Thessaloniki

Whether history lover, gourmet, night owl or fan of Greece, Thessaloniki is a versatile destination with something for all tastes. If you want to experience the real Greece, this is the place to visit. Thessaloniki, also known as Salonika, is Greece’s second largest city. Boasting a history spanning more than 2,300 years, the port city on the Aegean Sea has been an important centre of Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman culture through the centuries. Monuments and churches from different eras have been well-maintained to this day.

The city in northern Greece is famous for its excellent Greek cuisine, which is best enjoyed in traditional taverns. Those who still have energy left can party the night away in the famous bars and clubs in the Ladadika and Valaoritou quarters. Strollers will love the extensive promenade and the spacious squares in the city centre.

Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos: These are the names of what are probably Greece’s most beautiful fingers. They belong to the unusually shaped peninsula of Halkidiki, which has three prominent headlands and are popular for their breathtaking beaches, crystal-clear water, fragrant pine forests and remote monasteries. With a coastline of approximately 520 kilometres, the three fingers have the longest shoreline on the Greek mainland. Bathers, sun-worshippers and water sports fans will find fabulous conditions here. Each of the three fingers has its own character: The flat peninsula of Kassandra, the mountainous Sithonia and lastly the monastic republic of Athos with its imposing monasteries around the legendary mountain of the same name. Thessaloniki is only about an hour’s drive from the peninsula’s first beaches, making it easy to plan day trips or longer stays in Halkidiki from the city.

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