- It doesn’t have snowstorms, typhoons, or monstrous storms. Instead, it enjoys a pleasant Mediterranean climate: mild and rainy winters, warm and dry summers, lovely springs and autumns, and, overall, long stretches of sunshine throughout the year.
- Thessaloniki is a medium-sized city that feels like a vibrant college town, easy to experience and enjoy. The city center is walkable—you can cross it on foot in just 30 minutes.
- It’s home to one of Europe’s largest and newest urban waterfront promenades, completed in 2014. Walk, jog, stroll, or bike along it, all while soaking in views of the water and stunning sunsets.
- The food? Simply incredible… The city was named one of the New York Times’ 52 must-visit destinations in 2016, praised especially for its thriving culinary scene.
Why visit Thessaloniki
Why not?
Thessaloniki is...
- The most important administrative, cultural, and business center in northern Greece, and the second largest city in Greece.
- A midsize city situated on the Thermaic Gulf, with apopulation of more than 1.1 million in the metropolitan area.
- Near the Aegean Sea, an hour’s drive from both Mt.Olympus and beatyful beaches, and a short flight from the capitals of several Balkan and Mediterranean countries.
Thessaloniki in Numbers
- 50 kilometers of coastline, featuring a new urban waterfront promenade completed in 2014, perfect for walking, jogging, cycling, and more…
- 30 Museums
- 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Flights to 81 destinations across 31 countries worldwide, plus 35 domestic routes.
- A 30-minute walk from the eastern to the western edge of the city center.
Food, Fun, Lifestyle
- The New York Times recognized Thessaloniki as one of the 52 must-visit destinations of 2016, spotlighting its thriving food scene.
- According to National Geographic, the city has more cafés per capita than any other European city. It also earned spots in National Geographic’s “Top 10 Nightlife Cities” for 2015 and “Best Trips 2013”.
- The Financial Times ranked it one of the best mid-sized European cities of the future in 2014, specifically in their “Human Capital and Lifestyle” index.
- And in 2009, students in Thessaloniki set a Guinness World Record by baking the largest cheese pie ever, weighing a whopping 862 kilograms (1,900 pounds)!
A Youth City
Thessaloniki is the largest student city in Greece, and its main university, Aristotle University, is the largest in Greece and the Balkans.
Universities and colleges offering foreign-language programs include:- Aristotle University
- University of Macedonia
- International Hellenic University
- The University of Sheffield, International Faculty (CITY College)
- The American College of Thessaloniki
- American Farm School
- DEI College
- Metropolitan College
- New York College
Approximately 150,000 Greek and international students live in the city each year. In 2014, Thessaloniki launched the Study in Thessaloniki initiative (www.studyinthessaloniki.gr) to position itself as a global hub for students worldwide.
Events
Discover all the current events that are (co) organized by the Municipality of Thessaloniki.
Residents and visitors have the opportunity to enjoy walking along the esplanade, which is about five kilometers in length, from the Concert Hall to the port. The Waterfront of Thessaloniki is a linear place with relatively limited depth and big length, a fact that gives it the characteristics of a “front”, of a thin layer.
