessaloniki” comes from two Greek words: Thessalos (Thessalian) and Nike (victory). Translated, it means “Thessalian Victory,” referring to the victory of Philip II, Alexander the Great’s father, over the Thessalians.
Our trip to Greece was a 16-day summer holiday in Peraia, a seaside town near Thessaloniki. We visited Thessaloniki with the desire to discover the city’s culture and history. In total, we spent four days in Thessaloniki. Below you’ll find what we explored, along with our recommendations for must-see places if you’re visiting this city. In my reviews of each landmark, I aim to give you all the essential details and information you might need.
Rotunda
LANDMARK | HISTORY | ART
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
INTERACTIVITY ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
FUN ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
GUIDES ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
INSTA-WORTHY ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
White Tower
MUSEUM | HISTORY | VIEWPOINT
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
INTERACTIVITY ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
FUN ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
GUIDES ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
INSTA-WORTHY ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Archaeological Museum
MUSEUM | HISTORY | ART
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
INTERACTIVITY ⭐⭐☆☆☆
FUN ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
GUIDES ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
INSTA-WORTHY ⭐⭐☆☆☆
Museum of Byzantine Culture
MUSEUM | HISTORY | ART
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
INTERACTIVITY ⭐☆☆☆☆
FUN ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
GUIDES ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
INSTA-WORTHY ⭐☆☆☆☆
OTE Tower
ATTRACTION | VIEWPOINT
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE ⭐☆☆☆☆
INTERACTIVITY ⭐☆☆☆☆
FUN ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
GUIDES ⭐☆☆☆☆
INSTA-WORTHY ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Aristotelous Square
LANDMARK | HISTORY
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE ⭐⭐☆☆☆
INTERACTIVITY ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
FUN ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
GUIDES ☆☆☆☆☆
INSTA-WORTHY ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Monument of Alexander The Great
LANDMARK | HISTORY | VIEWPOINT
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
INTERACTIVITY ⭐⭐☆☆☆
FUN ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
GUIDES ☆☆☆☆☆
INSTA-WORTHY ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Casa Bianca
MUSEUM | ART
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
INTERACTIVITY ⭐☆☆☆☆
FUN ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
GUIDES ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
INSTA-WORTHY ⭐⭐☆☆☆
Cultural Route No 50
ATTRACTION | HISTORY | ARCHITECTURE
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
INTERACTIVITY ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
FUN ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
GUIDES ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
INSTA-WORTHY ☆☆☆☆☆
Water Bus
ATTRACTION | VIEWPOINT
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE ☆☆☆☆☆
INTERACTIVITY ⭐☆☆☆☆
FUN ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
GUIDES ⭐☆☆☆☆
INSTA-WORTHY ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Destinations for Our Next Thessaloniki Trip
We felt completely at home in this city. Since we come from a country with a very similar mentality, Thessaloniki instantly felt familiar and welcoming, and it’s definitely a place we’ll keep returning to. Next time, we plan to explore several important landmarks we didn’t manage to visit on this trip, such as Zejtinlik (the Serbian military cemetery) and the Upper Town fortress. Also, we plan to visit Jewish Museum, Agios Demetrios Basilica and Vlatadon Monastery.
Recommendations
If you’d like to stay at the same place I did, here’s the booking link with more details about the place. Book now→
ACCOMMODATION
“The accommodation we stayed in was located in Peraia and it was excellent – highly recommended for the host, the interior, and the location (one-minute walk from the beach and 40minutes from Thessaloniki). The apartment was clean, well-equipped with everything necessary for cooking, and also had a washing machine for laundry.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
FOOD
“A wide selection of fresh Mediterranean food. Restaurant prices are affordable (two people can have lunch for around 20–30 euros). Pastry shops are on every corner, offering a wide variety of delicious and beautiful cakes. There are gluten-free and vegan options, which I covered in a special vlog that you can watch at the link below.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Exploring restaurants with gluten-free options, tasting amazing food, and discovering the best spots!
Watch full video→
RANKING OF LANDMARKS:
RANKING OF ATTRACTIONS:
HOSPITALITY
“The Greeks are a very hospitable people, warm and helpful. If you learn a few words in Greek, it often happens that they will continue talking to you as if you actually know the language.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
“Public transportation often doesn’t run on time, but it covers the whole city well, and you can easily get around using Google Maps – just arm yourself with patience and be ready to wait. There are bus and metro lines, with cheap tickets—70 minutes for €0.60, a day ticket for €2.50. On the bus, you can buy a ticket using a card at the ticket machine. At the metro station, tickets can be purchased at the entrance.”
⭐⭐⭐☆☆
SAFETY
“Despite the crowds in the streets during the peak summer season, I felt safe walking around the city alone at night. I came across a few beggars on the street, but they weren’t aggressive and there were no uncomfortable situations.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
