Best Things to do in Thessaloniki in 2024

80. Thessaloniki GREECE 🇬🇷 Score: 179.90

by Daniel Tellmann /[CC BY-SA 2.5

A City of Stunning Ancient Ruins, Byzantine Churches, and Gorgeous Seaside Sceneries

Table of Contents

A. About Thessaloniki
B. Best Things to Do in Thessaloniki in 2024 (Detailed List with Photos and Information)
C. Other Notable Sights and Attractions in Thessaloniki
D. Best Day Trips and Excursions from Thessaloniki
E. Top 10 List of the Best Things to Do in Thessaloniki 2024 (including close-by excursions)

A. About Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki, the second-largest city in Greece is often overshadowed by Athens. But the city's nickname "the co-capital" has nothing to do with the Greek capital. It is a reference to its historical status as a "co-reigning" city of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, alongside Constantinople.

With more than 2500 years of tumultuous history, the Capital of the geographic region of Macedonia is best known for its ancient ruins, Byzantine churches, and its gorgeous seaside scenery.

Consequently, Thessaloniki captivates enthusiasts of archaeology, art, and culture alike.

The Good:

Situated opposite the fabled Olympus on the northern coast of Greece, Thessaloniki enjoys, first of all, a phenomenal location at the Aegean Sea.

On top of that with more than 2,300 sunshine hours annually the climate is fantastic.

Furthermore, the city is safe, compact, and delights visitors with friendly people.

Finally, with plenty of trendy cafés, bars, and nightclubs, the nightlife is particularly vibrant.

The Not-So-Good:

Most noteworthy, Thessaloniki has no prominent weakness and is one of the few cities endowed with no criteria scoring lower than 4/10. Other cities in this exquisite club are Istanbul, Naples, Budapest, Krakow, Kyiv, Bilbao, and Warsaw.

As for sights – the most important factor in our city comparison – the score of 5.55/10 is rather low compared to most of the other top one hundred cities.

Furthermore, the transport system relying on buses is not particularly good. Potentially the rating in this category will raise once the long-planned metro is finished.

💡 Urban Planning Remark:

From an urban planning perspective, it seems to us Thessaloniki has a lot of wasted potential for a higher placement in our ranking. The most crucial factor would be to make the promenade along the sea (Leof. Nikis Street and ideally also some parallel roads like "Tsimiski") completely traffic-free and thus achieve a much more coherent experience for pedestrians and really underline the seaside location.

B. Best Things to Do in Thessaloniki in 2024 (Detailed List with Photos and Information)

In total, we count more than twenty sights in Thessaloniki. The following sights contribute to a decent score of 5.55/10 in this most important category:

# Archaeological Museum 6

This renowned museum holds valuable artifacts, mostly from the sites of Macedonia and Thrace.

Highlights include certainly goldwork from various hoards and graves. But foremost the Derveni Krater, a huge, ornate bronze-and-tin vase from 330–320 BCE.

Archaeological Museum

by Carole Raddato / CC BY-SA 2.0

# ROTÓNDA (Church of Agios Georgios) and the ARCH OF GALERIUS 6

Built in the early fourth century, the huge and highly impressive Roman Rotunda and the nearby Arch of Galerius were part of a palatial complex.

Church and Arch (4th Century CE) World Heritage Site: since 1988

by Testus / CC BY-SA 3.0

# White Tower 5.5

Standing on Thessaloniki's waterfront boulevard, this 34 m-tall tower is the most recognizable landmark of Thessaloniki.

Ascend to the viewing platform on the top to enjoy panoramic views of both the city and the sea.

Tower | Viewpoint | Museum Built: 1535 CE

by Dockashi / CC BY-SA 4.0

# CHURCH OF AGIOS DIMITRIOS 5.5

Now protected as a World Heritage Site, this seventh-century church is the largest and most important church of Thessaloniki.

Destroyed during the devastating fire of 1917, the church underwent reconstruction in the 1940s matching the original plans.

Church World Heritage Site: since 1988 | Built: 629–634 CE

by Pig1995z / CC BY-SA 4.0

# Ano Poli (Upper Town) and The Heptapyrgion 5

Largely undamaged by the great fire of 1917, Thessaloniki's old town Ano Poli is known for its labyrinth of narrow stone-paved streets, and houses in traditional Greek and Ottoman architecture.

