Destinations > Greece > Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki (sometimes known by its former name, Salonica) is Greece's second largest city and it is capital of the Greek province of Macedonia. The city has a wealth of attractions that draw on Byzantine, Greek and Ottoman civilisations and include churches, museums and monuments. Not many travellers make manage to visit Thessaloniki, but it is a good place to stop for a day or so to gain a better view of modern Greek life, minus the tourists.

Practical Information

Thessaloniki Tourist Information Centre

Plateia Aristotelous 8, Thessaloniki

Tel 031 0 271888

American Express

19 Tsimiski, Thessaloniki

Tel 031 0 239 797

Website www.americanexpress.com

Open Mon-Thu 8am-2pm, Fri 8am-1.30pm

Coming & Going

Thessaloniki is well connected by transport and many travellers visit here en route to Turkey, Bulgaria and FYRO Macedonia.

AIR

Not many budget travellers make use of Thessaloniki's airport, which is located 15km southeast of the city centre. It is served by bus route 78, which runs between the airport and the train station via the port.

TRAIN

The train station is located on Monastiriou at the western edge of the city centre and trains to Athens as well as international services to Istanbul, Skopje and Sofia.

BUS

Buses depart from a number of spots near the train station. There are frequent buses to Athens as well as other destinations within Greece. International buses depart from the train station to Sofia (Bulgaria), Korça (Albania) and Istanbul (Turkey).

FERRY

There are ferries from Thessaloniki to several Greek islands including a boat to Chios via Lesvos and Limnos, boats to Rhodes via Kos and Samos and ferries to Crete.

Local Transport

Although a metro system is currently under construction, this isn't expected to be completed until 2006. Until then travellers rely on the ubiquitous orange buses. Most bus fares are around €0.50.

Accommodation

Thessaloniki Youth Hostel

Alexandre Svolou 44, Greece

Bus 8, 10, 11, 31

Tel (2310) 225946

Sights

Archaeological Museum

Thessaloniki's Archaeological Museum is one of the city's big attractions. The museum houses the foremost collection of Macedonian artefacts including the treasures from the tomb of King Philip II of Macedon, which was discovered at Vergina in 1977.

3 Septembriou, Thessaloniki

Bus 11, 58

Tel 031 0 830538

Website http://alexander.macedonia.culture.gr/2/21/211/21116/e211pm01.html

Admission €6

Open Mon 12.30pm-7pm, Tue-Sun 8am-7pm

Byzantine Culture Museum

The Museum of Byzantine Culture has exhibits on Byzantine culture in Thessaloniki and Greek Macedonia. Exhibits feature sculptures, mosaics, ceramics and other artefacts.

2 Stratou Avenue, 540 13 Thessaloniki

Bus 11, 58

Tel 031 0 868570

Website http://www.culture.gr/2/21/214/21412m/e21412m1.html

Admission €6

Open Jan-Mar Mon 10.30am-5pm, Tue-Sun 8.30am-3pm; Apr-Oct Mon noon-7pm, Tue-Sun 8am-7pm; Nov-Dec Mon 10.30am-5pm, Tue-Sun 8.30am-3pm

Macedonian Museum of Modern Art

This modern art gallery features works by Greek and international artists. Its exhibits include works by Warhol and Dennis Oppenheim.

International Fair of Thessaloniki

Tel 031 0 471545

Website www.culture.gr/4/42/422/42202/42202g/e42202g1.html

Open Tue-Sat 10am-2pm & 6pm-9pm, Sun 11am-3pm

Museum of the Macedonian Struggle

While this museum is supposed to cronicle the struggle against Ottoman and Bulgarian nationalism, it is no more than a propaganda vehicle for Greek Macedonian nationalism.

23 Proxenou Koromila, 546 22 Thessaloniki

Tel 031 0 229778

Website www.culture.gr/4/42/421/42103/42103a/e42103a1.html

Admission free

Open Tue 9am-2pm, Wed 9am-2pm & 6pm-8pm, Thu-Fri 9am-2pm, Sat-Sun 11am-2pm

White Tower

Dating from the 15th century, the White Tower is Thessaloniki's major landmark and it contains a museum with exhibits that include scupture, mosaics and pottery.

Nikis & Pavlou Mela, Thessaloniki

Tel 031 0 267 832

Website http://alexander.macedonia.culture.gr/2/21/212/21209m/e212im02.html

Admission free

Open Tue-Fri 8am-7pm, Sat-Sun 8.30am-3pm