“Thessaloniki is easy to fall in love with – it has beauty, chaos, history and culture, a remarkable cuisine and wonderful, vast sea views. This is Greece’s second city, which, like the rest of the country, has suffered the hit of the economic crisis, but the streets remain full of life and vibrancy.” – Lonely Planet
Thessaloniki
Coming
If you’re flying you’ll arrive at Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia (not to be confused with the country North Macedonia), the second largest airport in Greece. The airport is located 14 km outside the city center and you can take a public bus (€2) that will take you 40 – 50 min and runs every 30 min or a taxi (€20).
There are a few train routes including international travel from Sofia (Bulgaria), Skopje (North Macedonia) and Belgrade (Serbia) as well as from Athens.
The bus station serves 800 daily routes including 5 international (Germany, Bulgaria, Albania, Czechia and Slovakia) and hundreds of domestic departures (and arrivals). It is not nearby the center but easily reached by taxi or public transit.
There is also the option to come by sea but only when arriving with a cruise. The port is well connected to the rest of the city.
When you’re here it is easy to get around on foot.
If you enjoy food, you’ve come to the right spot. Not only Greece in general but Thessaloniki in particular has a shining food culture so loosen your belts and get ready to tuck in because it’s all just so, so good!
Seven must-try dishes in Thessaloniki
Great Street Food in Thessaloniki: A Round-the-Clock Guide
** You will want to eat bougatsa (pictured here) at each and every opportunity you get.**
Eating
Sleeping
Tirana, Albania (coming soon to RW); Skopje, Macedonia (coming soon to RW); and Sofia, Bulgaria are your international options nearby. Otherwise head south to discover the rest of Greece. Athens is the most obvious next place and on the way to the islands but don’t miss the other attractions on the mainland.
Head to my Greece travel page for more general information on what you’ll need to prepare for your trip to Greece. Such as visas, money, weather, Covid updates and more.
Going
