Thessaloniki Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Thessaloniki tours, the seafront White Tower, Roman and Byzantine landmarks, vibrant food and market tours, and unforgettable day trips to the cliff-top monasteries of Meteora, mythical Mount Olympus and the beaches of Halkidiki. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Thessaloniki itinerary.
rating
Explore Thessaloniki by interest
Whatever brings you to Thessaloniki — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Meteora
Cliff-top monasteries.
ExploreOld Town & landmarks
The White Tower and Rotunda.
ExploreFood & markets
Greece’s gastronomic capital.
ExploreMount Olympus
Home of the gods and Dion.
ExploreHalkidiki beaches
Turquoise sea and pine coasts.
ExploreVergina & Pella
The Macedonian royal tombs.
ExploreJewish heritage
The Jerusalem of the Balkans.
ExploreDay trips
Meteora, Olympus and the tombs.
ExploreTop attractions in Thessaloniki
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Meteora
Cliff-top monasteries.
White Tower
The seafront symbol.
Food & markets
Greece’s food capital.
Mount Olympus
Home of the gods.
Vergina & Pella
The Macedonian royal tombs.
Rotunda & Roman city
Roman and Byzantine landmarks.
Halkidiki
Turquoise sea and beaches.
Aristotelous & waterfront
The grand seafront square.
Thessaloniki in 1 day
- 1White Tower & waterfront
- 2Rotunda & Roman city
- 3Food & market tour
- 4Ano Poli sunset
Thessaloniki in 2 days
- 1Day 1: City & food
- 2Day 2: Meteora
- 3Monastery visits
- 4Waterfront evenings
Thessaloniki in 3 days
- 1Day 1: City & food
- 2Day 2: Meteora
- 3Day 3: Olympus or Vergina
- 4Macedonian heritage
Thessaloniki with kids
- 1White Tower views
- 2Waterfront umbrellas
- 3Mount Olympus myths
- 4Halkidiki beach
3 hrs awayMeteora
Cliff-top monasteries.
1.5 hrs awayMount Olympus & Dion
Home of the gods.
1 hr awayVergina & Pella
The Macedonian royal tombs.
1.5 hrs awayHalkidiki
Turquoise sea and beaches.
2 hrs awayPhilippi & Kavala
St Paul’s ancient city.
1.5 hrs awayEdessa & Pozar
Waterfalls and thermal baths.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Thessaloniki visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September–October) bring warm, pleasant weather, a swimmable sea and thinner crowds — the best times to visit.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Mild, blooming days ideal for the old town, the waterfront and day trips before the summer heat.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Hot and lively, great for the waterfront and the beaches of Halkidiki; the city can be warm, so start early.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Warm sea, golden light and fewer crowds — a wonderful time for the city and day trips.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Mild but cooler and quieter, good for the museums, food and history, with lower prices.
A year-round food city
As Greece’s food capital, Thessaloniki’s markets, tavernas and cafés are a delight in any season.
One day
Enough for the landmarks, a food tour and the waterfront.
Two days
Add a spectacular Meteora day trip.
Three days
The sweet spot: the city, Meteora, and Olympus or Vergina.
Four to five days
Add Halkidiki beaches, more tombs and Philippi.
A week or more
Use Thessaloniki as a base to tour all of northern Greece.
Travelling with kids
Mix the White Tower, the waterfront and a Halkidiki beach at a gentle pace.
On foot
Thessaloniki’s centre, waterfront and landmarks are compact and best explored on foot along the seafront and old town.
Metro & buses
A new metro line and an extensive bus network cover the wider city cheaply.
Waterfront & boats
Floating café-boats cruise the gulf, and excursion boats reach Halkidiki for beaches and Mount Athos views.
Day-trip transport
Tours bundle transport for the longer day trips to Meteora, Mount Olympus and the Macedonian tombs.
From the airport
Thessaloniki Airport links to the centre by bus in about 45 minutes; taxis are quicker.
By bike
The flat seafront promenade is lovely to cycle, with shared bikes available.
Book day trips ahead
Popular Meteora and Mount Olympus day trips and small-group food tours sell out — book ahead, especially in summer and around cruise calls.
Currency & tipping
Greece uses the euro; service is included, though rounding up or leaving a small tip for good service is appreciated.
Try bougatsa & mezze
Sample bougatsa pastries, fresh seafood, mezze and ouzo in the markets and tavernas — Thessaloniki is Greece’s food capital.
Climb the White Tower
Visit the White Tower museum and climb to the top for panoramic views over the waterfront and the Thermaic Gulf.
Sunset at Ano Poli
Head to the Upper Town (Ano Poli) and castle walls for the best sunset views over the city and sea.
Use the metro
Thessaloniki’s new metro and buses make getting around easy and cheap; buy and validate a ticket before travelling.
Meteora day trips
Popular Meteora monastery tours sell out — book well ahead.
Mount Olympus trips
Mount Olympus and Dion day tours fill up — reserve early.
Food & cooking tours
Small-group food and cooking tours have limited places — book ahead.
Halkidiki cruises
Summer Halkidiki beach trips and cruises are busy — reserve early.
Vergina tours
Macedonian tombs day trips fill up — book ahead.
Summer peak
July and August are busy — plan ahead.
Meteora day trips
Around €45–90 for a full-day Meteora monastery tour.
Mount Olympus trips
About €50–90 for a Mount Olympus and Dion day tour.
City & food tours
Around €15–60 for a walking or food-and-market tour.
Halkidiki trips
About €55–100 for a Halkidiki beach day or cruise.
Vergina tours
Roughly €50–90 for a Vergina and Pella day trip.
How to save
Walk the compact centre and seafront, eat in the markets and tavernas, and use the cheap metro and buses.
Thessaloniki through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Mild days, blooming and day trips.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Lovely before the summer heat.
- Best for
- Hot days, the waterfront and beaches.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Busy; book day trips and Halkidiki ahead.
- Best for
- Warm sea and fewer crowds.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A wonderful time for the city and trips.
- Best for
- Mild, quiet days for food and history.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Lower prices; cosy markets and tavernas.