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Thessaloniki; A Stress-free city for all tastes

Maria Koimisoglou, 5th June 2015

Thessaloniki (also known as Salonika, or Saloniki, Greek: ) is the second largest city in
Greece and is famous for its enduring fascination and its diverse ways of entrainment and living.
Thessaloniki is one of the most beautiful cities you can find in Greece, which for centuries has inspired
and seduced numerous artists, travellers and lovers. It harmonically balances the countryside with
superb beaches, while its unspeakable nightlife does not offer any room for disagreement.
Location
It is situated along the northern coast of the Aegean Sea, on the gulf of Thermaikos, just over one hourdrive from Chalkidiki (Dont miss: the most-visited touristic destination by Northern Greeks for
vacations, that you ought to visit while in Thessaloniki, especially during the summer period!).
Thessaloniki, with its over one million inhabitants, is a common gateway for any trip in Greece and is
considered to be one of the most vibrant, lively and cultured places to be, either as a visitor, or as a
permanent resident. Even though I need to write books to describe Thessaloniki in full, in the next few
paragraphs, you will find a quick guide of its remarkable highlights to visit and learn about.
Who is fun of legends? Thessaloniki, the Macedonian princess
Thessaloniki took its name from the Macedonian princess Thessaloniki that was famous for her relations
with three distinctive men of the Ancient Greek Macedonian Kingdom. She was the sister of Alexander
the Great, the daughter of King Philip II and the wife of Cassander.
A popular Greek legend talks about a mermaid who lived in the Aegean for hundreds of years and was
considered to be Thessaloniki. The legend lies under the statement that, when Alexander found the
fountain of Immortality, he retrieved a flask of immortal water and he bathed his sisters hair. After his
death, Thessaloniki decided to end her life by jumping into the sea. However, instead of drawing into
the water, she transformed into a mermaid.
The legend continues with Thessaloniki passing an unconditional judgment throughout the centuries
and across to seven seas by asking all the sailors the same question:
-Is Alexander the King alive? The right response for letting the ship and crew safe and free to continue
their journey should have been:
- He lives and he conquers the world!
Any other reply would transform Thessaloniki into Gorgon (a Greek mythological female dreadful
creature), sending the ship along with the crew to the bottom.
If I believe it?
Well, if I ever had a ship, I wouldnt doubt her!

Things to do in Thessaloniki
There are plenty of choices to do in Thessaloniki, depending on your age, budget, preferences and the
season. However, most of the ongoing choices match most of the tastes and offer great opportunities
for fun, relaxation and education. Did I mention that Thessaloniki is also a really affordable place to go
and for things to do? Please stay tuned for all the things you can do in Thessaloniki on a budget.

Thessalonikis Highlights and Festivities

In addition to Thessalonikis more obvious charms, it was nominated as the Cultural Capital of Europe
in 1997, the European Youth Capital of 2014, the worlds fifth-best party city worldwide by Lonely Planet
and most of its over 3.000 year old monuments are included on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
It is the host of the established annual Film Festival every November, the International Book Fair every
June as well as the International Trade Fair every September, while events from all the artistic and
historic backgrounds are organised frequently, offering limitless options for entrainment, fun and
education.
What is more, Thessaloniki is one of the most important trade and transportation centres in Greece
since it is connected to the Balkan countries Albania, Bulgaria and F.U.R.O.M. Its easy access by air, land
and sea explains this advantage.

A walkable city Free things to do in Thessaloniki

There are plenty of choices when it comes to walk your way through Thessaloniki.
I am going to frame this journey in the context of a visitor who arrives in the city by airplane.
MAKEDONIA airport in Thessaloniki is only 20 minutes-drive from the city centre.
(Recommended for parents)
The first recommended stop for a walking tour is Kalamaria and its Marina Aretsou. Plenty of
shops, cafeterias, bars can be found there, while it is also considered the best place to be if you have
kids and you are looking for parks and open spaces for having fun. Also, another lovely place to visit
with your children is the COSMOS mall, which as a smoke-free, huge shopping mall with every kind of
shopping and food choices that can cover all your needs, while your children can play around all day
long.

(Recommended for Solo Travellers and History -lovers)

Next stop is Vasilissis Olgas Street, which is one of the historic streets of Thessaloniki. This street
is famous for its aristocratic villas along the street that from 19 th century fill Thessaloniki with many of
its masterpieces. Due to its aristocratic notion, inside these breath-taking restored buildings are hosted
many galleries, institutions & summer cinemas. You can take a tour at Vasillisis Olgas Street easily, since
it is accessible by most buses routes that are orientated along Thessalonikis seafront.
If you are looking for more historic sights to visit, take a look at the following reference table
and discover. These numerous historic sights that you find in Thessaloniki give an awe-inspiring and
cultured sense to the city.

