City in Greece
8 things to see
Thessaloniki is Greece’s second city and its food capital, and the simplest budget move is to eat well for very little: bougatsa, souvlaki, and seafood mezze run cheaper than in Athens. The biggest free draw is the waterfront promenade, a long walk along the Thermaic Gulf past gardens and sculptures that is at its best around sunset, with the White Tower (free to walk around) as the obvious landmark to aim for. Climb up into Ano Poli, the old upper town, to wander the Byzantine city walls and the Heptapyrgion fortress for sweeping views over the city and the gulf, all at no cost. The UNESCO-listed Church of Hagios Demetrios, the city’s grand patron-saint basilica, is free to enter, and several other Paleochristian and Byzantine churches are free or charge only a small entry fee, while the Roman Forum ruins are open to wander. Spring and autumn are the smart times to visit: the weather stays mild, the waterfront is pleasant, and rooms cost noticeably less than in peak summer. The city also makes a cheap base for day trips toward Meteora and the coastal town of Kavala.
What to see
What each one costs, where the cost is known.
The Church of Agios Dimitrios is the main church of Thessaloniki's patron saint, one of the largest churches in Greece and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Free to enter, including the underground crypt where Roman-era baths and the saint's martyrdom site are preserved.
Ano Poli (Upper Town) is the old Ottoman quarter above modern Thessaloniki, a neighborhood of wooden houses, narrow streets, and Byzantine churches still surrounded by sections of the ancient city wall. Free to wander.
Aristotelous Square is Thessaloniki's grand central square, designed in the 1920s after a fire destroyed the old city center. Free.
Ladadika is the neighborhood near the port where Thessaloniki goes out at night, a grid of cobblestone streets with restored Ottoman and neoclassical buildings converted into bars, restaurants, and live music venues. Free to walk.
Modiano Market is Thessaloniki's central covered market, recently renovated while preserving its 1920s architecture. Free to enter.
The Rotunda is a 4th-century Roman circular building near the Arch of Galerius, originally built as a mausoleum or temple, later converted to a church, then a mosque, and now a museum and occasional event space. Entry is a small fee.
The Thessaloniki waterfront (Nea Paralia) stretches for five kilometers along the Thermaic Gulf, recently redesigned with themed gardens, sculpture installations, and cycling paths. Free.
The White Tower is the symbol of Thessaloniki, a 15th-century Ottoman fortification on the waterfront. Entry to the interior museum is a modest fee.
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