About the city of Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city and capital city of Central Macedonia’s administrative district, is a city of cosmopolitan character, uniquely combining its long history and heritage with well-known gastronomic traditions, vivid nightlife and warm people.

The city center is a blend of the western civilization and the eastern influences with contemporary touches and an urban character. The different cultures of the city and the tumultuous history of 23 centuries are depicted in every sight and every corner of it. Thessaloniki includes a variety of attractions, from the Byzantine walls with the breath-taking view from the Upper Town (Ano Poli), to the enchanting sunset, reflected in the waters of Thermaikos Gulf, behind the imposing White Tower and in front of the mythical Mount Olympus in the horizon. Thessaloniki is a city where the glorious Roman and Byzantine civilization coexist harmonically with its modern culture, with the remarkable Arch of Galerius and Rotunda overlook the crowded small shops and wine bars.

This city is considered to be the gastronomic capital of the country, with famous restaurants and many local specialties. But most importantly, Thessaloniki is the city of romance and new experiences, offering both romantic nightwalks in the crowded streets and a vibrant nightlife that never ends.

Visitors are offered the opportunity to have a quick tour at the city center, through an exclusive touring service provider, by open deck buses.

In Thessaloniki, you can visit:

The White Tower (click for more details)
Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki (click for more details)
Museum of Byzantine Culture (click for more details)
State Museum of Contemporary Art (click for more details)
Arch of Galerius and Kamara
Aristotle Square
Byzantine walls – Upper Town
Byzantine churches: Agia Sophia (Holy Wisdom), Saint Demetrius

If you want to explore more of Thessaloniki, visit the following official travel guides:

The official travel guide of Thessaloniki
Visit Greece-Thessaloniki

or explore Thessaloniki through the following videos:

72 hours in Thessaloniki 
Time to live again

To download the city guide, roadplan and sights map, please click here.

*Photos free of rights, from https://www.visitthessaloniki.travel/el/media-thessaloniki/item/2281-trapeza-photografiwn#mnhmeia-unesco

How to get to Thessaloniki

Enjoying a strategic position in Greece and Europe, Thessaloniki is easily accessible by all means of transport. The city has an International Airport (Macedonia International Airport by IATA code SKG), Railway station, Harbor, Intercity Bus Station and is connected to the rest of Greece and neighboring countries through national and international highways.

Thessaloniki International Airport “Makedonia” (SKG)
Thessaloniki is easily reached by direct international flight connections from many destinations over the globe. Thessaloniki Airport “Makedonia” is the second largest airport in Greece, located 14 km from the city center.
At the airport, you will find currency exchange, automatic teller machines (ATM), catering, duty free and other shops, parking, car rental companies and so forth.   

From and to Makedonia Airport

Transfer by public bus
Transit bus service is provided between the Airport and the city of Thessaloniki, with connections to the Central Railway Station and the “Makedonia” Regional Coach Terminal (KTEL).
Bus service runs every 30 minutes and the journey to the city center takes about 40 – 50 minutes.

 Non-stop service to and from the city centre:
• Bus Route Nr. X1 “KTEL – Airport ”
• Bus Route Nr. N1 “KTEL – Airport ” (Night Service)

To and from Chalkidiki Coach Terminal (KTEL), Thessaloniki City Centre and Thessaloniki Eastbound Destinations (via “IKEA” Transfer Point) 
• Bus Route Nr. 45 “Makedonia Coach Terminal – Chalkidiki Coach Terminal (KTEL)”
• Bus Route Nr. X1 “KTEL – Airport ”
• Bus Route Nr. N1 “KTEL – Airport ” (Night Service)

Thessaloniki Eastbound Service
• Bus Route Nr. 79 “ΙΚΕΑ – Airport”

Tickets can be purchased by vending machines on board the service. On-board vending machines accept exact change only.
Students and Senior citizens (65 years of age or older) are eligible for 50% reduction; children aged 6 and younger travel free of charge.
For more information, visit the website of OASTH (Thessaloniki’s public bus transportation)  by clicking here.

 Transfer by taxi
24/7 metered taxi service is available outside the “Makedonia” Airport Terminal building. Thessaloniki’s taxis are blue with a white roof. 
The journey from (to) the Airport to (from) the centre of Thessaloniki is about 30 minutes, depending on traffic.
The fare to and from the airport is normally between 25-32 euro. There is a surcharge for trips starting from midnight to 05.00 a.m. You may be charged extra, if you carry many pieces of luggage.
The cost for taxi of various roots within the city are min: 4 euros and for short distances up to 8 euros.

Time

Thessaloniki, like the rest of Greece, belongs to the Eastern European Time Zone and is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +2). 

