Mandrino Hotel
Thessaloniki - 2, Adigonidon Str.-29,Egnatia Str.
Book now
Thessaloniki (in Greek Thessaloniki) is Greece’s second-largest city by population, with over a million inhabitants in the metropolitan area, and the undisputed capital of Macedonia. Founded in 315 BC by Cassander of Macedon in honour of his wife Thessalonica, sister of Alexander the Great, it overlooks the Thermaïc Gulf with a five-kilometre waterfront that connects the port to the White Tower, the city’s iconic monument. Unlike Athens, Thessaloniki receives far fewer international mass tourists, making it one of Greece’s most compelling destinations today for those seeking authenticity at reasonable prices.
The city layers three thousand years of history in visually readable form: Roman remains coexist with UNESCO-listed Byzantine churches, Ottoman alleyways in Ano Poli with the restaurants of the Ladadika quarter, and historic-centre markets with some of Greece’s finest museums. Thessaloniki is also a university city with around 150,000 students, which fuels a particularly vibrant gastronomic, musical and cultural scene year-round, not just in summer.
From a historical and cultural perspective, Thessaloniki is unique in the eastern Mediterranean: it was simultaneously co-capital of the Byzantine Empire, the hub of the world’s largest Sephardic Jewish community (over 50,000 people deported in 1943), and Ottoman capital for nearly five centuries. Fifteen of its early Christian and Byzantine monuments were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1988. In November 2024, it opened its first metro system, completed after twenty years of construction that unearthed over 300,000 archaeological artefacts.
Thessaloniki’s historic centre is compact and walkable, making a visit quite different from other major Greek cities. You’ll usually start at the Nea Paralia waterfront, where the White Tower, the city’s emblem, is reached by strolling past contemporary sculptures and cafés overlooking the Thermaïc Gulf. From the tower, you head inland and within minutes you’ll find yourself before the Arch of Galerius and the Rotunda, the Roman imperial complex from the 3rd–4th centuries with gilded mosaics in its vault among antiquity’s most precious: both UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1988.
The Basilica of Saint Demetrius, just to the north, is Greece’s largest early Christian building, with a crypt preserving the original Roman baths. The “Cultural Quadrilateral” near the waterfront houses the Archaeological Museum, featuring the 4th-century BC Derveni Crater and Macedonian golden treasures, and the Byzantine Culture Museum, voted Best European Museum in 2005, with over 3,000 artefacts displayed largely without cases. Climbing towards the hill, you reach Ano Poli, the only neighbourhood spared by the 1917 fire: wooden Ottoman houses, 4th-century Byzantine walls and the Tower of Trigonio, from which you see the entire gulf at sunset. In the city centre, the Modiano and Kapani markets and the Ladadika quarter complete an itinerary that embraces archaeology, gastronomy and neighbourhood life.
Find all the must-see attractions and details on our page about what to see in Thessaloniki.
Thessaloniki is a seaside city, but its best beaches lie outside the urban boundary. The first equipped beaches begin at Peraia and Agía Triáda, 15–20 km east along the Thermaïc Gulf coast, reachable by OASTH urban buses in under half an hour: dark sand, calm waters and beach clubs frequented mainly by locals. Quality improves markedly as you move further from the city, with the gulf’s seabed becoming progressively clearer towards the south.
A real transformation comes with the Chalcidice Peninsula, the great trident-shaped peninsula jutting into the Aegean Sea from around 60 km from the city. The first of three “fingers”, Kassandra, is nearest and most developed: fine-sand beaches with resorts, beach clubs and nightlife, suited to those seeking organised seaside fun within easy reach. The second, Sithonia, has more intensely turquoise waters, rocky coves accessible only on foot or by boat and a more relaxed atmosphere: it’s the best compromise between water quality and accessibility. The third peninsula, that of Mount Athos, is an autonomous monastic republic accessible to men only with special permission, but its coasts, among Greece’s most unspoilt, can be admired on organised boat trips from Ouranoupoli.
For detailed directions on how to reach each beach and which to choose based on your time available, consult our guide to beaches near Thessaloniki.
The historic centre between Aristotle Square and Modiano Market is the most convenient area if you want to visit the main attractions on foot: hotels of all categories, minimal distance to Roman and Byzantine sites and immediate access to market life. Those preferring the waterfront find properties with Thermaïc Gulf views, ideal for evening strolls and proximity to the White Tower, at slightly higher prices (€70–220 per night).
