Thessaloniki is the second largest city of Greece, an economic, political and cultural centre and a major commercial port. A city brimming with Byzantine monuments as well as remnants of its Roman and Ottoman past, Thessaloniki has got a unique Balkan cosmopolitan flavour and has been affectionately called the Bride of the Thermaic Gulf.
Thessaloniki was the second largest city of the Byzantine Empire, a cultural centre for the whole Balkan region and a major military base during the Ottoman era. It became part of Greece in 1913 and had a major Jewish community until the 1920s. Today Thessaloniki has a vibrant university campus and cultural life, several World Heritage Sites and historic attractions, great restaurants and an exciting nightlife.
Places to Visit
The White Tower on Thessaloniki’s seafront is the city’s iconic landmark and houses special exhibitions. Of the 22 Byzantine churches, six (Rotunda, Osios David, Agia Sofia, Dodeka Apostoli, Agios Dimitrios and Acheiropoietos) are classed as World Heritage Sites and are worth a visit for their exceptional mosaics. The Rotunda in particular bears the marks of its continuous use and reuse through the centuries by Romans, Christians and Ottomans.
Aristotelous Street is a popular promenade lined with bookshops and coffee shops linking with the famous Via Egnatia. Nearby there is the 15th-century Turkish bath (Bey Hamami) and within walking distance Thessaloniki’s various shopping districts, food markets, flea markets, and high-street and designer wear boutiques. Museums to visit in central Thessaloniki include the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Byzantine Civilization and the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle.
Food and Entertainment
Thessaloniki is famous for its restaurants. A classic meze to taste is the traditional mydia saganaki or mussels baked in tomato sauce and feta. Good places to eat can be found in the upper city (Ano Polis) around Athonos Square and near the Modiano meat market. A famous spot for night life lined with bars and clubs is the Ladadika.
Thessaloniki is the second largest town in the Country and is considered to be a political and industrial center for the Balkans. Various International Trade Fairs are being held every year, attracting world-wide companies and organizations. The city's symbol is the magnificent white tower which now is a museum on the waterfront of the city. The city's climate is somewhere between Continental and Mediterranean.
Humidity is the main problem during summers and the temperature can reach or exceed 40°C, so if you are visiting the city during summer be well-prepared for extreme weather conditions. Also, the lack of a Metropolitan Railway gives rise to heavy traffic during rush hours. The traffic-emissions together with humidity make for a very unpleasant environment at the city-centre. Despite this, the city is a major draw card for tourists and it is believed that ruins of ancient civilizations lie underneath the modern city.
