Thessaloniki
The city of layers
Byzantine walls, Ottoman whispers, and a sea that never leaves your side
Thessaloniki is Greece’s great northern capital—a port city where cultures have mingled for over two millennia. Roman forums and Byzantine churches stand beside Ottoman hamams, Art Deco apartments, and modern cafés buzzing late into the night. Here, the sea is always just a few steps away, the food scene is bold, and history isn’t something you visit—it’s something you walk through every day.
This is a city of layered stories and layered flavors. From its lively waterfront to its tangled upper town, Thessaloniki invites you to wander without hurry, to taste deeply, and to stay up just a little too late.
WHERE TO STAY
WHERE TO STAY
ON Residence – Waterfront
A grand restoration of a historic landmark with views over Thermaikos Gulf. Elegant interiors, fine dining, and a location steps from Aristotelous Square.
Electra Palace Thessaloniki – Aristotelous Square
Classic luxury with neoclassical grandeur, rooftop dining, and a pool terrace overlooking the sea.
The Excelsior – City Centre
Boutique sophistication in a restored 1920s building. Contemporary interiors, impeccable service, and proximity to shopping and dining.
Makedonia Palace – Waterfront
An icon of Thessaloniki hospitality. Spacious rooms with sea views, a sleek spa, and a promenade location ideal for morning walks.
EXPERIENCES
City of Stories: Thessaloniki Highlights
⏱ 4 hours
Explore the White Tower, Roman Forum, Byzantine churches, and Ladadika’s colorful lanes with a private guide.
Inclusions: Guide, private vehicle or walking tour, refreshments.
Flavours of Thessaloniki
⏱ 3.5 hours
Visit Modiano Market, sample street food classics, and enjoy a meze lunch paired with local tsipouro.
Inclusions: Guide, tastings, market tour, lunch.
Upper Town & Byzantine Walls
⏱ 3 hours
Wander Ano Poli’s cobbled streets, Ottoman mansions, and panoramic viewpoints over the city and sea.
Inclusions: Guide, private vehicle or walking route, water.
Mount Athos Cruise (Private)
⏱ Full Day
Sail along the Athos peninsula, viewing its monasteries from the water, with swimming stops in secluded bays.
Inclusions: Skipper, boat, snacks, drinks.
Wine & Countryside Escape
⏱ 4 hours
Visit boutique wineries outside the city, tasting bold reds and aromatic whites paired with local delicacies.
Inclusions: Guide, tastings, transport.
WHERE TO EAT
Molyvos
Authentic northern Greek cuisine with a focus on seafood and seasonal ingredients, served in a stylish, modern setting.
Kitchen Bar
Lively and cosmopolitan, right on the port with panoramic sea views. International menu with a Greek backbone.
Extravaganza
Creative plates and natural wines in an intimate, bohemian setting.
Dia Xoiros
The city’s love letter to pork—slow-cooked, spiced, and inventive. Casual yet precise.
Opsopoion Maggas
Legendary for hearty meze and retro charm. A Thessaloniki institution.
Mavri Thalassa
Elegant seafood dining in Kalamaria, famous for its freshness and service.
A SENSORY GUIDE OF THE DESTINATION
We’re here to book the best accommodation for your trip, the best guides and drivers, and to make sure you receive top-quality service every step of the way. But there’s one thing we can’t do for you — and that’s to truly feel and sense the destination by being present in the moment.
To help you get a real feel for the place and take home a fully sensory travel memory, we’re sending you a few suggestions on how to experience the heartbeat of the destination.Find a moment to fit them into your trip, and you’ll enjoy a more holistic experience — one you’ll never forget.
👁️ See
Golden mosaics glowing in shadowed churches.
The White Tower against a bright blue sky. Sunset over Thermaikos Gulf, casting the promenade in amber light. Byzantine walls that climb the hills and frame the city.
👃 Smell
Freshly baked bougatsa wafting from corner bakeries.
Spices from Modiano Market—cinnamon, cumin, cloves. The salty breeze of the waterfront mingling with the earthy aroma of coffee roasting.
👂 Hear
The hum of conversation in Aristotelous Square.
Church bells mixing with the call of street vendors. The thump of live music from Ladadika spilling into the night.
👅 Taste
A city of bold flavors and deep roots.
Bougatsa dusted with sugar and cinnamon. Soutzoukakia in rich tomato sauce. Fresh-caught fish grilled with lemon. Loukoumades drizzled with honey.
✋ Touch
Cool marble floors underfoot in ancient churches.
The textured stone of the old city walls. The smooth curve of a coffee cup warming your hands on a winter morning.
🧠 Feel
The vibrant energy of a city that never fully sleeps.
The ease of long walks by the sea. The sense that every corner hides a new story.