Top Tips For Your First Trip To Thessaloniki Greece

First time in Thessaloniki? We have gathered the best tips and created the perfect guide to help you experience one of the most enchanting cities in Greece. Thessaloniki might seem to you like a small and beautiful chaotic place but by reading this guide everything will settle. Thessaloniki with its relaxed pace (any time of day, month or year), combined with its lively atmosphere and mood, is one of the top destinations in Greece that can boast about knowing how to treat its guests. Indeed it does it in the best way possible. Thessaloniki is actually considered one of the most beautiful cities in Greece. The vibes are different in this gem of Northern Greece. The locals are walking in the streets and squares giving this city a more European lifestyle, making it smoother and less tense. This city is a mix of traditional and urban life. 

There is always a first time for everything. As far as the case of Thessaloniki is concerned, if you get there once, you will surely want to pay another and yet another visit. It's not just the nightlife, the good food and the liveliness of the centre that will make you come back. It's the fact that you will have a lot to see. Everyone will suggest something different to you - and that makes sense because Thessaloniki has something for everyone. But we want you to take a breath and rely on us, as we will walk you through the necessary things that you have to see, what you should do and which delicious dishes you cannot miss if you want to have a complete first experience in Thessaloniki. Those of you who are lucky enough to visit this place from May to September should also explore the famous peninsula of Chalkidi for relaxed vacation by the sea. If you like road trips you will love it!

The morning calm walks around the promenade of Thessaloniki -with the White Tower looking at the blue veil with which the Thermaikos Gulf embraces the "co-capital" of Greece- is beyond compare. With a stunning and stormy history, this building is a symbol of the city. The White Tower has been refurbished and is one of the most beautiful places to look at the city and enjoy a truly breathtaking view. For endless walks, especially from the White Tower and to the east, the route is called New Beach (Nea Paralia). There you can rent a bicycle and explore the surrounding area. Or you can just hang out with your company in the vast (for such a big city) lush green parks. By the way, it is nice to look at the White Tower and take pictures of it but you can also get through the entrance. Inside you will find a great museum that offers information about the history of Thessaloniki. You can learn everything from the city's foundation to its recent past. The seaside walk is great and will help you refresh and revitalise. You can begin at the harbour pier, where you will sit for a while on the benches looking at Nikis Avenue or you will start your day by getting a coffee at the Museum of Photography or one of the cafes' that offer stunning seafront views. The coastal walk passes from Aristotelous Square, continues as you cross in front of the dozens of cafes of the Avenue and reaches the pedestrian front, from the White Tower to the Umbrellas of Zongolopoulos, the classic and scenic route that includes horse carriages, street performers, cotton candy and floating boat bars.

 

If you want to start exploring the city, we suggest that you start at the top. Ano Poli (Upper City) and the Castles are your top must-see spots. Do not worry about the time, it will not take you long. This neighbourhood is the definition of what Thessaloniki represents because this city is really beautiful when you see it from above. It would be a great first step to head to the fortified Acropolis of Thessaloniki, the so-called Eptapyrgio, which offers an unobstructed view of the whole city and the Thermaic Gulf. You will pass the first gate, Portara, you will take the broad road ahead of Yedi Cule and you will ascend to the Seich Sou or the Pasha Gardens, opposite the eastern walls, for walks in nature.  The alleys that rise above Agiou Dimitriou Street end up in neighbourhoods that could remind you of a picturesque northern Greek village. Here the houses remain examples of magnificent folk Macedonian architecture, with cute windows, colourful doors, elaborate gates and small squares with hidden fish taverns and cafes. In other words, this is the most beautiful scenery for walks, if you want to get from the centre to the Castles on foot. In case you feel that the uphill route might be tough for you, then we suggest you get there by taxi and then descend on foot.

Obviously, no walk in Thessaloniki would be complete without heading to Aristotelous Square and Navarino Square. Although they are only ten minutes apart, these spots are two totally different worlds. We start from Navarino Square, where the palaces of the Roman Caesar spread out. He chose to make Thessaloniki the administrative centre of this side of his Empire in the 4th century AD. The remains of the Roman Hippodrome, the palace and the Mausoleum that Galerius built up to the top of the famous arch of his triumph when he returned after defeating the Persians, are spread out in the excavations from the beach to Egnatia; the famous Kamara. Right above it is the Rotonda, the 4th-century vaulted round building, the city's "Pantheon", which was intended to be a temple of Zeus or a Mausoleum, and later became a Christian temple and is now a Byzantine monument open to the public. From Navarino Square, as you move on you will find the other large square of the city centre, Aristotelous, the northern part of which, above Egnatia, ends in the Ancient Agora. Here was the heart of the city life for three centuries in the Roman era. Aristotelous is a great place to visit during morning, hours, it's one of the brightest spots in the city. Navarino Square is great at noon. If you look around you will find souvenir shops and plenty of tasty places to grab a bite. You can find everything from delicious souvlaki and gyros, to crisp falafel, and giant fruit salads. When you visit Thessaloniki you should not miss those two sites. They are two of the most vibrant squares of the centre. 

Valaoritou is one more spot that deserves your time. It certainly might not have the hype it had some years ago but still, it is a great option for your night out. It is a complex of shops - from bars to taverns gathering many people. If you have been to Gazi area in Athens, it mind remind you of that, though it is a bit more colourful. The chances of finding a nice place to have fun are many here. If you're still wondering where to go when the night comes, you should know that here you can have more choices for every taste. You will go to Bit Pazar for a coffee or a tea, it is a place where you can also find lots of taverns. Some of those taverns have live music and they might actually let you sing as well... This place gathers about half of the young population of the city every night (mostly from the university). So, if you are a young traveller this is a must. Thessaloniki offers also plenty of choices if you like beers and rock live music. You can find plenty of special bars, some colourful, others more industrial, which have very good prices and awesome music from indie to jazz. When in Thessaloniki do not neglect to eat bougatsa and the famous triangles of Panorama - ask the locals or your hotel reception for the best street food spots of the city and the top places for sweets. You will not have an issue finding hotel accommodation in Thessaloniki as it is a tourist destination and there is a variety of facilities from hostels, boutique hotels, resorts and luxury villas.  

In December, the Thessaloniki Food Festival - an initiative by the Municipality of Thessaloniki - introduces you to the city's delicious food trails. The festival aims to entertain visitors with several activities, as well as to help Thessaloniki emerge as one of the top gastronomic destinations for both Greeks and tourists from abroad. During the event, the city is flooded with flavours and aromas, enabling both residents and visitors to enjoy simple cooking and high gastronomy creations, culture, history and geography through delicious food tasting and cooking workshops, gastronomy and wine exhibitions, dinners, and other similar activities.

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