ABOUT THESSALONIKI

About Thessaloniki

We look forward to welcoming you to Thessaloniki, Greece’s second tier city and capital of the region of Central Macedonia. The city is located on the Thermaic Gulf at the northwestern corner of the Aegean Sea and is a lively and generous urban center that it is at the same time historic and avant-garde. Strategically located at the crossroads of East and West, Thessaloniki connects easily to Southeastern Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East.

Within easy access through highways form the land borders, Thessaloniki offers many solutions to visitors to arrange their travel.

The city is an important educational hub with 4 large scale institutions, among which Greece’s largest university, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Thessaloniki is also the optimal destination to connect with an emerging entrepreneurial community, to share knowledge with outstanding academics, to liaise with a dynamic startup ecosystem, to explore contemporary art and modern cultural creation through festivals and art fairs.

Thessaloniki in Numbers

Population: 1.1 million
Centuries of History: 23
Unesco World Heritage Sites: 15
Byzantine Monuments: 19
Jewish Monuments: 10
Museums: 30
Annual Cultural Festivals: >10
Average Temperature in September: 23°C (73.4°F)

Transportation

Thessaloniki International Airport “Makedonia”

“Makedonia” airport is the second largest airport in Greece, located 14 km of the city center and serves over 3.5 million passengers per year.
53 airlines companies fly to 117 destinations worldwide in 35 connected countries 14 low cost airline companies Thessaloniki is easily reached by direct international flight connections to about 117 direct destinations, including major cities around the world and has 22 daily flights to Athens.
For more information please click here.

Public transportation

From the airport
Transit bus service is provided between the Airport and the city of Thessaloniki, with connections to the Central Railway Station and the “Makedonia” Regional Coach Terminal (KTEL). Bus service runs every 30 minutes and the journey to the city center takes about 40 – 50 minutes.
While in the city
Local Bus ticket costs €0.90 for a single ride! Day tickets cost €4. For more information, please click here.
Taxi services
Approximate prices of Thessaloniki taxi services:
- As a rough guide a taxi within the city will cost approximately 5 Euros
- A taxi to the airport will cost between 20 –30 Euros
- A double fare is applicable between midnight and 05:00 am

History & Culture

Thessaloniki is a city with a continuous history of 2.300 years, with traces and monuments of the Roman, early Christian, Byzantine, Ottoman and Jewish heritage.

The once mighty Byzantine Empire that ruled over the eastern Mediterranean for more than a thousand years is lost centuries ago, but the city of Thessaloniki still faithfully guards some of the most characteristic remnants. Today, visitors to the city have the unique opportunity to explore the Byzantine civilization through Thessaloniki’s mediaeval masterpieces, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 15 in total.

Museums and monuments, architectural landmarks and modern art installations, open-air archeological sites, old warehouses in the Thessaloniki Port Pier, create a charming blend of history and culture, merging east and west, traditional and modern, past and present.

The city hosts the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair, the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, the European Centre of Vocational Training, the Alexandria Innovation Zone and several other major institutions.

Gastronomy

A multitude of influences enriched Thessaloniki’s cuisine during the centuries with different products and cultures, eating habits and techniques, leading to delicious results. All kinds of travelers with different gastronomy expectations will meet their expectations in Thessaloniki.

Get acquainted with the great products of the Greek land, produced around Thessaloniki and the Thermaikos gulf, by visiting the colorful open markets in the town’s center. Taste local delicacies in the typical, traditional, casual eateries, “tavernas or mezedopolia”. A great tribute is given also to fine dining and executive seafood restaurants in unique locations, 5 star hotel’s terraces, gardens and balconies by the seafront.

Modern delicatessens, small specialty shops and new age wine & cocktail bars are created intensely by very well informed food & drink enthusiasts.

Thessaloniki, a foodie’s paradise ready to explore!