Located on the northern coast of the Aegean Sea, Thessaloniki is one of the most amazing and versatile Greek cities in the whole country. In fact, despite being the second largest city after Athens, it is not one of the most popular tourist destinations for visitors. And yet, it has a lot to offer: it has a young and energetic atmosphere, it is the second largest commercial port in Greece and, like most cities in this country, it has an immeasurable cultural richness. In this article we tell you what to see in Thessaloniki, all the treasures you can't miss.
What to see in Thessaloniki?
Organizing a trip to an unfamiliar city is not always easy. To help you, we are going to show you the points of interest that you can't miss if you go to Thessaloniki. And, to make it easier, let's divide them into the following categories:
Historic buildings
Thessaloniki is a historic city and, as such, is full of monuments and attractions. We highlight the most important ones:
- White Tower: this is the emblem of the city and one of the landmarks. It was built in the 16th century and its main use was as a prison. Today, it houses the White Tower Museum, and a must if you go to Thessaloniki is to climb to the top floor. From its 34 meters high, you can contemplate the spectacular views.
- Arch of Galerius: today you can see the remains of this arch, built around 300 AD, to commemorate an important victory over the Persian Empire. This arch, also known as "Kamara", is one of the Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988.
- Agora: the remains of this ancient economic and social center give an idea of what life was like in this city during the Greek and Roman periods.
Museums to see in Thessaloniki
Throughout the city of Thessaloniki there are more than 30 museums, so here are some of the standout ones:
- Archaeological Museum: this is not only the most important museum of this city, but of all northern Greece. Here you can enjoy various permanent and traveling exhibitions on the history of this Greek region, as well as the country itself.
- Museum of Byzantine Culture: it exhibits more than 3,000 artistic objects from the Byzantine period, among which you can see mosaics, jewelry, coins, books and manuscripts, etc.
- Museum of the Macedonian Struggle: this is one of the most significant museums for the Greeks, as it shows the different battles with which they liberated Greece from other empires, such as the Ottoman.
- Jewish Museum: in this exhibition you can learn all about the history of the Jewish community in Thessaloniki, with special emphasis on the Second World War. In addition, it is located in one of the few Jewish buildings that did not burn down in the fire of 1917.
Churches
Like most major ancient cities, Thessaloniki is flush with churches that tell their own story. Some of the most recommended are:
- Agios Dimitros: the best known of all Thessaloniki, as it is dedicated to St. Dimitri, patron saint of the city. It was built in the 5th century, and was constructed on the same site where Saint Dimitri was executed during the first persecutions of Christians. In fact, it houses his crypt.
- Hagia Sophia: dates back to the eighth century and its construction is very reminiscent of the church of Hagia Sophia, located in Istanbul.
- Agios Pavlos: located in the highest part of the city, it is one of the most beautiful Orthodox churches in all of Thessaloniki.
What to see in Thessaloniki: other interesting facts
In addition to visiting all these attractions, you should walk the streets of the historic center of Thessaloniki. We can especially highlight the Ana Poli district, the heart of the city. It is one of the few neighborhoods that maintains the traditional essence, since it was one of the few that survived the great fire that took place in 1917. And, if you would like to get to know the local gastronomy, the Modiano and Kapani markets are a must.
As you can see, there is a lot of history to discover in the streets of Thessaloniki, but also in its surroundings. Therefore, the best and most economical way to get into this magical Greek region is to rent a car in Thessaloniki to get around comfortably, whenever and wherever you want. From the moment you land in Thessaloniki, you will have a car at your disposal.
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