The Best Thessaloniki Shore Excursion with Port Pickup & Drop-off
Description
Step off your cruise ship and discover the highlights of Thessaloniki, Greece's vibrant second city, where ancient history, stunning sea views and modern Greek culture come together. Travel comfortably with your expert local guide as you explore the city's most famous landmarks, including the iconic White Tower, the Arch of Galerius and the Church of Saint Demetrius. Venture into the historic Upper Town (Ano Poli), one of the few areas to survive the Great Fire of 1917, and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views over Thessaloniki and the Thermaic Gulf. Hear fascinating stories of Roman emperors, Byzantine rulers and local traditions as you uncover the city's rich past. Your tour concludes in lively Aristotelous Square, where you'll enjoy free time for shopping, sightseeing or authentic Greek cuisine. With port pickup and drop-off, guaranteed on-time return and a cruise-friendly itinerary, this excursion is the perfect introduction to Thessaloniki.
Tour Options
Itinerary
After being picked up directly from the port, you'll meet your friendly, English-speaking guide and board a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle to begin your adventure.
Begin your tour at the White Tower, Thessaloniki’s most iconic landmark, set along the scenic waterfront promenade. Once a defensive structure, it now stands as a symbol of the city's rich history. You'll have the opportunity to admire its exterior and take in the stunning seaside surroundings, including the Statue of Alexander the Great.
Next, see the Arch of Galerius, a remarkable 4th-century Roman monument adorned with intricate carvings that commemorate Emperor Galerius’ victory over the Persians. Just a short walk away stands the Rotonda, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest Christian structures in the world, which you’ll admire from the outside.
Stop by the exterior of St. Demetrius Church, a magnificent Byzantine landmark dedicated to Thessaloniki’s patron saint. A major pilgrimage site, it boasts intricate architectural details and stunning mosaics visible from the entrance. If you wish, you'll have the opportunity to step inside and explore its rich interior.
Make your way up to Ano Poli (Upper City) to visit the Eptapyrgio Fortress and the historic city walls. Dating back to Byzantine times, these impressive structures offer breathtaking panoramic views of Thessaloniki and the Thermaic Gulf. Stroll along the walls, soak in the peaceful atmosphere, and immerse yourself in the city’s rich history.
Return to the heart of the city to visit the Roman Forum, an open-air archaeological site that once served as ancient Thessaloniki’s central gathering place. As you walk along the perimeter, you'll have the chance to observe its impressive ruins and glimpse into the city’s past.
End your tour in the vibrant city center, starting at Aristotelous Square, Thessaloniki’s main hub. Stroll through bustling shopping streets, explore local boutiques, or unwind at a charming café. If you're in the mood for a meal, this is the perfect spot to enjoy authentic Greek cuisine. The final stop includes a 30-minute walk.
After your free time at Aristotelous Square, your guide will walk you back to the port. It’s only a short stroll from the square, so you’ll be back at your ship in just a few minutes.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- This tour involves approximately 1.5 hours of walking and is not suitable for guests with mobility limitations. We kindly ask all participants to carefully consider their physical ability to complete the tour before making a reservation. Please note that refunds cannot be provided if a guest is unable to complete the tour due to mobility or accessibility concerns.
Reviews(24)
There is not alot to offer in a tour. Hop on hop off would be a better option. The sights are ok and if your guide is exceptional then maybe there is value for money.
Dear Tania, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are sorry to hear that the Thessaloniki tour did not fully meet your expectations and that you felt there was limited value in the experience. Thessaloniki is a city with a more compact selection of key highlights compared to larger European destinations, and the tour is designed to provide a guided overview of its main historical and cultural points, especially for guests with limited time in port. Our guided tours are intended to add context and storytelling through a local guide, which can sometimes make a significant difference in how the city is experienced — although we understand this may not be the preference of every traveler. Thank you again for your honest feedback. It helps us continually improve both our product and how we communicate expectations to future guests. Warm regards, Vexperio
I have done many tours and have had great experiences. A tour guide must be able to manage people speak loudly and be organized.Our tour guide was nice but spoke way too softly even when people asked her to speak up. Her presentation was completely discombobulated and after the first stop, most people stop listening. The only reason I got anything out of it was because my husband was a social studies teacher, and he explained things to me. If I could do this again I recommend taking a taxi to places you want to see. This tour was so unorganized I had no idea what we were seeing what we were doing next and I could not wait for it to be over. Finally we were able to end early and most of us had the driver just take us back to the cruise ship because I was literally afraid to do the walking / eating part with this guide for fear of her losing us or it being so unorganized that we would get lost and have a further bad experience. She was fairly new (doing this about a year) so I further recommend pairing new tour guides up with a more experience tour guide when there is a large group.
Dear Guest, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are sorry to hear that your experience on the Thessaloniki shore excursion did not meet your expectations and that you felt the tour was disorganized. We take all guest feedback seriously, especially regarding guiding quality and communication. We only work with trained and experienced local guides, and this is the first time we have received this type of feedback regarding this specific tour and guide. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention, as it helps us review and continuously improve our guest experience. Thank you again for your comments. Warm regards, Vexperio
Nice tour of the highlights of the city. Great views from upper section of the city, looking back across towards the sea.
Hello Evan, Thank you very much for your review and for joining our Thessaloniki shore excursion. We’re very happy to hear that you enjoyed the day with us. If you don’t mind us asking, we noticed that you rated the tour 4 stars, and we would really appreciate any feedback on what could have made it a 5-star experience for you. Your comments are very valuable to us and help us improve our tours. Thank you again, and we hope to welcome you on another tour in the future. Best regards, Natalia Vexperio
Our tour guide Vasilia was so wonderful. She was very knowledgable. The tour took us to the oldest monastery and oldest Church (St Dimitris). And we saw views of the city along the old wall. We also visited the white tower and the statue of Alexander the Great. We also enjoyed seeing the Roman Forum. Then our tour guide took us on a walking tour through a market. We truly loved feeling like a local.
Our guide (Sorry, but I didn't write her name down) was very knowledgeable and went over and beyond to accommodate those with waking challenges. She even allowed several take the bus back to the ship while the rest of us walked back. The driver was excellent in maneuvering those narrow and crowded streets.
Very good short tour. Shows the highlights of history for this city. Knowledgeable guide who gave a detailed explanation of each site we visited
Had a whole day to kill before a 10 o'clock flight. We requested the driver we had previously...Christos. sp grateful for him! He showed us the COOLEST SITES!! Let us take our time shopping. And eating. Thank you Christos! Hope to see you again!!!
Absolutely brilliant tour in Thessaloniki with Lisa our guide and John our driver. Weather was awful but the tour was so interesting and Lisa's English was very good. One couple on the tour wanted a meal and to go shopping so Lisa stayed with them and John took the rest of us back to the ship.
My wife and I took this excursion whilst on a Celebrity cruises of Greece and Turkey. We picked it because it offered a more comprehensive introduction to Thessaloniki than the cruise ship options and we were not disappointed. Our tour guide, Lisa was excellent. She was a font of knowledge on anything to do with Thessaloniki and was very clearly passionate about her home city. She made sure everyone had a chance to hear her commentary before she started talking at each of the stops and kept the tour moving at a comfortable pace. She even happily walked with us around the centre of Thessaloniki in the rain when all of the other on the tour chose to return to the ship. I'd also like to commend Vexperio on the great communication after booking and leading up to the tour.
Our guide Athena was knowledgeable, patient and spoke clearly. She was considerate of those who had mobility issues. Unfortunately, one stop was canceled, which was a little frustrating. Our driver was a half hour late and then in a hurry to finish the tour. He was also, rude to our guide, which was unprofessional. Overall we didn’t feel we received value for the cost of the tour.
Dear Tanya, Thank you very much for taking the time to share your feedback. We truly appreciate your kind words about Athena. We are very pleased to hear that you enjoyed her company and knowledge, and we will be sure to pass your comments along to her. She will be delighted to receive such positive feedback. At the same time, we are very sorry to hear about the issues you experienced. We completely understand your frustration. After reviewing the situation, we understand that the driver was delayed by a few minutes rather than 30 minutes, due to traffic caused by heavy rain. However, we are sorry that this still gave the impression that the tour felt rushed. We also followed up with the guide regarding the interaction you described between her and the driver. We were informed that their conversation was related to keeping the tour on schedule. However, we fully understand that the exchange may still have appeared tense or uncomfortable, and we are sorry that this affected your experience. Greeks can sometimes be a bit more expressive in conversation, so what was simply a discussion may have sounded a bit more heated. Please know that we are taking your comments seriously and will review this matter further with our local team. Your feedback is very important to us, as it helps us improve both the quality of our tours and the overall guest experience. We sincerely apologize that the tour did not meet your expectations or provide the value you had hoped for. Thank you again for bringing this to our attention. Warm regards, Kinga Vexperio
