1.Vibrant city!
Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece and the capital of Northern Greece, known as Macedonia. Many factors have made Thessaloniki well-known beyond the Greek borders: the city is home to the renowned TIFF (Thessaloniki International Film Festival) as well as the International Documentary Festival. This together with other big music festivals and events has rendered Thessaloniki a major cultural centre, a vibrant metropolis. The city indeed vibrates with life as it sports a great number of clubs, cocktail and coffee bars, music halls, restaurants, and taverns that cater for all tastes! No-one’s expectations are left unsatisfied
Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece and the capital of Northern Greece, known as Macedonia. Many factors have made Thessaloniki well-known beyond the Greek borders: the city is home to the renowned TIFF (Thessaloniki International Film Festival) as well as the International Documentary Festival. This together with other big music festivals and events has rendered Thessaloniki a major cultural centre, a vibrant metropolis. The city indeed vibrates with life as it sports a great number of clubs, cocktail and coffee bars, music halls, restaurants, and taverns that cater for all tastes! No-one’s expectations are left unsatisfied
2.Beautiful weather
Being in the Northern part of Greece, Thessaloniki enjoys better and milder summer weather compared to the other parts, like Athens for instance. Of course summers can be hot here as well, but the cool, bracing breeze that comes from the sea that skirts the town counterbalances any moments of unbearable heat.
3.Multi-cultural city
Thessaloniki’s history spans over 2300 years. It was founded around 315 B.C by King Cassander of Macedonia and developed into a flourishing trade centre as it connected, and still connects, Europe with Asia via the Roman Egnatia road, which has recently been fully restored and improved . Thessaloniki used to be the largest and wealthiest city of the Byzantine Empire, second only to Constantinople. Since then the city has expanded tremendously, embracing a vast diversity of other nationalities. All these nationalities – Jewish , Armenian, Turkish, French ,Bulgarians – have left their marks, which add to the multi-faceted character of the city.
Today, with the influx of foreign students, tourist visitors, and immigrants from all over the world, the city celebrates its diversity! Thessaloniki is and has always been a crossroads of civilizations (Ancient Greece, Roman, Hellenistic, Byzantine and Modern influences)
4.The Inhabitants/Locals
People in Thessaloniki are very friendly, warm and extremely helpful; they are always prompt and ready to give you information about everything you need. Do not hesitate to ask them about anything you want ; they will respond immediately.
5.Walking around
Thessaloniki is walkable! You can visit the city’s amazing historical monuments and touristic attractions on foot! Or you can take a leisurely stroll along the seafront enjoying the spectacular view of Olympus mountain on the horizon, just above the line where the blue sky kisses the blue seawater.
6.Food
Thessaloniki is a gastronomical paradise and everybody around Greece acknowledges that the best and the most reasonably priced food is to be found here. With a tremendous range and number of eateries, bakeries, patisseries, restaurants and taverns, the city caters for all pockets and tastes. Here you will –and you must definitely- try the locally produced Thessaloniki koulouri .
7.Other places to go to.
Thessaloniki is very conveniently located and plenty of ‘ hot’ destinations can easily be accessed by car, public transport, boat, ferry, or train. Among them is the exquisite halkidiki with its unique alcoves, its unspoilt, off-the-beaten-track beaches, its posh summer resorts and the imposing bulk of Mount Athos, the sacred and all-man monastery mountain; the amazing islands of Thassos, Skiathos, Skopelos, Samothraki; Mount Olympus, home of the 12 ancient gods; the spectacular waterfalls in Edessa; the city of Volos with its picturesque, traditional villages which, perched on top of Pilion, command breathtaking vistas; the amazing seaside town of Kavala and many more.
8.Natural Beauty
Thessaloniki ‘s beauty is unparalleled. Amphitheatrically built between the surrounding forests and mountains and ending in the lap of Thermaikos bay, Thessaloniki has been often called the “ nymph, (bride), of the North”. Many impressive structures left over from the Roman Era, together with numerous imposing Byzantine churches and other defensive structures like the White Tower -the landmark of Thessaloniki-, as well as various Ottoman monuments, make up the identity of the town and add that special spice and charm that make the city a dominant, irresistible destination.
9.Museums
Some of the many museums that should not be missed are the following:
