Thessaloníki or Salonica is the second-largest city of Greece and is the principal, the largest city, and the capital of the province of Macedonia. The city possesses a unique character due to its distinctive history, a mosaic of peoples, cultures, architecture and life style. Compared to Athens the city of Thessaloniki has a different feel: more Balkan-European and modern, more diverse and mysterious with a relaxed yet lively atmosphere. With a unique multi-cultural background Thessaloniki is the place where 3 religions met, where Greeks, Jews and Ottoman Turks lived in harmony for many centuries.
Situated at the head of Thermaikos gulf, Thessaloniki is divided into the Old town, where the Byzantine wall and castles are and the modern city, although the entire city within the Byzantine walls boasts a continuous history of almost 2500 years. It combines Byzantine monuments, great shopping, great food and coffees, and romantic seaside walks. The past and present merge at old taverns, "ouzeries", restaurants, bars, music halls with live music (Thessaloniki is the cradle of modern Greek popular song, "rembetika"), cinema halls, theaters and sidewalk cafes on street pavements and squares.
With an intense and wild nightlife the city is famous for its avant-garde live music and entertainment scene and for its great cultural events such as theh Film Festival of Thessaloniki. Small family run taverns and basement pastry shops offer a delicious variety of famous specialties, offering the very best of Greek cuisine, a blend of Byzantine, middle-eastern, Greek traditional and modern influences. The city boasts a wide ethnic mix and and wealth generated by its two major universities, the Aristotle University and the University of Macedonia, its sizable student population, its port with its special Free Zone, which provides facilities to the other Balkan countries, its international airport, its important industrial complex, its annual International Trade Fair to name but a few.
The metropolitan area has a total population of around 1 million and lies in a bay of the Thermaic Gulf at the head of the Chalkidiki peninsula boasting some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece, spectacular natural scenery, mild climate all year round and emerald seas.
Distances :
Beach 20 km
Center of town 0 m
Shops 0 m
Port 500 m
Bus station 2 km
Airport 15 km
Train station 500 m