Discover:
The Triumphal Arch of Galerius (Kamara)
The Rotunda
The byzantine bathhouse
The Heptapyrgion castle
The byzantine walls of the city
The churches:
Acheiropoietos the Hagia Sophia, the Panaghia (Virgin) Chalkeon (1028), Hosios David, St Panteleemon,
Ayioi Apostoloi, Taxiarches, Panagouda, Agios Ioannis Prodromos, Vlatadon monastery, Ayios Demetrios
etc.
And some of the museums are:

Archaeological Museum
Byzantine Civilization Museum
Museum of ancient Greek, Byzantine and Post-Byzantine instruments
National Museum of Contemporary Art
Municipal Art Gallery
Jewish Museum
Thessaloniki History Center
Cinematography Museum
Aghios Dimitrios Crypt
Macedonia-Thrace Folklore and Ethnological Museum
Macedonian Museum of Contemporary art
Museum of the Macedonian Struggle
Design Museum
Macedonian Studies Society Art Gallery
War Museum
Telloglion Arts Foundation
Photography Museum

(Tip: Please note, some of the above museums require a small entrance fee)

(Recommended for Romantic Souls and Students )

Dear friend, now lets move to Thessalonikis Seafront, or also known as the Nea Paralia,
which, in my opinion, is the most distinctive and admittedly the most refurbished area of the city.
Do you love running, walking, biking or just fancy a walk in a sunny day near the sea?
You are at the right place!
With a sense of freedom, you can enjoy a very relaxing and interesting stroll. Especially in a clear day,
you are able to see across the seafront the most famous Greek mountain, Olympus, th e mountain of
12 Gods according to the Greek mythology.

The most famous monuments and attractions that you can find along the seafront are the Concert Hall,
the statue of Alexander the Great, the YMCA Building, the White Tower, the Umbrellas, the famous
Aristotle Square and in general, you will discover an unexpected romantic walk, where people massively
prefer any time during the day.
My tip? Put your sneakers on, get a coffee and start walking!
(Recommended for older people with passion for life)
A last recommended walk tour is at the so-called Ano Poli area - translated as the Upper or Old City where you can find the remaining towers of 19 th Century. It is the only place that was saved from the
Thessalonikis big fire of 1917 and it still preserves the old Greek character. The area inside and outside
the walls is a stunning old village, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city centre, real Greek
restaurants and delicious food, while watching the waves of the Thermaic gulf beneath you.
The city that never sleeps Thessaloniki by night
Ask any Greek student where in the world he would most like to study, and the most chances are that
he will say, Right here. Thessaloniki is massively known for its nightlife, which is also explained by
the fact that it hosts almost 100.000 new students every year. Numerous options for enjoying an
unforgettable night make this city the best destination for all tastes.
The most famous places to visit for traditional food with drink at night are the Ladadika area, the
Athonos Square, Bit Bazar area.
For having a coffee or just a drink in the city centre, dont miss to go at Thessalonikis seafront bars
and cafes, especially next to the White Towers area as well as at Navarinou Square, Kamara and
Aggelakis Street. Further than that, limitless options for nightlife can be found all over the city since
beautiful, rustic and vintage places are everywhere!
There are also numerous Night clubs you can visit in Thessaloniki that open after 24:00 till 08:00 in the
morning. In the winter period the open clubs are located on the West side of Thessaloniki, to an area
called FIX area. In the summer period these clubs close and they open on the East side of Thessaloniki,
the so-called Airport area. Depending on your music preferences, you can find the best nightclub ,
aligned to your music and dancing needs.
Secrets of Thessaloniki
Last but not least, there are some distinctive habits that the residents of Thessaloniki have, which
distinguish them from residents of other cities.

So, when in Thessaloniki dont miss

to eat: - Bougatsa
Try this meal at the famous Giannis place near the White Tower, Tip: be willing to try mpougatsa with
all tastes, like crme, feta cheese, meat or spinach, or anything that Giannis come up with that day!
to drink: - Frape for coffee
-Retsina or Tsipouro for drink

(Ask for these drinks everywhere. Seriously everywhere!)

to play : - tavli and komboloe
.. to learn and hopefully adopt the Thessalonikians distinctive identity of , meaning
take-it-easy, as a way of life! You will be amazed that in Thessaloniki almost nobody is rushing or is
being stressed. And this concept is linguistically contextualized with Thessalonikians pronouncing the
letter L in its heaviest way, like 3 Ls in a row
So
X!

Some fun facts

Did you know that Thessaloniki..
-

does have the underground infrastructure, but not the Tube trains?
The economic crisis since 2009 evoked the pause of the underground
working procedures for a long period. At the time being, we are working on
that, but still under a decelerated speed.

is the home of three athletic teams: PAOK, ARIS and IRAKLIS ?

The first two teams have a no-ending debate between them, therefore most
of their supporters get always on an oral debate.

is the only city in the world that is named co-capital?

Thessaloniki used to be the co-capital city of the Byzantine Empire, following

Istanbul. Thereafter, it remained the same in Modern Greece, in sumbolic and literal
way
-

has given some of the greatest Greek musicians, artist and poets
is probably the most mentioned city in Greek songs
is known as the most erotic city in Greece?

Also,
-The ticket machines inside the buses do not give you any change back! Mind to have
the full price of the ticket
- You are allowed to drink your beer while you are walking on the streets, since no
relevant law has ever been voted in Greece! Ever.
- The draft beers are served on 330 ml, or maximum 500 ml glass content.
- Even illegal, you will find many places like bars, cafes, restaurants and clubs that
people still smoke inside.

- And in regards to the nightlife, just BEWARE you lovely visitor

People go out at night after 22:00!
My tip? Get ready late, dance all night and let Thessaloniki charm you, like a
fascinating and mysterious singing mermaid!

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I would love your feedback!

Regards,
Maria Koimisoglou
BA, MA Teacher of English
Freelancer Content Writer, Copy Editor & Proofreader