Greece is a favorite holiday destination for both Europeans and our tourists. In this country, as the joke has already become bearded, there is everything: the sea, the sun, beaches, historical and natural attractions, first-class service, delicious cuisine, various entertainment, dizzying shopping and much, much more. However, with the word "Greece", many tourists imagine the islands. Undoubtedly, a vacation in Crete or Kos will be wonderful. But do not forget that Greece has a mainland. And it is no less interesting for a tourist.
In this article we will comprehensively review the rest in Thessaloniki. It is the second largest city in the country after Athens. But do not think that Thessaloniki is a noisy, always hurrying and never sleeping metropolis in which it will be difficult to relax. In fact, the infrastructure of the city is such that even tourists with children feel comfortable here. True, city hotels have a small territory. But outside the city there are hotels with huge parks and spacious rooms. An hour away is the Halkidiki Peninsula - a dream for beach lovers.
Where are Thessaloniki and how to get there?
More correctly, the city should be called Thessaloniki. It is the capital of a region such as Central Macedonia. Thessaloniki is located on the shore of a very calm Gulf of Thermaikos. Being the second after the capital of Greece in terms of size and population, the city has its own seaport and air harbor. Direct flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg arrive last. From Pulkovo, flights are operated by the Ellineir company. On board you have to spend three hours and forty minutes. Reviews say that from three Moscow airports to Thessaloniki, liners of such air carriers as Aeroflot, S7, Egean and Ellineir depart. Travel time is from three to three hours and forty minutes.
Thrifty tourists mention that if you plan to spend your holidays in Thessaloniki on a budget, it’s better to save money from the very beginning - fly with transfers, entrust yourself to the Air Serbia or Lufthansa airlines. But then the travel time will increase to five and seven hours, respectively. In the summer, charters from major Russian cities are added to regular flights. Greets guests of the city airport "Macedonia". Rail and bus connections connect Thessaloniki with the capital. Travel time is six hours. To get to Thessaloniki, they say reviews, you can by train from Turkey and Bulgaria.
The climate of mainland Greece. When is it best to come to Thessaloniki
Like all of Greece, the city lies in a subtropical climate zone. It has dry, hot summers and mild, very rainy winters. But Thessaloniki climate has its own regional characteristics, because the city lies in the mainland. Therefore, unlike the islands, the air here warms up very strongly in the summer. The average daily temperature in July and August is thirty-one degrees in the shade. And winters are more severe here, if such an expression is permissible, because the average January temperature is six degrees above zero. But in the winter months in Thessaloniki, a snowball can fall, which will last from a couple of hours to several days.
All these regional features must be taken into account when traveling to Thessaloniki (Greece). Beach holidays here begin in April and end in late October. The peak season falls on the summer months. But if you can’t stand the heat or travel with children, it is better to come to the resorts of the city in spring or autumn. So all tourists advise. It’s too hot in summer and the beaches are crowded. The shallow bay of Thermaikos warms up quickly. Its usual temperature in the swimming season is twenty degrees.
History of the city
Thessaloniki is more than three thousand years old. There are traces and cultural influence of all those peoples that once owned the city: Romans, Byzantines, Turks. In ancient times, the majority of the population of the city were Jews. Jewish culture makes itself felt in the architecture and cuisine of local restaurants. Therefore, in a city such as Thessaloniki (Greece), beach vacations will be diluted with a rich excursion program. The history of the city begins from the fourth century BC. Thessaloniki was named for the half-sister of Alexander the Great. She married King Kassandra, who founded the city and dedicated it to his beloved wife. The ruler chose a place for a new settlement. According to archaeological excavations, there was a site of Neanderthals - the oldest in Europe. All the historical sights of Thessaloniki are concentrated in Ano Poli (Upper Town). It is located north of the center. Now Ano-Poli is wholly and completely included in the UNESCO List as a cultural heritage of mankind.
