I wrote this Thessaloniki information primarily based on my 3-days journey there. It offers you a taste of Greece. Discover out about Thessaloniki: the very best issues to do, the place to remain, what to eat in Thessaloniki, and much more.
Replace 2020: I took a second journey to Thessaloniki in June, so I added much more up to date info to this Thessaloniki information.
About Thessaloniki
With over 2300 years of historical past, Thessaloniki was a melting pot for a lot of cultures. It was based by a Macedonian normal and named after his spouse Thessalonike, which suggests “Victory of the Thessalians”. The Romans conquered the town, and later it grew to become a part of the Byzantine Empire. The Ottomans adopted. Within the fifteenth century, it was a refuge for the Jews, then occupied by Nazi Germany. All of those nations contributed to the event and cultural range of the town.
Thessaloniki Information – Finest issues to do
The Roman Heritage in Thessaloniki
First, begin your tour by exploring a number of the wealthy Roman Heritage in Thessaloniki.
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Thessaloniki Information – The Rotunda
The Roman Emperor Galerius most likely meant the constructing as a mausoleum. Over time, it served as a church after which as a mosque. It resembles the structure of the Mausoleum of Maxentius on Via Appia Antica in Rome. A number of the Byzantine mosaics are nonetheless nicely preserved. You possibly can go to Tuesday to Sunday, from 8 AM to three:45 PM and the doorway payment is 2 euros.
Arch of Galerius (Kamara)
A couple of hundred meters from the Rotunda is the Arch of Galerius. Each buildings had been a part of the Imperial complicated throughout the Roman interval of the town.
The Roman Discussion board
This Historic Agora is sort of 2000 years previous. As any Roman discussion board, it was the middle of all social lifetime of Thessaloniki, the beating coronary heart of the town. It’s nonetheless within the middle of the trendy metropolis, on the upper-end of Aristotelous Sq..
You possibly can go to the Discussion board Monday to Saturday from 8:00 AM to three:00 PM. A ticket is 8€ in the summertime and 4€ from November to March. You possibly can see the Discussion board from above however in the event you go to, take note of the cryptoporticus – the lined corridors that result in an underground museum.
Thessaloniki Information – The White Tower
The Tower is essentially the most recognizable monument in Thessaloniki. It was constructed as a part of the harbor protection and later used as a jail, named the Purple Tower on the time. Now it stands alone on the waterfront, a logo of the town.
It’s open to guests from 8 AM to eight PM in summer season (April to October), and the doorway prices 4 euros. Within the low season (November to March), the opening hours are 9 AM to 4 PM, and a ticket prices 2 euros.
For those who’re obsessed with historical past, you can too use a mixed ticket legitimate for 3 days which prices 15 euros. It consists of entry to the next landmarks: The Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, The Museum of Byzantine Tradition, The White Tower, The Archaeological Website and The Museum of Roman Agora, The Arched Corridor on the Galerian Complicated.
The Umbrellas Zongolopoulos
The Umbrellas is a enjoyable sculpture put in by George Zongolopoulos on the waterfront in 1997 as Thessaloniki was the European Capital of Tradition. A brief stroll from the White Tower offers you the possibility to take just a few instagrammable photos.
Thessaloniki Information – Ano Poli – The Higher City
For those who take a flip proper by the Ataturk Museum, the view will all of the sudden change. You made your solution to Ano Poli, the higher Thessaloniki. The homes right here survived the Nice Hearth in 1917, and the Higher City didn’t change a lot. It’s a charming maze of cobbled streets, colourful homes, and reminders of the Ottoman previous of Thessaloniki. A part of Ano Poli is in ruins however wandering via its streets and discovering hidden treasures is value a whole afternoon.
The Partitions and Heptapyrgion
Going up via Ano Poli, you’ll attain the Northern Wall. Relaxation right here for some time and admire the entire view over Thessaloniki. Go up much more to the Byzantine fortress, Heptapyrgion. The title means the Seven Towers Fortress. In actuality, the fortress has 10 towers.
Heptapyrgion is free to go to every single day from 8:30 AM to three:30 PM.
Pasha’s Gardens
If you head down in direction of the ocean, observe the partitions from the skin, and you’ll come throughout Pasha’s Gardens. The backyard has partially ruined improbable components. It is usually a pleasing inexperienced area the place locals come to relaxation and play with their canine.
Lovely Byzantine Church buildings
A number of lovely Byzantine church buildings are scattered all through Thessaloniki. Some are beneath the current avenue degree, on the Byzantine city degree.
The Markets in Thessaloniki
There are three markets very shut collectively within the metropolis middle: Bezesteni, Modiano and Kapani and they’re value a go to to take a look at the native life. Yow will discover every part right here: contemporary fruit and greens, fish, butcher outlets, diary shops, spices but in addition garments and family merchandise. You possibly can sit in a market tavern and have a snack or a greek espresso, watch the locals purchase their groceries, or discover some souvenirs to take dwelling.
