Discover the City

About Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki, is Greece’s second tier city and capital of the region of Central Macedonia. The city is located on the Thermaic Gulf at the northwestern corner of the Aegean Sea and is a lively and generous urban center that it is at the same time historic and avant-garde.

Thessaloniki is the perfect destination for the Meeting Industry to connect with culture: meeting planners can opt between interesting, high quality venues, events attendants can enjoy a walk to the waterfront or a quick glimpse to the main attractions and capture the easygoing atmosphere and charm of the city.

Thessaloniki is also the optimal destination to connect with an emerging entrepreneurial community, to share knowledge with outstanding academics, to liaise with a dynamic startup ecosystem, to explore contemporary art and modern cultural creation through festivals and art fairs.

Arts & Culture

Thessaloniki is a city with a continuous history of 2.300 years, with traces and monuments of the Roman, early Christian, Byzantine, Ottoman and Jewish heritage.

The once mighty Byzantine Empire that ruled over the eastern Mediterranean for more than a thousand years is lost centuries ago, but the city of Thessaloniki still faithfully guards some of the most characteristic remnants. Today, visitors to the city have the unique opportunity to explore the Byzantine civilization through Thessaloniki’s mediaeval masterpieces, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 15 in total.

Museums and monuments, architectural landmarks and modern art installations, open-air archeological sites, old warehouses in the Thessaloniki Port Pier, create a charming blend of history and culture, merging east and west, traditional and modern, past and present.

A visit to Thessaloniki, a journey through time!

Sightseeing

As Thessaloniki is a town with a long history, there are many sites to visit. The main sites of Thessaloniki date from Roman and Byzantine times, and include the Roman Arch of Galerius, the Monument of Rotonda, the Church of Saint Demetrius and the Medieval Castle. The symbol - and most important monument in Thessaloniki - is the White Tower, found at the famous Beach Promenade of the city. As Thessaloniki is geographically located in a central spot of the country, it is nice as an excursion base to places like Halkidiki, Kavala, and Meteora.

Getting around

If you are wondering how to get around in Thessaloniki city center, you should know that the best way of moving around is on foot, since the most important tourist attractions are located within short walking distance in the center of the city. Historic Thessaloniki city center offers many UNESCO World Heritage Sites and museums with themes ranging from Archeology to Contemporary Sports.

Getting around in Thessaloniki by bus is perfect since no city point is more than 30 minutes away from the center by public transportation. The Organization of Urban Transportation of Thessaloniki (OASTH) is a public bus provider that connects the entire Thessaloniki via 224 buses and 75 bus routes.

Gastronomy

A multitude of influences enriched Thessaloniki’s cuisine during the centuries with different products and cultures, eating habits and techniques, leading to delicious results. All kinds of travelers with different gastronomy expectations will meet their expectations in Thessaloniki.

Get acquainted with the great products of the Greek land, produced around Thessaloniki and the Thermaikos gulf, by visiting the colorful open markets in the town’s center. Taste local delicacies in the typical, traditional, casual eateries, “tavernas or mezedopolia”. A great tribute is given also to fine dining and executive seafood restaurants in unique locations, 5 star hotel’s terraces, gardens and balconies by the seafront.

Modern delicatessens, small specialty shops and new age wine & cocktail bars are created intensely by very well informed food & drink enthusiasts.

Shopping

Shopping in Thessaloniki Greece is a pleasure. There’s excellent shopping for fashions, specialty foods, antiques, books, and unique souvenirs. For many visitors from the Balkans, Thessaloniki is a major shopping destination.

Weather

Typical Mediterranean with warm summers, mild winters and an annual average of 300 days of sunshine, the climate is yet another one of the advantages the city offers to the visitors. The generous touch of the bright Mediterranean sun and the gentle Aegean Sea breeze attract locals and visitors to the long waterfront all year round and invite them to enjoy the nearby beaches form late spring till early fall.

Shopping Hours

Major outlets Monday-Friday. 9:00-21:00
Small shops Monday & Wednesday 9:00 to 15:30
Friday, 9:00 to 20:30 Saturday 9:00 to 15:30

The airport

Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia

Thessaloniki Airport, modern and smarter after an extensive renovation, opened its doors to passengers in February 2021, expanded, fresh and modernized.

The enhancement changes implemented at the airport include a new terminal and remodeling and expansion of existing terminal by 30,998m2. Thessaloniki Airport has double the security lanes, while the check-in points have increased by 47% and the departure gates have jumped from 16 to 24.

The port of Thessaloniki

The port of Thessaloniki is the largest transit-trade port in the country and serves the needs of approximately 15 million inhabitants of its international mainland.
The installations include 6 piers suitable for servicing all types of cargo as well as passenger traffic, occupying a total space of 1.5 million m2. It links directly to the national and international road network, bypassing thus city entrance.
Pier 1 is one of the most favorite hangouts for local. It houses the Museum of Photography, the Experimental Center for the Arts, the Cinema Museum and the Aristotle Museum of Natural History. Thessaloniki International Film Festival hosts here its busy and vibrant visitors’ center and screenings during its annual event.

Transportation

Network includes new buses, pollution-free trolleys and taxis that are inexpensive by European standards.

Useful Links

Important Dates

Congress Dates: 22-24/09/2025

Contact Us

: +30 210 3668 892

: congress@afeacongress.gr