ThessalonikiΘεσσαλονίκηΘεσσαλονίκη

MakedoniaΜακεδονίαΜακεδονία

HellasΕλλάςΕλλάς

Greece: Facts & Figures

President: Prokopis Pavlopoulos (2015)Prime Minister: Alexis Tsipras (2015)Land area: 50,502 sq mi (130,800 sq km); total area: 50,942 sq mi (131,940 sq km)

Population (2014 est.): 10,775,557 (growth rate: .01%); birth rate: 8.8/1000; infant mortality rate: 11/1000; life expectancy: 80.3Capital (2011 est.):   Athens, 3.414 millionCurrency: EuroLanguage: Greek

City Info

Population: 790.000

ATM’s: Yes Internet cafes: Yes Airport: YesPrice rate: AverageSubway: under constructionSuburban rail: YesBuses: local and suburban KTEL

Emergency Phone NumbersInternational code: 0030Local code: 2310All emergencies (european emergency centre) 112Local police 100Medical emergencies 166Fire station emergency 199Hospitals: 2310837921, 2310357602, 2310451521Tourist Police: 2310554871, 2310544162Traffic Police: 2310416654Train Station: 2310517517Thessaloniki Airport: 2310471170, 2310473042Radio Taxi: 2310550500, 2310866866, 2310511855Introduction to Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki is a very different city from Athens but no less sophisticated and (some might say) culturally superior. The influence of the east is more pronounced, not just in the delicious food, but in the relaxed lifestyle. Thessaloniki is a big city, the most important port in the Balkans, with an almost college town feel. The nightlife in Thessaloniki is exceptional,

the bars and clubs play great music. The restaurants and ouzeries are among the best in Greece. There are many cinemas showing first-run English language films. The city is also the site of the renowned Thessaloniki Film Festival in October-November. The women, considered the most chic in Greece, so if you like to shop for clothes, shoes and jewellery you will be quite happy here. There are many Roman and Byzantine sites to keep any history-minded visitor occupied, plenty of museums and of course the ruins of Vergina which include the tomb of Phillip, father of Alexander the great. It's also a good starting point for seeing the best beaches of Chalkidiki and most beautiful spots in Greece in the Macedonia region.

A Short History of Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki is the capital of Macedonia and second largest city of Greece. It was first established in 316 B.C. by Kassandros and named after his wife, Thessaloniki, sister of Alexander the Great. It means Victory in Thessaly. It is here that the Apostle Paul first brought the message of Christianity (50 A.D.) and that Demetrius, a Roman officer died in martyrdom (303 A.D.), thus becoming the holy patron of the city.

Thessaloniki was the second most important city of the Byzantine Empire, next to Constantinople, and is full of beautiful examples of Byzantine art and architecture. In the 15th Century Thessaloniki became a haven for Jews exiled from Spain, who became an important part of the culture, untilmuseum of Thessaloniki, are some of the finest examples of the detailed, soshisticated ancient Greek art and jewellery.

In the beautiful town of Vergina you will be able to find some nice café’s, restaurants and traditional taverns. Some interesting souvenir shops are also available.

Immensely likable Thessaloniki (thess-ah-lo-nee-kih) has never been more fun, cultured or affordable than it is right now. It is a safe and walkable small city.

Travellers always seem to return to Thessaloniki, and it's indeed outfitted with enduring symbols of a glorious history.

Most recently, during digs for the long-awaited Metro, extensive portions of the 6th-century central street and tetraphylon (monumental gate) were discovered, sparking fervent debates over how to reconcile modern development with buried historical riches.

1,000 acres, with endless golden beaches enchantingly framed by the crystal clear waters of the Aegean and the magnificent pine forests of the Kassandra peninsula.It offers a wide range of leisure facilities and accommodation from a yacht marina to deluxe rooms with private pools and gardens with direct access to the beach.

If you seek a more relaxing experience, the less developed “Sithonia” the second peninsula is just the place for you. While more quiet and sophisticated in many aspects it is also considered ideal for family tourism.

Archaeological Museum of Vergina (Royal Tombs)Located in Vergina, the museum is 75km away from Thessaloniki.

