Location: Thessaloniki
Top Things to do in Thessaloniki
Top Restaurants in Thessaloniki
Countries
10 Free Things to do in Thessaloniki That You Shouldn't Miss
Thessaloniki (Greek: Θεσσαλονίκη, Thessaloníki [θesaloˈnici] ( listen)), also familiarly known as Thessalonica or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece, with over 1 million inhabitants in its metropolitan area, and the capital of Macedonia, the administrative region of Central Macedonia and the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace. Its nickname is η Συμπρωτεύουσα (Symprotévousa), literally "the co-capital", a reference to its historical status as the Συμβασιλεύουσα (Symvasilévousa) or "co-reigning" city of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, alongside Constantinople.
Restaurants in Thessaloniki
1. Church of Agios Nikolaos Orphanos
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 212 reviews
Reviewed By petrosv149 - Thessaloniki, Greece
A 14th century it pops up among the narrow streets of the old town through the walls.It is a Catholic of the older Byzantine Monastery and still remains a part of the historic Vlatades Monastery.The frescoes are considered unique style and quality! Their colors are excellent
2. Seikilo
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 71 reviews
Learn about ancient Greek mythology, Apollo and Hermes, about the different types of ancient Greek lyres (Chelys, Barbiton, Sambuca, Phorminx etc) and the enhanced vibrato mechanism of the Kithara of the Golden Age! Traditional modern instruments such as the Bouzouki and Bendir are also available. Whats more, you’ll be able to play any of them here! Combining academic research with love for ancient Greek culture and civilization; From Trias to Enneadai and Petteia (played by Achilles himself to foresee the result of the Trojan war) Seikilo’s handmade board games are numbered and available only at Seikilo. Learn how to play them and sharpen your mind like ancient Greeks did! Visiting during weekends available if booked in advance.
Reviewed By 296orlar - Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
My partner and I really enjoyed Seikilo! The staff were very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable and gave us a tour and explanation (including some history and Greek mythology) of the instruments and even demonstrated each one expertly! We were allowed to play on every instrument and the staff member gave us tips how best to hold and play them. We also enjoyed the ancient Greek boardgames. The staff even indulged us and played one of the shorter games with my partner. Highly recommend!
3. Ataturk Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 480 reviews
Reviewed By Jatita
Interesting in situ view of his early life. Easy to get to from the usual Salonica must-sees. More security than usual tourist stops.
4. Church of Agia Aikaterini
5. Church of Saint Panteleimon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 44 reviews
Reviewed By KoukByzRus - Thessaloniki, Greece
The Church of St. Panteleimon the Great Martyr is a jewellery of our faith! Although frescoes are not preserved in the interior, there are two apses in the northern and the southern part of the church (the sanctuary in every orthodox church is created in the eastern part) with fragments of frescoes of the palaeologian era (Palaeologoi were the last dynasty of the Byzantine Empire). It's really worth a visit!
6. Church of Saint Dimitrios - Patron of Thessaloniki
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,868 reviews
Reviewed By LynneZ302 - Gold Coast, Australia
Beautiful church with some old mosaics and gorgeously carved pews, definitely worth a visit. You can also visit the crypt underneath which is quite interesting and has good descriptions in English.
7. Church of Agia Sofia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 633 reviews
Reviewed By ilknurcelik1974 - Turkey, null
Agia Sophia is one of the most impressive Byzantine churches of Thesaloniki. Located in the center of the city as well, it is a very beautiful “Domed Basilica” style temple with an imposing architecture, beautiful wall paintings and elaborate mosaics. Having a 1600 years old history, it can easily be considered one of the most important religious sites in Macedonia. The earliest written reference about the structure goes back to 795 A.D., while we can safely assume due to archaeological evidence that another Christian temple existed there, until the destructive earthquake of 620 A.D. The majority of the wall paintings are dated back to 11th century A.D., while the sculptural decoration of the temple was finalized after several phases. After the Fourth Crusade in 1205 the structure was used as a cathedral by the crusaders, while during the Ottoman invasion in 1430 the church was converted into a mosque. It remained a mosque, until the city’s liberation in 1912. The temple of Agia Sofia is one of several city’s monuments included as a World Heritage Site on the UNESCO list, in 1988. Thessaloniki is considered one of the most important destinations in the world when it comes to Paleochristian Byzantine temples. Like several other monuments of the city, the temple was significantly damaged because of the 1917 fire and was afterwards gradually restored. The restoration of the dome was finally completed in 1980.
8. Osios David (The Latomou Monastery)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 171 reviews
Reviewed By carolas936 - Marietta, United States
The Church of Osios David is a late 5th-century Byzantine church in the upper town, sitting in a shaded courtyard with an expansive view over the lower town and harbor. According to tradition, the church was founded by Theodora (the daughter of the emperor Maximianus who ruled 286 - 305). She supposedly used a Roman bathhouse as a Christian shrine and concealed its mosaic to dispel her mother's suspicions of her conversion to Christianity. A church was founded in the late 5th century probably dedicated to the prophet Zacharias, replacing the bathhouse (and reusing its stones). The church became the katholikon (public chapel) of the Latomos Monastery. The modest church was built in a cross plan (without a dome), with a porch on the front. The interior walls are covered with richly-colored 12th-century frescoes. I was most impressed by the 5th-century mosaic of the Theophany over the apse: Christ holds a Greek scroll, “Behold our God, in whom we hope and we rejoice in our salvation, that he may grand rest to this home”, and is surrounded by symbols of the four evangelists (an angel, eagle, lion, and bull, symbolizing Matthew, John, Mark and Luke). The four rivers of Paradise (the Phison, Geon, Tigris and Euphrates) flow beneath Christ's feet, their waters feeding the river Chobar (or Jordan). After the Ottoman conquest, the building was converted into a mosque (probably in the 16th century), the art was covered with plaster, and a minaret was added at the south-west corner bay (the base remains). Osios David was reconsecrated (and given its present name) as a Greek Orthodox church in 1921 after the Greek liberation of Thessaloniki. The frescoes and mosaics were restored, and the church was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1988. The church is open every day except Monday from 10am -5pm; it closes at 2pm on Sunday. When I visited there was no entry fee, but I left a donation with the lady who was the caretaker.
9. The Kapani (Vlali) Market
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 62 reviews
Reviewed By lucianm2013 - Constanta, Romania
I love to enjoy the colors, the smells, the sounds of the open markets and wherever I go, if I have the chance, I visit places like these. The Kapani Market was a nice and useful surprise in the downtown of Thessaloniki – as you go to the Aristotelous Square from Egnatia Street, is located in that central area. The area is not quite big but here you can find a magnificent variety of everything that could be found in a place like this: vegetables and fruits, bakery, cheese, olives and other olive based products, fresh meat and other meat products, fishes, cakes, sweets, items for your house … as I said everything at very affordable prices! And do not forget the taverns! This is the place where you can have a good meal for decent prices as well as your daily shopping for a fresh meal at home, if you prefer so. Once I discovered this place, I visited every day during my presence in Thessaloniki. The crowd is the quality indicator for what you can find here.
10. Church of Panagia Acheiropoietos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 106 reviews
Reviewed By 938arisk
Panagia Achiropiitos (or Agia Paraskevi) is a very beautiful, ancient church that dates back to the 5th century A.D. It is full of wonderful mosaics with golden background between the columns and the interior with its three aisles is very impressive with their perfect proportions. Be careful to check the opening hours as they are unstable. I was there in a Sunday morning's Mass and it was stunningly beautiful. It brings you back to another era. Definitely worth seeing while you are in Thessaloniki.
