SEEMORE

Wake up and open your windows into Aristotle Square, while enjoying an excellent coffee and koulouri (bread roll) or bougatsa (breakfast pie) from one of the 10s of places on your doorstep always ready to serve you. So, what do you prefer to do?

Walk? Perfect. Head down to the sea, just 200 metres away. Turn left and walk along the old sea front to the White Tower, the most emblematic symbol of the city. Drop in and allow the museum to guide you through the city’s history, or keep walking up to a further 3 km along the new sea front with its beautiful expansive parks, wide and modern walkways and café-boats to the new red brick concert hall, You’ll pass many great places to pick up a second coffee too! 

Prefer shopping? Start where you. You’re just a few metres from Tsimiski, Mitropoleos and Koromila Street, all full of hundreds of shops to satisfy even the most demanding shopper.

Prefer something more traditional, a throwback to the times when people from all over the region called Thessaloniki home (a trend that is fast returning)? Then head to the Kapani Market just behind the other side of the square, where you can get lost in a whole shopping village of variety, quantity and personalised service. You’ll smell spices, fresh fish, meat and wonderful leather luxuries and hear the vendors attract your attention with the cries of, “Ela!” (come!) and, “Ti kala echo simera!” (What great things I have today!) Don’t miss the city’s famous “stoas” or alleys, such as Stoa Modiano, for culture, fine food and shopping too.

Want to explore the city’s 23 centuries of history? Walk up 500 metres, crossing Egnatia Street to the ancient agora (forum) and its underground museum. It’s just one of a whole host of museums that carefully weaves the threads of Thessaloniki’s story together through treasured and impressive relics. After you’ve finished with the agora, cross the road to St. Dimitrios’ Church and visit also the crypt of the city’s patron saint and discover his influence in the early 4th century when the city was the capitol of the Eastern Roman Empire. Take a stroll over to Navarino Square to visit the impressive series of remarkable structures that still tell that story. Then keep walking up and discover Ano Poli (the old town), through a labyrinth of tiny quaint streets and along the ancient city walls, right up to the castle at the top, if you’re feeling fit! Again, this is Greece and that means many fine places to dine and relax as you do so.