Ladadika District
Ladakika is an space of some streets stuffed with eating places and bars of every type. You may get misplaced in there, however you possibly can by no means go hungry. It’s a vacationer space, however a whole lot of Greeks additionally dine right here. Although you could discover higher meals in the event you discover a household taverna within the higher city, you’ll all the time discover a meals meal right here and an incredible ambiance, particularly at evening.I had the same feeling at Jaffa Flea Market in Tel Aviv.
There are numerous different issues to see in Thessaloniki, particularly within the historical past division.
I additionally wished to see the images museum MOMus, which I discovered closed. It’s hosted in an previous warehouse within the harbor, and open each day from 11 AM to 7 PM. Nonetheless, you must examine their website earlier than going, as a result of I discovered it closed with no discover on the entrance. Additionally, you will discover a Cinema Museum and a few cafes in the identical complicated.
The place to remain in Thessaloniki
The very best space to remain in is between Ladadika and Aristotelous Sq. as you’ll have quick access on foot virtually in all places. For this Thessaloniki information, I selected 3 perfectly-located trendy locations to remain:
Superior One Boutique Hotel – a lovely lodge with spacious rooms and nice providers.
Colors Urban Hotel Thessaloniki – trendy and colourful, this place has an excellent vibe.
Evapollo Aparthotel – a contemporary aparthotel inside 100 meters from Aristotelous Sq..
Helpful tip: Parking is difficult to search out on the central streets. Nonetheless, there are lots of indoor garages the place you possibly can park the automotive for a payment starting from 15 to twenty euros a day. Remember the fact that you’ll have to depart the important thing and announce the approximate time you wish to depart as a result of they park the automobiles as in the event that they had been on a ferryboat, and it’s troublesome to take them out.
Thessaloniki Meals Information – What to eat
No Thessaloniki information could be full with out a notion of the native meals to attempt to the very best locations to eat within the metropolis.
We discovered an excellent breakfast with a view at MoNo Unique Fresh in Aristotelous Sq.. They make their very own bread and have fairly just a few fascinating selections. We cherished the place and got here again the subsequent day, regardless that the service was a little bit sluggish the primary day.
Greek Specialties
- Soutzoukakia-is a Turkish-influenced dish-meatballs in tomato sauce. It goes very nicely with greek yogurt and pita bread or with orzo. The flavour comes from the cumin within the meat. Thessaloniki had a whole lot of influences in its historical past which left their mark on the meals too, in order that they use extra spices right here than in different elements of Greece. Thessaloniki was positioned on Egnatia Street, the principle Roman approach from the Italic Peninsula to Asia. So, it all the time had entry to all elements from each Asia and the Mediterranean area.
- You possibly can by no means get hungry in Thessaloniki, or wherever in Greece for that matter, there may be all the time a Gyros or a Souvlaki shut by. In Thessaloniki, you must strive a Gyros in Kapani Market. It comes both on a plate or in pita bread, however it was meant and it’s finest within the “to go” model, wrapped in pita bread. These Greek specialties are a number of the finest European street foods.
- You also needs to make the most of Thessaloniki’s location within the Thermaic Gulf and take a look at the contemporary fish and seafood. You possibly can by no means go improper there! A saganaki dish is a should, whether or not it’s mussels or shrimps.
- For the remaining, the probabilities are countless, you shouldn’t miss moussaka, dolmadakia (rice in wine leaves), tzatziki, or tirokafteri (a creamy and spicy cheese).
Learn extra about the very best food from Greece and street food in Thessaloniki.
Greek espresso and the espresso Greeks drink
It is best to know that in the event you ask for greek espresso you’ll get a small espresso with the bottom on the underside. They brew Greek espresso in a pot referred to as briki, placing the espresso in from the start and eradicating it from the warmth because it begins to boil. It’s much like Turkish espresso, and it’s often taken with sugar on the finish of a meal. Whereas that’s the conventional espresso, most Greeks drink a whole lot of chilly coffees with or with out milk. Subsequently you possibly can see individuals in all places on the streets, connected to their plastic cups crammed with chilly espresso or sipping them at cafes alongside the waterfront.
Different issues to do from Thessaloniki
In case you have greater than a few days, Thessaloniki is an effective base for a Mount Olympus day journey or perhaps a journey to Meteora.
Additionally, whether or not you favor crowded seashores or empty ones, yow will discover them lower than one hour south of Thessaloniki. Additional south, you possibly can discover the Chalkidiki (Halkidiki) seashores, a number of the most lovely within the space.
Helpful tip: In Greece, you don’t often pay for the seashore facilities. You should utilize the deck chairs and umbrellas so long as you purchase your drinks from the seashore bar.
Whereas in Greece, ensure to not miss Athens for all of the historical past. Right here is my put up on the tourist attractions in Athens you must see, particularly the distinctive Acropolis.
And, after all, make your solution to a number of the gorgeous islands within the North Aegean: Thassos – the emerald island of Greece, Samothraki, or Limnos. Discover the very best ferry journey right here.
Disclosure:
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I hope my Thessaloniki information helps you propose an incredible journey to the second-largest metropolis in Greece.