The modern look of Thessaloniki (Greece)
Rest - the reviews in this statement reveal unity - in no case will not be boring. Whenever you come to Thessaloniki, you will always catch a festival, cultural days, concerts and similar events. In the nineties of the last century, the city was awarded the title of the cultural capital of Greece. The reputable tourist columnist Lonely Planet included Thessaloniki in the TOP 5 of The best party-city. Unfortunately, the grandiose fire that happened in 1917 destroyed the medieval part of the city. Ano-Poly miraculously did not suffer. For the restoration of the city from the ashes took the famous architect Ebrar Ernestu. He gave Thessaloniki a modern look. The urban planner minimized Ottoman influence, preferring Byzantine style and ancient culture. The breath of globalization and new technologies almost did not affect Thessaloniki. There are still three-story buildings in the modern city center. And almost from all the windows you can see the turquoise sea. It seems to remind that the main thing for which they arrive in Thessaloniki is a beach vacation.
Where to stay
The cultural capital of Greece is accustomed to accepting a large number of visitors. In the city itself there are many hotels designed for every taste and budget. The luxurious Electra Palace Hotel is located in the heart of Thessaloniki - on Sq. Aristotle. Fans of chain hotels will have a lot of fun staying at Makedonia Palace. This five-star hotel belongs to the Classical Hotels line. It is located just a couple of meters from another attraction of the city - the White Tower. Holidays in Thessaloniki will be unforgettable if you stay at the Hiyatt Regency. This luxury hotel is located on the thirteenth kilometer of the road connecting the city with Pereas. According to reviews, “Hyatt Regency Thessaloniki” has long served as a benchmark for luxury. The country residence has a huge landscaped area, many pools, and guests are accommodated in spacious apartments and unique rooms. Praise the City Hotel 4 * reviews on ul. Komninon, Mediterranian near the port, Excelsior in an art deco building (with spa and gourmet restaurant), Daios Butik (Nikis Avenue) and Les Lazaristes.
Budget accommodation
Tourists claim that three-star hotels in Greece are not bad at all. But in this way you can save a little on housing. Not far from the City Hotel 4 * is located Luxembourg 3 *. This hotel has comfortable, clean and beautiful rooms. The Astoria (Tsimiski and Salaminos Street), which recently opened after a major overhaul, gives guests almost family comfort. “Met Hotel” has a SPA center, but the prices are low because of its remoteness from the city center. This hotel is located on 26 October Street at the entrance to Thessaloniki. Recreation The private sector offers even more budget than hotels. You can find a one-room apartment near the sea, starting from twenty euros per day. Two-bedroom apartments with a living room and kitchen can be rented for forty-fifty euros per day.
Beaches
It is no secret that the main goal of tourists coming to Thessaloniki is to rest by the sea. Are you worried that the beaches in Greece’s second largest city will be polluted? Municipal services in Thessaloniki work wonderfully well. But crowds are indeed observed, although the locals are lazy enough to travel out of town for the sake of the clear sea and spacious beaches. Tourists are advised not to follow their example, but to use public transport (if you live in the center of Thessaloniki).
The best beaches are "Agia Triad", "Perea", "Angelohori". On the last coast there are a lot of simulators and sports activities. The best in such a picturesque city as Thessaloniki, a rest on the sea will be on the beach of Nea Michanion. Stunningly beautiful landscapes on green hills are added to the warm Thermal Gulf, the gentle entry into the sea and the fine sand. All Thessaloniki country beaches are awarded the Blue Flag for the cleanliness and well-groomed coastal strip and water area.
Halkidiki Peninsula
This wonderful place is located an hour away from the city. The peninsula from above looks like a trident of Neptune, since it consists of three capes: Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos. And if you are interested in such a wonderful city as Thessaloniki, beach vacations, reviews are advised to stay in one of the resorts of Halkidiki, on the shores of the Aegean Sea. The peninsula is considered the most environmentally friendly place in mainland Greece. The first to meet travelers is the western cape of Kassandra. Since it is only fifty kilometers from Thessaloniki, it is densely populated. Kassandra has forty-four resort villages, and in each of them life is in full swing. The most famous places are Nea Moudania, Kallithea, Pefkohori and Hanioti. Kassandra, in addition to disco bars and other entertainment venues, is famous for its beautiful bays, olive groves, pine forests and an abundance of historical attractions.