Climb the stairs following the old city walls up to the Heptapyrgion, the city’s main fortress, to enjoy a stunning view of the city.

City District and Fortress (1431 CE) with View

by Maragathou / CC BY-SA 2.5

# Ladadika 5

This atmospheric and largely pedestrianized entertainment area with narrow pavements is home to plenty of wonderful bars and restaurants.

City District

by C messier / CC BY-SA 4.0

# CHURCH OF HOSIOS DAVID 5

This exceedingly small late fifth-century church is renowned for the splendid mosaic of the vision of Ezekiel.

Church (c. 500 CE) World Heritage Site: since 1988

by anonimus / Public domain

# Museum of Byzantine Culture 5

Established in 1994, this interesting museum presents more than three thousand Byzantine objects.

Here you can for example look at architectural pieces, mosaics, icons, jewelry, and glassware.

Museum

by Macedonian Heritage / CC BY-SA 3.0

# CHURCH OF HAGIA SOFIA 5

Modeled on its Istanbul namesake, this domed church is beautifully decorated with figural mosaics.

Church (8th Century CE) World Heritage Site: since 1988

by Andrew Zorin / CC BY-SA 3.0

# Waterfront 5

Completed in 2013, this pedestrian seaside road runs 5 km along the shore of Thessaloniki.

Along this atmospheric pedestrian walk, you can discover countless bars, the White Tower, thematic gardens, an equestrian statue of Alexander the Great, and “The Umbrellas”, a spectacular modern sculpture by the Greek artist George Zongolopoulos.

Seafront Promenade

by MWD / Public domain

Scoring and Icons Legend (Click here for detailed information)

10 = top-10 sight in the world

9 = world-class

8 = outstanding

7 = excellent

6 = impressive

5 = interesting

4 = decent

3 = mediocre

2 = bad

1 = abysmal

= World Heritage Site

= Excursion

C. Other Notable Sights and Attractions in Thessaloniki

- Aristotelous Square 5

This majestic main square of Thessaloniki is dominated by the imposing Electra Palace Hotel and the Olympion cinema.

Square

by Itto Ogami / CC BY-SA 3.0

- VLATADON MONASTERY 5
- OTE Tower 5
- CHURCH OF PANAGIA CHALKEON 5
- CHURCH OF PROFITIS ILIAS 5
- Atatürk Museum 5
- CHURCH OF THE ACHEIROPOIETOS 5
- CHURCH OF THE HOLY APOSTLES 5
- TRIGONION (CHAIN) TOWER AND RAMPARTS 5
- CHURCH OF SAINT CATHERINE (AGIA AIKATERINI) 5
- Kapani and Modiano Market 5
- Monument of Alexander the Great 5
- The Roman Agora 5
- Thessaloniki Ethnological Museum 5

D. Best Day Trips and Excursions from Thessaloniki

METEORA 7

Meteora comprises a group of seven spectacular ascetic monasteries, built on iconic sandstone rock pillars.

Since Meteora is 215 km away from Thessaloniki, it is not an easy, but certainly an extremely rewarding excursion.

Group of 7 Monasteries World Heritage: since 1987 | Distance from Thessaloniki: 215 km

by Dido3 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Beaches at Kriopighi, Chalkidiki Afitos (ca. 95 km from Thessaloniki) 6

Mount Olympus (80 km from Thessaloniki) 6

E. Top 10 List of the Best Things to Do in Thessaloniki 2024 (including close-by excursions)

To sum things up, these are the ten best sights we recommend you visit first if you spend at least two or more days in Thessaloniki.

Archaeological Museum 6

ROTÓNDA and the ARCH OF GALERIUS 6

White Tower 5.5

CHURCH OF AGIOS DIMITRIOS 5.5

Ano Poli (Upper Town) and The Heptapyrgion 5

Ladadika (City District) 5

CHURCH OF HOSIOS DAVID 5

Museum of Byzantine Culture 5

CHURCH OF HAGIA SOFIA 5

Waterfront 5