Useful Phone Numbers

• Thessaloniki area code (30) 2310
• European Emergency Number 112
• Police 100
• Tourist Police (+30) 2310554874
• Fire Department 199
• Ambulance 166
• Port Authority (+30) 2310593134
• Traffic Police (+30) 2310250740
• Railway Customer Service Centre 14511
• Urban Transportation 11085
• Intercity coaches (+30) 2310595400
• TAXI 18300, 18180, 18288
• Airport (+30) 2310985000

Nearby sites to visit

Chalkidiki

Visit Chalkidiki
Visit Greece-Chalkidiki

The enchanting peninsula of Chalkidiki, reminiscent of Poseidon’s trident, is located south of Thessaloniki and consists of three smaller peninsulas: Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos. The capital of Chalkidiki, Poligiros, can be reached by road, while the nearest airport is the Thessaloniki International Airport – Macedonia. There is also available local bus service, with everyday routes from Thessaloniki.

Kassandra

Sithonia

Mount Athos

Kassandra is the western peninsula of Chalkidiki, a really beautiful and very popular region with tourists from all over the world. As with the rest of Chalkidiki, your visit in Kassandra will be filled with endless fun combined with relaxation, as the area is verdant with pines in some cases cascading down to the beach, it provides magnificent gold and white sanded beaches lapped by turquoise waters and gives great options for quality dining and nighttime entertainment.

Sithonia is the second peninsula of Chalkidiki, located between the Kassandra and Mount Athos peninsulas. The Torean Gulf at its east side and the Singitic Gulf at the west side, create a long coastline of amazing natural beauty. Sandy beaches with warm turquoise waters shape an idyllic environment, ideal for those who are searching for tranquillity and peace of mind. The picturesque islet of Diaporo at the east coast, is a natural shield that protects the bay of Vourvourou from the Aegean waves. Porto Koufo, located on the peninsula’s west side, has created a natural harbor, ‘protected’ by two giant rocks. Just one hour away from the airport of Thessaloniki (by car), Sithonia is a location that presents a great variety of natural sceneries and an amazing view to the Aegean Sea.

Mount Athos (Agion Oros) is the last prong and the most beautiful of all. Civilization has not intruded into the Holly Mountain, which is inhabited solely by monks and access to women is restricted. Rising majestically out of the sea to a height of 2,033 m, Athos is covered with virgin forests offering a magnificent landscape. Karyes, the capital of the monastic community of Mount Athos, is a peculiar small, picturesque area located at an altitude of 370 meters, hosting community residences (konaki). Cruises and excursions are organized from 1 April to 31 October. (http://www.athos-cruises.gr/)  

Aigai (Vergina)-Archaeological site

The Aigai archaeological site is located 70 km away from Thessaloniki and thanks to its location necessarily occupies a central position in the Macedonia Archaeological Sites Network, not only from a historical point of view, but also for reasons of connectivity. There is direct access from the Macedonia Airport and the Thessaloniki Port and Rail Station via the PAThE-Egnatia network. The archaeological site of Aigai is protected by UNESCO as a world cultural greek heritage monument and a site of outstanding natural beauty. It consists of the Polycentric Museum, the palace, the city, the acropolis and the surrounding area, offering visitors a remarkable opportunity to formulate a general and rather dynamic view of the ancient capital of the Macedonian kingdom and, at the same time, comprehend its historical significance.

Mount Olympus

Mount Olympus, the mythological Mount of the Gods, is the highest mountain in Greece (2917 m) and the second highest mountain in the Balkans, located on the border of the regions of Macedonia and Thessaly, between the prefectures of Pieria and Larissa and lies around 100 km far from Thessaloniki. 

In 1938, Olympus was declared a national park as well an archaeological and historical place in order to preserve its monumental and historical physiognomy. (http://www.olympusfd.gr/us/infos.asp)

Dion

Dion is located among the eastern foothills of Mount Olympus, at the Southern end of the Pierian plain. The ancient city was built on a site commanding the road from Thessaly into Macedonia. In antiquity it was just 1.5 km from the coast of Thermaikos gulf, while today is 5 km from the sea and 15 km from the city of Katerini. The archeological site can be reached either directly from the Athens-Thessaloniki motorway or from Katerini via a local road. The present building of the museum designed to house the archeological finds of the area was constructed in 1983. The museum also hosts exhibits from ancient Pynda, other sites of interest from Pieria and offers educational exhibitions and auditoriums for special projections.

Meteora

In central Greece and particularly in the Northwestern part of Thessaly, between North East of Hasia and West of Pindos, where the plain of Thessaly ends, gigantic rocks raise themselves sky-high, creating a unique spectacle. At the beginning of the 12th century, in the area of Meteora, a small ascetic state was formed, which had as center of worship the church of Mother of God. U.N.E.S.C.O has characterized the Holy Meteora as a “monument of Humanity that has to be maintained”. The monasteries of Meteora are included in the Monuments of world cultural Heritage, because they are a unique harmonious matching of Byzantine architecture and natural beauty. The buildings of the monasteries seem like a continuance and a natural ending of the rocks. (http://www.kalampaka.com/gr/meteora/)

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