Sure, Greece has its issues, perhaps now more than ever. But politics and economy aside, there’s a reason why this country was the birthplace of much philosophy, or Western art, and of all the things that so many other civilizations appropriated or were influenced by. Part of that is its inherent beauty and the vitality of its people.
Thessaloniki, the capital of Greek’s region of Central Macedonia, is, at its heart, a diverse city. Historically speaking, Thessaloniki–aka Salonica–was home to large populations of Jews, Turks, Bulgarians, as well as native Greeks. Today, it’s considered the cultural capital of Greece.
Having never explored northern Greece, the six-and-a-half hour train ride up from Athens was a pleasant journey; the scenery changed from arid to green in less than an hour, and by the time we arrived in the early evening, the city was hot but tempered by the breeze at the port.
We only spent a couple days in Salonica, but they were great days. Here are my favorite five things we saw and did there:
1-3: Thessaloniki On the Go Bus Tour: A bus tour constitutes three out of five? Really? Yes, really. Our hotel (which, by the way, was a FANTASTIC family-run place, I highly recommend you check out Hotel Atlantis if you’re ever traveling in Salonica, very helpful staff and comfortable accommodations for excellent prices) gave us this tip to try out the Thessaloniki On the Go Bus Tour. It’s just a regular hop on/hop off sort of deal, but it only cost 2 euro. The comparable one that met right next to it had the cheapest price of 9 euro.
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Me at the fortress overlooking the city. Not a bad view, eh? |
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I like taking pictures of grapes. |
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The cemetery at the monastery. |
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View from the monastery overlooking Salonica |
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A back street in Ano Poli |
4. Dining in Ladadika: The area by the city center is broken into a number of districts. Many trendy tavernas and clubs are located in Ladadika, and we found a brand-new restaurant, Basilikos, that we loved enough to eat at twice. Nightlife in Thessaloniki thrives, and Ladadika seems to be where everyone starts their night, with dinner or a few drinks, and then maybe heads out to the clubs.
5. Down by the port: Waterfronts are generally a safe bet for things to see and do in a city, and Thessaloniki is no exception. Sunset by the water is not a sight to be missed, and there is plenty of seating available in public areas. If you want to dine or drink in style, there are also a few nice places right on the water, which affords a choice view of the city or of the Aegean Sea. For historical and cultural information on Thessaloniki, as well as a cool view, check out the White Tower. The audio guide is included in the price, and although it wasn’t necessarily my absolute favorite activity we did, it was the closest we got to a museum, so I learned a bit about the town by going.
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From the White Tower |
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Sunset at the port |
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Street musicians in Aristotelous Square |
Ever been to Thessaloniki? What was your favorite part?
Oh, I like the "My Favorite Five" scheme and the "Travel Secret."I've never taken a bus tour while abroad, but it sounds like you had a really good experience. Was it reasonably priced?
Sounds like you had an amazing experience!! Looking forward to my trip to Greece! Thanks for sharing:)
Yeah, it was only 2 euro. Most of the other ones cost at least 8 or 9, as did the one we saw there that was right next to the cheap one. We had no idea why there would be any advantage of going on the other, I think just that people didn't know the On the Go tour existed. Sometimes bus tours are also worth doing when it's really hot and the places you want to see are far away from each other (and the city has no metro, or a less easily accessible one).
Have an awesome time! 🙂
I also like photos of grapes, but most of all the photo of you at the fortress! BEAUTIFUL!!!