10 things to do in Thessaloniki

1. Take a ride on the double-decker open-top bus around Thessaloniki and feel like a true tourist, observing the city life with the curiosity of an explorer and your camera at the ready.

The red bus with the yellow "SightSeeing Thessaloniki" sign starts its route from the White Tower every 40 minutes, with the entire journey taking 1 hour and 10 minutes. The bus makes 8 stops at key city landmarks, allowing you to get off and explore before catching the next bus. You can also board the bus at any stop, not just the White Tower.

Ideally, you should set aside a whole day and take an audio guide. The bus travels through the central streets of Thessaloniki and stops at the Archaeological Museum, the Church of Agia Sophia, the Church of Saint Demetrius, the viewpoint at the upper town's Castro, the Arch and Rotunda of Galerius, Aristotle Boulevard, and near the port. The sightseeing tour costs €10, and €5 for children.

2. Buy delicious Greek coffee at the Mickel café on the waterfront (Greece's "answer" to Starbucks).

On average, a coffee and croissant cost around €5. Here's a tip for those looking to save: you can buy coffee at Mickel and head to the lawn by the White Tower. Coffee or ice cream to go from such cafés is half the price compared to sitting at the café on the waterfront.

Moreover, the coffee at Mickel is truly tasty: if you like it unsweetened, ask for "sketo" (without sugar and milk); if you prefer it sweet, ask for "glyko" (with sugar and milk). If neither, order "metrio" — with a moderate amount of milk and sugar. But you can enjoy coffee at any café on the waterfront — many Greek youths like to hang out there.

You can book a hotel with a discount of up to 65% on the website.

3. Take a photo at the famous "Umbrellas" installation by Georgios Zongolopoulos, set up in 1997 when Thessaloniki was named the European Capital of Culture

It’s located a 5–10 minute walk from the White Tower. This part of the waterfront can be windy, and holding onto the umbrellas can make you feel like a real Mary Poppins. Especially beautiful photos are taken in the evening when the umbrellas are lit up.

4. Immerse yourself in contemporary art by visiting several museums in the Thessaloniki port area

These include the Museum of Photography, the Museum of Cinema, and the Center for Contemporary Art. However, the Museum of Cinema mainly focuses on Greek cinema with inscriptions only in Greek, and explanatory printouts in English are provided for foreigners. On the other hand, the Center for Contemporary Art frequently updates its exhibits and has labels in English.

Thessaloniki actually has many modern museums: the Archaeological Museum, the Byzantine Museum, the Kemal Atatürk Museum, and the White Tower Museum. The latter is incredibly interesting — it’s definitely worth visiting to get an understanding of the city's history and life. The exhibits include 4 or 5 levels, each dedicated to a different theme: besides history, there are sections on "Art and Culture", "Famous People", and "Trade". Admission to the museum is €4.

Be sure to get an audio guide (included in the price, but any document is needed as a deposit) and allocate at least 1.5 hours for the museum. It wonderfully combines ancient brickwork with LED displays and installations. And at the top, you’ll be rewarded with a view of Thessaloniki and the waterfront.

5. Enjoy coffee at the panoramic restaurant of the TV tower or, as it's called, the radio tower

The tower looks quite modest from the outside, but the view from there is spectacular. By the way, the restaurant makes a full rotation every 40 minutes. Coffee here is a bit pricey, but the panoramic view is worth it.

6. Visit the wonderful cheese shop on Komninon Street

Here you can buy delicious cheeses at very reasonable prices. The shop looks small from the outside, but inside there are two floors, and once you step in, you’ll discover a whole world of cheeses.

7. Order a crepe, bougatsa, or gyros at a café

What to try in Thessaloniki? I highly recommend crepes, bougatsa, or gyros. Crepes are pancakes with various fillings, bougatsa (also spelled "bugatsa") is fresh puff pastry, also with fillings. Gyros is similar to shawarma, typically served in a large portion with fries.

Hearty and inexpensive traditional Greek snacks can be found in chain cafés like Goody's and Today. And don’t miss out on trying the local sweets!

8. Buy souvenirs for €1 at the Castro — the panoramic viewpoint in the upper town Ano Poli, and enjoy the view of the city and the ruins of the fortress walls

This area has preserved traditional Balkan-style houses, with a basement, a first floor, and a mezzanine (what we’d call a second floor overhanging the first). You can reach Castro by walking or by bus.

9. Take a ride on one of the boats that offer tours of the Thermaic Gulf every half hour to an hour

The boats look like pirate schooners. Sun, sea, wind, and a view of Thessaloniki... What more could you want on vacation?!

The ride is technically free because there’s no entry fee, but you must order a drink (€2.50 for water, €5 for coffee or soda, €8 for a cocktail).

The boat makes a loop around the gulf: you’ll get a closer look at tankers, cargo ships, the Thessaloniki port, and most importantly, you’ll sail right along the waterfront, allowing you to closely admire Thessaloniki's stunning architecture. The average ride lasts about 40 minutes.

10. Stroll through the local Modiano market, tucked between Egnatia and Tsimiski Streets, to experience the local trading atmosphere

The lively vendors here are quite different from the unobtrusive and somewhat lazy Greek service. You can buy everything from fruits, fresh octopuses, olive oil to Greek souvenirs and beach pareos.

You can continue shopping on the famous Tsimiski Street — look for luxury brands in the Attica shopping center, premium brands in Notos Gallery, and a wide variety of mass-market brands on Tsimiski.

Besides Tsimiski, you can visit Saint Sophia Boulevard near the Arch of Galerius, where there’s a wide selection of Greek clothing brands: PinUp, Lynne, Raxevsky, BsB. On Tsimiski, you can also visit Tiger, where locals buy interesting decorative items for a bargain.

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