Thessaloniki is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia.

History of the city is great, the date of its foundation is in 315 BC. If you want to explore and find out more of its great history follow the link History of Thessaloniki.

Thessaloniki is also a city with a continuous 3,000 year old history; preserving relics of its Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman past and of its formerly dominant Jewish population.

Cty is considered Greece’s cultural capital, renowned for its festivals, events and vibrant cultural life in general and has recently been ranked by Lonely Planet as the world’s fifth-best party city worldwide.

Top sights in Thessaloniki

  • Archaeological Museum

  • Church of Agios Dimitrios

  • Museum of Byzantine Culture

  • Rotunda of Galerius,  Arch of Galerius

  • New Waterfront

Archaeological Museum

Macedonia’s major prehistoric and ancient Macedonian and Hellenistic finds are housed in this museum. Highlights include the Derveni Crater (330–320 BC). Used for mixing wine and water, and later as a funerary urn…

Thousand Wonders

Church of Agios Dimitrios

This enormous 5th-century structure honours Thessaloniki’s patron saint. A Roman soldier, Dimitrios was killed around AD 306 by order of Emperor Galerius, infamous persecutor of Christians.

Museum of Byzantine Culture

This fascinating museum has plenty of treasures to please Byzantine buffs, plus simple explanations to introduce the empire to total beginners. More than 3000 Byzantine objects, including mosaics, intriguing tomb paintings, jewellery and glassware, are showcased with characterful asides about daily life.

New Waterfront

Thessaloniki’s New Waterfront is evidence that architecture can change the world by changing public space and improving daily urban life.

ArchDaily

Food & Soul

You can have the first taste of Thessaloniki through its street food, delighting yourself with dishes like koulouri (a sort of bagles, perfect to enjoy your coffee with), gyros (roasted meat served in a pita), and mpougatsa (pastries filled with cheese, cream or meat).

Tsimiski Street is a great place to start your day, especially if you are a fish or olives lover. Chaotic and colorful, Kapani Market is a joy for all senses.

Thessaloniki is easy to fall in love with – it has beauty, chaos, history and culture, a remarkable cuisine and wonderful, vast sea views. This is Greece’s second city, which, like the rest of the country, has suffered the hit of the economic crisis, but the streets remain full of life and vibrancy.

So are you hungry for history and myth, or for a literal banquet of souvlaki and wine? Do you want your heartbeat to quicken in raucous tavernas, or find inner peace in a monastery? Then you have to find a way to explore Thessaloniki.