The Ladadika quarter, near the port, is the best choice if you want restaurants and bars on your doorstep, with boutique hotels in restored historic buildings. Ano Poli offers few accommodation options but traditional atmosphere and lower prices (€40–130), with the advantage of city views; it’s suitable if you don’t mind climbing.
Thessaloniki is a vibrant metropolis that doesn’t rest when the sun sets. The aperitif is almost a sacred ritual, celebrated by locals with cheer: if you want to join them, the best spot is the waterfront, between Aristotle Square and the port, with its vast choice of bars and cocktail lounges.
The evening continues with dinner, which according to Greek tradition is consumed very late and is an important moment of socialisation. Choose one of the traditional tavernas around the covered market for an enjoyable evening of mezzes and traditional music.
You might decide to stop here, as it will already be quite late, but Thessaloniki’s night continues in the clubs of the outlying Kalamaria quarter or, in summer months, in clubs on the coast, all within less than an hour’s drive.
The Ladadika quarter, with its cobbled streets and venues housed in former port warehouses, is the main hub from 8 pm onwards: restaurants, tavernas, bars and live music in a compact, walkable area. Valaoritou Street is the heart of the alternative scene, with underground bars, art galleries and live-music venues attracting the university crowd.
Thessaloniki’s position, halfway between the coast and inland Macedonia, makes it an excellent base for day trips or longer excursions. Car hire in Thessaloniki allows you maximum flexibility to reach the region’s most important sites.
The Meteora lie about 230 km from Thessaloniki, a three-hour drive. Six monasteries perched atop sandstone pinnacles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and among Greece’s most photographed places, are also reachable by direct train to Kalambaka in approximately 3 hours 30 minutes. A day trip is possible, but an overnight stay in Kalambaka lets you visit the monasteries in morning light, before the tour coaches arrive.
Pella, 50 km away (about an hour’s drive), was the capital of the Macedonian kingdom and birthplace of Alexander the Great. The pebble mosaics of the House of Dionysus and the House of the Abduction of Helen, from the 4th century BC, are among antiquity’s finest. At 75 km lies Vergina, with the Macedonian royal tombs discovered in 1977 by archaeologist Manolis Andronikos: the burial goods from the tomb attributed to Philip II, Alexander’s father, are displayed in one of Greece’s most moving museums.
The Chalcidice Peninsula is Thessaloniki’s sea: three peninsulas stretching into the Aegean Sea, with beaches becoming progressively more beautiful as you move further from the city. Kassandra, the nearest, is reachable in about 70 km with resorts and equipped beach clubs. Sithonia offers more secluded coves and clearer waters. The Mount Athos peninsula, the third, is an autonomous monastic republic accessible only to men with special permission, but its coasts can be admired by boat.
Mount Olympus, Greece’s highest peak at 2,917 metres, is about 95 km from Thessaloniki. On clear days it’s visible even from the White Tower’s terrace. The base for excursions is the town of Litochoro, reachable by car or train. National Park trails allow day hikes to mid-range refuges; reaching the Mytikas summit requires experience and proper equipment.
The main entry point is Makedonia Airport (IATA code: SKG), 17 km from the city centre. Numerous European airlines operate direct flights from many European capitals and cities, with frequencies increasing noticeably in spring and summer. From the airport terminal, the centre is reached by bus in about 40 minutes or by taxi in 20–25 minutes. For flights to Thessaloniki and all information about Thessaloniki airport, including connections to the centre, find complete guidance on our dedicated pages.
Those travelling from mainland Greece can choose the train: the high-speed Hellenic Train line from Athens covers around 500 km in under 4 hours, with Thessaloniki station now directly connected to Metro Line 1. Train is also the most convenient option for those arriving from the Balkans, with active rail connections to Sofia, Belgrade and Istanbul. Those preferring to drive can reach Thessaloniki via the Egnatia Odos, the motorway crossing northern Greece from west to east and arriving directly in the city: from the North Macedonia border it takes about 90 minutes, from the Bulgarian border about 2 hours.
What's the weather at Thessaloniki? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Thessaloniki for the next few days.
Thessaloniki is located in northern Greece, on the Thermaïc Gulf, approximately 500 km from Athens (5 hours by car or 4 hours by train). It lies roughly 70 km from the border with North Macedonia, 130 km from Bulgaria and 60 km from the Chalkidiki Peninsula. The Meteora rock formations can be reached in approximately 3 hours heading westwards.
Hotel 
Budget accommodations 
Apartments 
Family Hotel 
Luxury Hotel 
Resorts