Some of the most impressive and important exhibits from the Macedonian dominated period of the Greek history are available in the exact

location that the original excavations took place. Inside the museum there are four separate tombs and the “Heroon”, a small temple built for  Phillip II of Macedon . Hundreds of items are displayed including beautiful gold creations, elaborate jewelry, colorful wall paintings, mosaics, hundreds of ancient items including a richly carved burial bed and others, used by the imperial family.

Some of the most spectacular exhibits of the museum are the shield and armor of King Phillip the second and the famous Golden Larnax found in the sarcophagus of the King.

An incredibly detailed golden wreath of 313 oak leaves and 68 acorns was found inside the Larnax. The extremely small size of the carefully carved ivory figures still impresses today.

All these impressive findings along with several others like the famous "Derveni Krater" displayed in the Archaeologicalthey were sent to the concentration camps during the Nazi occupation, thus ending a period of four hundred years of Jewish influence both socially and economically. This period roughly corresponds with the occupation of Greece by the Ottoman Turks.

Thessaloniki became a part of the modern state of Greece in 1913, but burned in 1917 creating a homeless population of 70,000. Add to this mix the influx of refugees from Asia minor after the 'population exchange treaty' signed in Lausanne in 1923 between Turkey, Greece and her former allies who abandoned Greece after their defeat in Asia Minor, and you have the makings of a social revolution which took the form of Rembetika music. To this day some of Greece's the most

creative musicians including Dionysious Savopoulos, Stellios Kazantzides and Nikos Papazoglou, come from Thessaloniki.

Thessaloniki Today

Today Thessaloniki is a lively modern city bustling with life and movement. Large avenues, parks and squares, lines of trees that frame commercial streets with showy shop windows. Old houses, neoclassical buildings, stand side by side with modern dwellings which makes a walk through any section of the city an interesting journey. The past and present merge at old taverns, "ouzeries", restaurants next to hotels and luxury bars, "bouzouki halls", cinema halls, theaters and sidewalk cafes on street pavements and squares. Small family run taverns and basement pastry shops offer a delicious variety of famous Macedonian specialties, next to stalls of ice-cream sellers for busy pedestrians.

The main squares are Platia Elefterias and Platia Aristotelous, both on the waterfront and alive with cafes and restaurants, children playing or people just strolling. This is the place to be in the summer at sunset. Afterwards walk a few blocks to the Ladadika neighborhood, the old Red Light district (and before that the Egyptian market and later the oil market from where it got its name), full of ouzeries, bars, cafes and bistro-style restaurants and tavernas. The old port area is being rennovated with warehouses being turned into large restaurants and clubs and even art galleries. If you follow the port road of Leoforos Nikis heading east along the bay you will come to the Lefkos Pyrgos, or White Tower that is the symbol of the city and is close to the University area with its clubs and bars. Nearby is the International Trade fairground as well as the excellent archaeology museum which, according to Frommer's, is one of the best in the world.  The White Tower itself is also a museum of art and history. It was built in the 15th Century and was at one time a prison for insubordinate Janisaries, the soldiers of the sultan who had been taken from their Christian parents as children and molded into his elite storm troopers. The neighborhood of Kalamaria is a modern

area on the eastern edge of the city, overlooking a large marina and the Thermaikos Gulf. There is a green park above the sea and a number of ouzeries, restaurants, bars and cafes and is a hangout for the young as well as families.

Above the lively city is the world of Kastra, an area of old neighborhoods with narrow streets and lovely small gardens. This is the old Turkish quarter of the city and is the remains of 19th century Thessaloniki and the walls that surrounded the city are still standing.

Thessaloniki is in the process of building a metro system which should get more cars off the street and more people using public transport. The train station is also undergoing intensive remodeling.

meters high and almost 5 meters thick. They were decorated with various symbols like suns, crosses or carved marble inscriptions near the gates.

A number of fortresses and defensive towers were added during different periods of history like the Seven Towers Fortress (Heptapirgion) and the Tower Of Trigoniou located near the Acropolis. Several square, circle or polygon shaped towers were also built along the entire perimeter.

The Walls were still surrounding the city until the late 19th century when large parts including the entire seaward section were demolished as the Ottoman authorities were trying to change some of the city’s urban features.

Chalkidiki 

Chalkidiki is definitely one of the favorite destinations of everybody living in Thessaloniki.

Visitors from all over Greece and the Balkan countries spend their summer vacations there while exploring some of the wonderful small villages and countless beaches that wait to be discovered.