Sithonia (central cape) will give a romantic atmosphere to a secluded paradise. There is only one lively resort - Neos Marmaras. The rest of the settlements are small fishing villages. An inexpensive vacation in Thessaloniki awaits you in Vourvourou. And finally, the eastern and most famous Cape Athos. He owes his fame not so much to the beaches as to the holy mountain on which the monastery state is located. At the top of Mount Athos, there are about twenty Orthodox monasteries. All these are exclusively male monasteries. Since the middle of the tenth century, no woman has stepped on the holy Mount Athos. Yes, and male tourists, in order to get into the walls of the monasteries, special permission is required. Rest on Cape Athos will satisfy only lovers of a very calm and secluded holiday. There is no entertainment here, except for cruising boats around the holy mountain.
What to see in Thessaloniki. Attractions of the Ottoman era
Each traveler has a list of “mast si”. But an indispensable item in all lists of attractions is the White Tower. And if you are interested in a sightseeing vacation in Thessaloniki, start exploring the city from it. It is located next to the main promenade. The White Tower is the same symbol of the city as the Eiffel for Paris. It was built during the Ottoman rule. It was once part of the defense of Thessaloniki. Then the walls were dismantled, and the tower was left and began to be used as a prison. Therefore, the people called her "Bloody". And she became White after the Turks covered it with plaster. Now the tower has been turned into a museum, and on its upper observation deck there is a panoramic cafe. Nearby is the Archaeological Museum with a rich collection of legendary treasures of Byzantine commanders. From Turkish rule, the characteristic buildings of Hamza Bay and Alaz, as well as the jewelry market, have been preserved in the city.
The royal residence and other antiquities
To touch the history, reviews of tourists are advised to go up to the Upper Town. Ano-Poli can be reached by public transport. People go here not only to wander along the narrow cobblestone streets along the ramparts, but also to capture their vacation in Thessaloniki. Reviews claim that it offers a wonderful panoramic view of the entire city. Therefore, there are so many restaurants and cafes with spacious terraces. The palace of Galerius Maximian once stood in the northeastern edge of Ano-Poli. Now, from this magnificent building, only ruins remained, but the Arc de Triomphe, which was built in honor of the emperor’s victories, was preserved. Reviews advise not to lose sight of the church dedicated to St. George. She enters the palace complex. The temple was erected in the fourth century as a pagan, a hundred years later it became a Christian, and with the advent of the Turks it was turned into a mosque. Despite the ban on sacred images in Islam, sculptures of angels are preserved here.
Temples
Holidays in Thessaloniki reviews are called "half pilgrim." Still would! The neighborhood of Mount Athos makes the city a stopping place for religious tourism. In Thessaloniki, the creators of the Slavic alphabet Cyril and Methodius began their educational activities. Despite the five-hundred-year rule of the Turks, many churches remained in the city. Worthy of visiting reviews are the Hagia Sophia Church with magnificent mosaics, the basilica of Dmitry and Nikolai Orfansky, the ancient Rotunda, which was previously dedicated to Zeus.
Greece, Thessaloniki: families with children
Tourists traveling to this country with a small child are often faced with a problem. The young traveler does not share the parents' craving for ancient history. Museums and magnificent ruins under the scorching sun seem a tiny place of torture. A monotonous beach quickly bothers. But these are not Thessaloniki! Holidays with children in this city will be full of the most joyful impressions. Tourists advise taking the child to a local zoo, since the entrance to it is free. The menagerie is located near Ano-Poli. While the spouse will shop at the Cosmos shopping center, a father with his children can wait for her in the neighboring amusement town Magic Park. A child taller than one meter is free. Older children pay eight euros and adults pay twelve. But then you can use all the attractions as much as you like until the park closes. Waterland is the only water entertainment town in Northern Greece. The water park is a quarter hour drive from the center of Thessaloniki. Teenagers will be interested in visiting the High-Tech Museum and the planetarium.
What they say about the city
How do tourists characterize the city of Thessaloniki (Greece)? Vacation reviews are called very saturated. It combines leisurely romantic walks, educational excursions, swimming and sunbathing on the beaches. Northern Greece is the center of fur coats, but shopping in the city is not limited to furs. Thessaloniki is famous for its cuisine. Sweets are especially popular here. The culinary traditions of Turks, Greeks, Jews and Balkan peoples merged in local cuisine.