Thessaloniki Travelers Recommend

While most visitors make a beeline for Athens, Thessaloniki, the country's second-largest city, offers plenty for visitors interested in ancient history. Three days in the city let you cover all the highlights, visit the Monasteries of Meteora, and try out local cuisine. Here's how to maximize your time.

Day 1: Ancient Attractions

Spend your first day in Thessaloniki exploring ancient archaeological attractions. Sightseeing tours typically take visitors to Vergina, the ancient Macedonian capital of Aigai. This area is best known for its burial mounds, some of which date back to 11th century BC; Alexander the Great's father, Philip II, is interred here. 

After your tour, return to Thessaloniki to visit some of the city's most important historic attractions; these include the two-terraced Roman Forum; the Church and Crypt of Agios Dimitrios, which was used as a mosque under Ottoman rule; and the White Tower, a fortification that now houses a museum of city history. Finish your day at the stately Aristotelous Square, or stick around the Ladadika area for dinner and drinks.

Day 2: Culinary Culture

Thessaloniki has a ton of great restaurants, bars, and markets, so spend your second day experiencing some of its finest culinary offerings. A good way to get your bearings is on a food tour; doing so introduces you to local shops and restaurants that aren't generally on the radar, and also gives you the chance to try out different Greek dishes, pastries, and coffees. 

If you discover a passion for Greek food and want to learn how to make it at home, take a cooking class. Alternatively, if food isn’t your thing, consider spending the day at Kerkini Lake, an artificial lake near the Bulgarian border that boasts diverse species of bird. 

Day 3: The Monasteries of Meteora

On your last day, head out to Meteora, a dramatic rock formation about three hours from Thessaloniki. The region's scenery is reason enough to visit, but it's best known for its Eastern Orthodox monasteries, which have earned the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many of the caves here were inhabited for thousands of years, and the oldest such structure—the Theopetra Cave—is believed to date back to Paleolithic times. 

Popular monasteries include the medieval Holy Trinity Monastery, the Monastery of Great Meteoron (the largest monastery in town), and the Roussanou Monastery, which is a fabulous place to watch the sunset. While travelers can visit independently, day trips let you skip the hassle of care hire and come with a guide who provides information that’s crucial to understanding the history of the area. 

With two days in Thessaloniki, you'll not only have enough time to see ancient attractions such as the White Tower and the Church of Agios Dimitrios, but you'll also get a chance to immerse yourself in the city's culinary culture. Here's how.

Day 1: Historic Highlights

Morning: Start your day with a trip out to the archaeological site of Vergina, once the ancient capital of Macedonia. Here, you'll find numerous burial mounds, some of which date back to the 11th century BC. Don’t miss the Tomb of Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great.

Afternoon: Spend the afternoon exploring the Church and Crypt of Agios Dimitrios, with its seventh-century mosaics, before heading to the Roman Forum. Wrap your afternoon up at the White Tower, home to a museum that details Thessaloniki's history.

Night: As night falls and temperatures begin to drop, head out to explore the city on a bike tour. Tours typically stop at major monuments such as the Monument of Alexander the Great and the Alexander the Great Garden.

Day 2: Culinary Delights

Morning: Spend your second morning discovering the culinary culture of Thessaloniki. A good way to do this is by heading out to the Kapani and Modiano markets, but you may prefer to join a food tour in order to overcome the language barrier.

Afternoon: Take your culinary prowess to the next level during a cooking class. You'll learn the fundamentals of Greek cooking and get the chance to create—and indulge in—traditional dishes, as well as taking back your favorite recipes to try at home.

Night: When night falls, make your way to the Ladadika District for dinner and drinks. This neighborhood is characterized by cobbled streets and lively bars and restaurants, many of which offer Greek-style mezzes (selection of small dishes). After dinner, dance the night away at a nearby bar.

With its pleasant warm climate and abundance of ancient archaeological sites, the seaside city of Thessaloniki is a great place to spend a day. Follow this itinerary to make the most of your time in town.

Morning: Ancient History in Vergina

Like much of Greece, Thessaloniki is full of well-preserved ruins dating back to Ancient Greece. Not far from Thessalonoki sits Vergina, where Aigai, the ancient capital of Macedonia once stood. It’s one of the most important historic sites in the area and home to burial mounds that date back to 11th century BC and include the Tomb of Alexander the Great's father. Beat the heat by opting for a morning visit, and go with a guide or as part of a tour to discover information that’s crucial to understanding the ancient site.

Afternoon: Urban Highlights

Head back to Thessaloniki for lunch before dedicating your afternoon to the city's top attractions. While the city is navigable on foot, you can cover more sights in less time on a sightseeing tour, which typically cover the Church and Crypt of Agios Dimitrios, with its seventh-century mosaics, ancient crypt, and a museum full of archaeological finds, and the two-terraced Roman Forum, which features a museum showcasing excavations in the area. From here, make your way to the city’s most recognizable structure, the White Tower, also home to a museum. 

Night: Dinner and Drinks in the Ladadika District

In the evening, head to the historic Ladadika District, formerly known for its olive oil production and, later, for its brothels. Today, it's more of a nightlife hotspot so you'll find bars, nightclubs, and restaurants spread across cobbled streets. For a quintessentially Greek experience, opt for a meal accompanied by a live folk music performances. After dinner, drop by a local bar on your own or join a guide on a nightlife tour, where you'll visit some of the best places to drink, dance, and check out live music performances.