Hundreds of places some of which could be considered hidden paradises are spread all over the peninsula offering crystal clear water and wonderful natural beauties.

Graphical taverns and traditional restaurants, countless beach bars and clubs, coffee shops and various other selections are available in “Kasandra” the first peninsula. Nea Kallikratia, Afytos, Kallithea, Chaniotis and Pefkohori are some of the most beautiful and popular destinations that definitely deserve your attention.

Sani ResortSani Resort is a family-owned ecological reserve located on the magnificent Kassandra peninsula. It is stretching across

Rotonda of Galerius

Built in 306 A.D. by the romans, Rotonda is one of the oldest religious sites of the city. Going back to the late 3rd century A.D., after a number of long devastating wars, the Romans decided to divide the Empire into 4 regions, each with its own provinces , thus leading to the creation of a new form of leadership, the Tetrarchy. Galerius Arch (Kamara) and Rotonda were basic elements of the palatial complex. Original intensions were predicting its use as a mausoleum, although many archaeologists believe it was initially used as a roman temple. The dimensions of the main structure are quite impressive. A central dome (30m high) crowns the structure while the original design was implementing an “Occulus” similar to the one in Pantheon, Rome. A beautifully decorated street, filled with columns was connecting this important cylindrical building to the triumphal Arch in the south. It was turned into a Christian temple around 400 A.D., while decorated at the same time with some wonderful paleo-christian mosaics depicting saints and martyrs.

Byzantine WallsAs you walk to Ano Poli don’t miss the chance to have a closer look to the Byzantine fortifications that still surround part of the modern city center. You will feel like travelling back into the city's past from within as the whole place is surrounded by history! These impressive structures were built to protect the city from raids and withstand long sieges, something that they actually did most of the times. The city was initially fortified right after its foundation in the late 4th century BC but the present walls are dated back to the early Byzantine period around 390 AD during the reign of emperor Theodosius, while they still incorporate some parts of the earlier constructions. Their defensive abilities are quite impressive! They were 7 kilometers long while at some points they were up to 10

Transportation

Walking is the best way to get to know Thessaloniki. Visit the Old Town, the center of the town, the port and of course the coastal line with the great sunset views. These are some of the best places in Thessaloniki and a really great way to spend your day!

Urban TransportTaking a bus is a good way to move around the city of Thessaloniki and in the outskirts except when visiting the Upper Town ("Ano Poli") and the Castles area. 75 bus lines are available for smart, fast, cheap and safe traveling.

You can buy a ticket for a single route (0.80€ /0.40€ for students) or a 90 minute ticket for 2 routes (0.90€/ 0.50€ for students). A one day ticket is recommended which is valid for 24 hours. Tickets can be found in the kiosks of OASTH (Organization of Urban Transportation of Thessaloniki city) and most privately owned kiosks scattered all around the city (the known "Periptera"). You can buy a ticket from an automatic seller inside the bus but keep in mind that the price is increased by 10 cents and that the automatic seller doesn't give any change. For a more complete experience, we recommend you using the Cultural Transfer Line of OASTH (No 50), which will enables you to explore some of the major tourist attractions of Thessaloniki.

Call at the Information centre 11085 to get daily information from 07:00 to 22:00 on issues such as: How to get there Routes - Stops Schedules - Frequencies Scheduled hours of departure from start and end terminals Fares Fare inspection Lost and Foundor go to http://oasth.gr/# for more information.Shopping

Thessaloniki is a paradise for shoppers blessed with lots of shops, markets, bars and coffee houses to suit all tastes. The majority of stores throughout the City operate Monday to Saturday. Opening hours for shops are usually from 9:00 to 14:30 and 17:00 to 21:00 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays with the exception of banks and Saturday trading. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays the stores are open only from 9:00 to 14:30. Shopping centers and many large stores and malls do not close during noon. Virtually every side street veers off to locate some Greek delicacy from pastries to artwork.

The market is an authentic delight to the traveller's eye. It's situated between Aristotelous and Ionos Dragoumi. Barrels of olives are displayed in colourful arrays, emphasising to tourists that olives don't just come in standard black or green. Fresh meats, poultry and fish are prepared and sold on site. Herbs, spices, fresh fruit and vegetables, wines, cheeses, honey and nuts can all be purchased to compliment any Greek culinary delight. Another cobble stoned alleyway will lead to lavish arrangements of hand embroidered and crocheted soft furnishings. Rugs, cowbells, coffee pots and religious pictures and figurines. 

