GR
Thessaloniki
Greece’s vibrant second city, with a seafront promenade, Byzantine churches, Roman ruins and a famous food scene
Greece’s vibrant second city, with a seafront promenade, Byzantine churches, Roman ruins and a famous food scene
The city’s landmark, a 15th-century Ottoman tower on the seafront, now a museum of the city’s history with views from the top.
Photo: Annatsach, CC BY-SA 4.0
A massive 4th-century Roman building that has been a church and a mosque, with fine early Christian mosaics, near the Arch of Galerius.
Photo: Jaba1977, CC BY-SA 4.0
The grand central square opening onto the sea, surrounded by cafés and close to the Modiano and Kapani food markets.
Photo: Mister No, CC BY 3.0
The old upper town of winding lanes, Ottoman-era houses and Byzantine walls, crowned by the Heptapyrgion fortress, with views over the bay.
Photo: Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0
Try bougatsa (custard or cheese pastry) for breakfast, koulouri sesame rings, mezedes and Thessaloniki’s famous sweets.
The Ladadika district and the Kapani and Modiano markets are great for food.
Thessaloniki Airport is about 15km from the centre, linked by bus and taxi. The city’s metro opened in November 2024. Trains run to Athens in about four and a half hours.
Greece is in the EU and the Schengen area and uses the euro. EU citizens need only an ID card; citizens of the UK, US, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, with biometric registration under the EU Entry/Exit System. An ETIAS travel authorisation is also due to be introduced. Hotels charge a per-night climate resilience fee. Check current rules before you travel.
Thessaloniki is cheaper than Athens or the islands.
Seafront, history and food.
Walk the promenade from the White Tower to Aristotelous Square, visit the markets, the Rotunda and the Arch of Galerius, and eat in Ladadika.
Explore Ano Poli and the Heptapyrgion, then visit the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Byzantine Culture.
🛂 Entry rules: EES and ETIAS
Greece is in the Schengen area, which has two EU border systems for non-EU visitors.
EES (in force): since 10 April 2026 the EU’s Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors’ passport details, fingerprints and a photo the first time they enter the Schengen area, replacing passport stamps. Allow extra time at the border on your first trip; later crossings are quicker. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not registered.
ETIAS (not yet running): a €20 online travel authorisation for visitors who don’t need a visa, such as UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens. It hasn’t started and no start date has been confirmed, so nobody can apply yet; ignore websites that offer to “pre-register” you for a fee.
Visa-free visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, not per country.
Official information: EU: Travel to Europe (EES & ETIAS) · Reviewed September 2026
Summer heatwaves can close archaeological sites at midday; visit early and carry water.
Start the day with bougatsa from a traditional bakery.
The new metro links the railway station with the centre and the east of the city.
The royal tombs at Vergina and Mount Olympus are popular day trips.
Quick answers for planning time in Thessaloniki.
Citizens of the UK, US, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in 180, with registration under the EU Entry/Exit System.
Yes, for its Roman and Byzantine monuments, seafront and excellent food.
About four and a half hours by train, or under an hour by plane.
Yes, it opened in November 2024.
A filo pastry filled with custard or cheese, a classic Thessaloniki breakfast.
Google Maps works well; ferry timetables are best checked on operator sites or ferry booking apps.
Free
Greek is the language; English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Greece travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.