Thessaloniki is the second-largest city in Greece, right after Athens. It’s the capital of the region of Macedonia located in Central Macedonia, specifically in the Thessaloniki prefecture. With Macedonian institutions and museums, historical archives and university, Thessaloniki is a self-governing city within the region of Macedonia. The central part of the city has an area of 19.307 square kilometres and a population of 325,182, while the entire urban area, according to the 2022 census, has a population of 813,793 and an area of 111.703 square kilometres. Thessaloniki has become an important hub where economy, industry and politics intertwine. When it comes to economic development, the city’s typical culture that attracts both Greeks and tourists of various nationalities and religions, plays an important role. We offer all travellers who want to explore Thessaloniki travel information to prepare you for your future trip.
What does the capital of Greek Macedonia offer, apart from restaurants and bars where you can enjoy a culinary experience? The country’s cultural landmarks and rich history, which represent a crossroads of the eastern and western world, help explain the world of the locals and their lifestyle. Learning about the cultural landmarks, such as the White Tower, Aristotelous Square, the Arch of Galerius, the Heptapyrgion, the Church of Saint Demetrius, Hagia Sophia, the Rotunda, the Vlatades monastery, Navarinou Square, the Walls of Thessaloniki and the Trigonion Tower, makes for a genuine experience of European cultural heritage in Greece.
The first records of Thessaloniki date back to 316 BC, revealing the origin of the city’s name and its background. The city was named after the half-sister of Alexander the Great – Thessalonike of Macedon, whose name means “Thessalian victory”. In 146 BC, the city became the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia and part of the Byzantine Empire in the 6th and 7th centuries, despite the invasions of the Avars and Slavs. In the following centuries, the city was the victim of invasions of various barbaric tribes, such as the Arabs, Bulgars and Normans, who had been invading the area until 1246 when the city regained its important role as a military and trade centre of the Byzantine Empire. In the 16th century, the city became part of the Ottoman Empire until 1922, when the Ottoman dynasty saw its demise.
Discover the city’s 2,300-year-old history and the history of its monuments and Thermal Bay. Try out food and watch a musical performance by a professional actor in the city centre. A day bus trip will reveal an archaeological site in the ancient city of Pella, the capital of Kingdom of Macedon, the birthplace of Alexander the Great. In addition to the Archaeological Museum of Pella, you should also visit the Museum of the Royal Tombs of Aigai in Vergina and treat yourself to a traditional Greek lunch. Take a boat tour along the coast of the Athos peninsula and mountain, explore unusual villages, lakes, numerous monasteries and the birthplace of the Ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle, who was born in the Greek village of Stagira.
You can explore the city and its cultural attractions, such as the Arch of Galerius, the Rotunda, the Church of the Acheiropoietos, the Atatürk Museum, the Heptapyrgion and the Bezesteni Market, on your own using a two-hour audio guide which will tell you all about the historical city of Thessaloniki. There’s a special focus on the White Tower. The historical monument is presented through a story and an individual audio guide, which will let you explore the city’s 15th-century history. Let the adventure begin with the World City Trail app, which is designed for groups to solve puzzles of ten city tourist attractions and selected historical monuments. It also let’s you time your tour, so you can explore around at your own pace.
With its cultural features, Thessaloniki is interesting for all travellers who want to learn about European history and its development. The past and the modern world intertwine at almost every step, showing the lifestyle of modern Europeans. The hop-on hop-off bus enables every visitors to explore every key part of the city that emphasises its character. Eight tourist attractions are presented by an audio guide in eight different languages. The view of the city can be enjoyed from the tallest building. The OTE Tower is 76 metres high. It’s a telecommunications tower that offers a culinary restaurant experience and a panoramic view of the city, which can be seen in an hour from all sides of the rotating viewing platform.
The open-air and indoor Kapani and Modiano markets make for quite a special ambience in the city centre with their traditional Greek tavernas. It’s a place where stories of people continuously meet each day. Fresh food draws both locals and visitors who come here to shop daily, plus locally produced items emphasise Greek food production. Relaxation at the Pozar Thermal Baths outside Edessa helps with various medical conditions. The water temperature is 37 degrees Celsius. Visiting the nearby markets and a traditional Greek lunch at a restaurant that’s located close to the Pozar nature reserve reveals the Greek culinary delights.
Take a day-trip to the village of Dion under Mount Olympus which, with its 2,919 metres, is the tallest mountain in Greece as well as the tallest mountain in the Balkan peninsula. It’s an archaeological site with thermal baths and a Hellenistic theatre as well as ancient tales of Greek mythology about the Greek gods and other mythological beings. You can plan a climb to Mount Olympus in the traditional village of Litochoro and enjoy a wonderful view of the surroundings from the slopes of the Enipeas Valley. The Navagio Beach is located on the coast of Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea, opposite to Mount Olympus, which is located near the Aegean Sea. You can experience a sailboat trip across the Thermaic Gulf with lunch and a glass of wine, and then explore the shipwrecks in the gulf in English or Greek.
A trip to Greece and Thessaloniki with Hostelling International Slovenia brings plenty of benefits. If you happen to be at a beach of the city with a big heart, we make it possible for you to send your loved ones your very first free personalised postcard from our personal HI Globetrotter profile on the MyPostcard website. That way you can show them a glimpse of your holidays through a photo. You can only use the HIGlobetrotter promo code if you’re sending your postcard from MyPostcard for the first time.
Thessaloniki is a Greek tourist destination that offers visitors plenty of opportunities for relaxation and entertainment all throughout the year. It’s known as the most erotic city in Greece where love knowns no boundaries and whose streets and other paths contain the love stories of both the city and its people.
it brings music, film, cuisine, literature and itself, a city with a big heart, closer to people.
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