A must-visit place is Moudiano, the meat market, in a restored old building full of energy, smells, and some of the most famous old ouzeries in Thessaloniki, some of them with live rembetika music and spontaneous parties.

Inability to gain access to shops during opening times no longer poses problems. There are a number of precincts in and around Thessaloniki. City Gate is the closest to the City Centre. It boasts a hypermarket with ample parking. A further two levels of shops range from clothing stores to mobile phones, confectionery to coffee beans. The upper floors provide a number of places to eat and drink. A cinema, was built in 15th century while it was later recontsructed by the Ottomans. It was used as a fort enhancing the harbors defences, as a garrison and a prison. Because of its fame as a

notorious prison it was also known as "Tower of Blood" (Kanli Kule) or "Red Tower". It was renamed to White tower (Torre Blanca) after it was whitewashed possibly in 1891.

Archeological Museum of Thessaloniki Due to the city’s rich Ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine history the museum hosts a variety of exhibits that will impress every visitor. Beautiful samples of Roman architecture, unique colorful mosaics, sculptures and jewellery from the Greek Classical and Hellenistic period await you there. Ιn 2003 it was completely renovated and re-organized into six permanent thematic units, The “Gold of the Macedon” and the new permanent open ground exhibition called “Field House Garden Grave” are definitely some of the most interesting areas of the museum.

Museum of Byzantine CultureThe Museum of Byzantine Culture has been awarded the Council of Europe's Museum Prize for the year 2005. You won't have a hard time finding it as it is right next to the Archeological museum. Hundreds of unique exhibits and artifacts throughout the entire Byzantine period are displayed in several different thematic sections and collections that cover a wide time period of the city's Byzantine past. Wonderful mosaics and wall paintings, Byzantine icons and religious architecture, impressive jewellery, rare books and scripts await you there. The museum has a rather imposing atmopshere while the presentations are well organized and informative.

Greek rhythms, with authentic...“louloudopolemo”, the road will take you Markiz. Large Entertainment Complex

Music Halls and night clubs are open till late at night. Mylos is a large entertainment complex in the warehouse district of the port. There you will find bars, galleries, restaurants, cafes, theatres and plenty of varieties of live music. Fix has clubs with live shows by known Greek artists as well as DJs. Since it is difficult to get to both places, a taxi is recommended.

In any case, if you just want to walk, you can go for a stroll, “Volta” in Greek, along the harbour from Aristotelous Square all the way beyond the White Tower where it gets quieter and more romantic. You will certainly find somewhere to sit that interests you on the way there or back.

There are a number of movie theatres almost all showing English language films with Greek subtitles. Some are indoor and some are outdoor which are generally open only in the summer. 

But like anywhere in Greece sometimes the best idea is to wander around and peer into the various ouzeries, cafeneons and restaurants until you find something special.

Must See

Spend some time and read more about all the places that you can visit near Thessaloniki. The crystal clear beaches of Chalkidiki, the Royal Tombs and The Macedonian Museum in the city of Vergina or the museum of Pella.

Museums and Monuments White Tower of Thessaloniki The White Tower is the most commonly known monument of Thessaloniki and the symbol of the city because of its prominent position, long history and architecture. The toweramusement arcade and tenpin bowling alley are also located there. One of the newest and hippest centres to emerge is Mediterranean Cosmos. This impressive mall is located in Thermi, just outside of the airport. It is one of the largest

precincts in Europe. Parking is easily accessible and Mediterranean Cosmos offers bountiful venues to relax, catch the latest movie or simply grab a bite to eat. The shopping mall times are usually from 9.00 a.m. until 9.00 p.m. Monday to Saturday. The cinema and dining facilities will remain open for business until roughly 2.00 a.m.

