Best Travel Guide Thessaloniki

ThessalonikiGuide was updated: 2025-09-19

Byzantine churches, crumbling ruins, modern architecture, intense nightlife and the stunning sea, this is the essence of Thessaloniki. The second largest city in Greece, Thessaloniki combines more than 2,300 years of history, with a young student population. The city is the perfect destination for urban explorers and a favorite vacation destination for locals. Pristine beaches and charming villages aplenty.

Do & See

Thessaloniki is home to numerous historic sights, including The White Tower, once a part of the ancient walls that protected the city. The romantic alleyways and streets make Thessaloniki a perfect destination for couples and explorers of all ages.

White Tower

The White Tower is the most iconic symbol of the city. The tower was constructed by the Ottomans sometime in the early 15th century and once guarded the eastern end of the city's sea walls. In the 19th century, this tower was used as a notorious prison. Nowadays, it is a welcoming museum of art and local history. The museum offers a rapid lesson in the history of the city. Ideally, you'll take in this well-dosed overview before continuing to the more specialised museums and archaeological sites. For best results, grab the free audio guide at the entrance. The last floor of the tower gives you a wonderful view of the city.

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Explore the Halkidiki Region

The region of Halkidiki lies southeast from Thessaloniki. It is known for its jutting peninsulas, Mediterranean forests and sandy beaches in warm, sheltered bays. The region is often described as having three 'legs', the Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos peninsulas. Kassandra, the westernmost peninsula, is the most developed, offering modern resorts and nightclubs. Sithonia, also known as Longos, offers over a 100 beaches, cute villages and is a popular destination for families. Athos is an important centre of the Eastern Orthodox church. Its main point of interest, Mount Athos, is home to 20 monasteries.

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Heptapyrgion of Thessalonica

While exploring the historic Ano Poli, the Old City or Upper Town, you will stumble upon the old city wall and the Heptapyrgion. It is a Byzantine and Ottoman-era fortress. You can pay to see the renovated interior part, which used to serve as a prison from 1890 to 1990. Enjoy your urban hike up to the monument, check out the panoramic views and sip a frappe in one of the charming cafes in the area. Also known as Edy Kulѐ or Eptapirgio, 'Seven Towers', is a medieval fortress with towers in the northeastern part of Thessaloniki. Despite its name, the fortress has ten towers. The fortress was built in the IX century, and some parts of it were built later. Like the White Tower, it was used as a prison from the late 19th century until 1978.

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Waterfront & Boat Rides

Thessaloniki's waterfront is a long boardwalk that stretches about 4.5 km, all the way from the First Pier to the Thessaloniki Concert Hall. Enjoy a stroll, a jog or a bike ride, ideally in the morning or closer to sunset. You'll make your way past the Ladadika district, the White Tower and Alexander the Great statue, parks, gardens and sports facilities. Halkidiki Yachting Boat Tours, departing from around the Thessaloniki marina, give you an opportunity to see the city from a new angle.

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Mount Olympus

The mythical Mount Olympus can be seen on the horizon from the waterfront in Thessaloniki. Many visitors choose to spend a day on a trip to the ancient Dion and Mount Olympus. You'll see the Dion Archaeological Park with city ruins dating from the 6th century BC and the most important spot in Greek mythology itself. If you're looking to go on a hike, there are guides that will take you along Enipeas Gorge in the foothills of Mount Olympus with spectacular waterfalls, numerous endemic species and picnic opportunities.

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Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki

The Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki presents the history of Sephardic Jews and Jewish life in the region after the 15th century. It is one of the rare Jewish buildings that survived the fire of 1917. The museum is subdivided into several sections, where you can see the photo exhibit 'Thessaloniki, Sephardic Metropolis', appreciate religious artefacts and look at tombstones from the ancient Jewish cemetery of Thessaloniki. There is also a part dedicated to the Holocaust in Thessaloniki.

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