Where to Eat

Apart from the many elegant restaurants in the city and the suburbs, there are also numerous "ouzeries" and taverns. Excellent grilled meat and chicken are served at the popular shops along the coast on the outskirts of town. Check out the newly renovated Ladadika district near Aristolelous square where there are a number of traditional restaurants and ouzeries. Zythos, was one of the first restaurants to open in Ladadikia and they have another restaurant by the White Tower. Try Penellinion at Ladadika, Foul Tou Meze that has a Greek grocery store motif and a large menu, good service, great food and a nice selection of ouzo and tsipouro and Ouzou Melathron at Stoa Karipi between Ionos Dragoumi and Venizelou streets. Palati has live Greek music as does Vyzantino II. Try also Ta Spata on Aristoleous square, Ta Nicia at Koromila Street, Molivos at Ionos Dragoumi Street and Ouzeri Aristotelous at Aristotelous Square for seafood at the center of the city. Alternatively, Glykanisos at Pylea (near ACT), and Nisaki at Ampelokipoi are excellent choices for seafood away from the center of the city. Check out a restaurant called The Kitchen Bar in the port in one of the old customs buildings for its indoor decor or to sit by the sea. If you are interested in exploring the Greek fast food culture you will discover that it is incredibly rich and delicious! Apart from the traditional Bagels (Koulourie), you should definitely try Mpougatsa for breakfast. Mpougatsa is a delicious pie, salted or sweet, filled with feta cheese or cream served with flour sugar and cinnamon. You can continue your gastronomic journey later by trying the traditional Gyros or Souvlaki which can be found in every corner of the city! For gyro, try To Etsi at Nikiforou Foka (near the White Tower) and Derlicatessen

at Vogatsikou Street. For gourmet pizza street food, try Poselli, at Valaoritou Street and for a taste of Feta cheese, try Mia Feta (Feta Bar), at Pavlou Mela Street.

Last but not least, the city has some of the most famous bakeries and patisseries in Greece! Be sure to check the triangular cream filled pastry called Trigona Panoramatos (Elenidis has the best) and of course the beloved Tsoureki which is a sweet, egg enriched bread offered in countless variations like filled with chestnut cream and covered in white chocolate (for amazing Tsoureki go to Terkenlis patisserie at Tsimiski Street). Visit Chatzis at Venizelou Street for extraordinary sweets!

Cafes

Historical, traditional, mainstream, alternative, young, artistic, whatever your style, the cafés in Thessaloniki have an atmosphere that can not be copied and is difficult to describe – you just feel it. From morning till night, cafés, in their overwhelming majority, serve excellent coffee, drinks, cocktails, and croissants, sandwiches, salads and small meals... They are a daily necessity for locals and an unforgettable experience for guests.

Visit Paleon at Paleon Patron Germanou & Pavlou Mela streets, the Local, Tre Marie and Cityzen. At Mitropoleos and Karolou Diehl Streets, visit Mon Frere and at Proxenou Koromila Street Balkan and Pantheon. At Aristotelous square Domatio me Thea or Electra Palace’s Roof Garden are recommended. Last but not least, visit Omilos at Megalou Alexandrou Avenue and Shark at Kalamaria. Both places have a magnificent view of the Thermaikos and in both places, the day starts with coffee, continues with elegant meals and finishes with super cocktails.

Nightlife

Stock Market at Valaoritou Street

This part of the city (Between Egnatia, Ionos Dragoumi and Leontos Sofou streets) offers evenings with a more alternative style . The old “Fragomahala” neighborhood (commercial district of the city) is filled the last five years from bars with their own style. During weekends, the streets are field with people who like bar hopping. With loud music and thousands of tables outside on the streets, is a phenomenon in itself! Visit the revamped Black Sheep that offers alternative rock music, the brand new terrace of Fragile, the tiny wine bar Gaspard that offers exquisite wines, the Real Rock'n'Rolla and the Coq au Jen with its...Parisian elegance !

ClubsIf you want to spend the night out, Monroe at Venizelou Street is a must! It is considered one of the most stylish clubs while it combines modern culture and carefully selected music. Just outside the center of the city, clubs W and Vogue continue to vibrate ... in mainstream dance rhythms! Vogue is one of the most popular mainstream clubs in Thessaloniki. It expands into a vast area having futuristic decor and unique aesthetics with a sense of luxury that impresses most clubbers. W, in the region where the slaughterhouses used to exist, has a modern decor, different levels, privé rooms and very loud music. The Dogs Club in the center of Thessaloniki is one of the most "in” places in town. It is located at Polytehneiou Street at the beginning of the coastal "Nikis" avenue, inside the port. It stays open until the first morning hours and organizes parties and events with famous singers and guest Djs. If, however, you want to dance to the