StudentUniverse.com

Thessaloniki, in the Greek district of Central Macedonia, is home to more than a million inhabitants, and is the second largest city in Greece. Moreover, the city has a continuous 3000-year history, preserving relics of it Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman past and of its formerly dominant Jewish population. This old town basically exudes history and rich European culture. But don’t let that fool you, it also has a hip modern scene that is a force to be reckoned with! So if you’re looking for some great old-meets-new, then head over to StudentUniverse.com today and get some cheap student airline tickets to Thessaloniki.

Thessaloniki Pictures

Things to do in Thessaloniki

A cool place to hang out is at the end of Tsimiski street at the center of Thessaloniki, where you can find many great museums such as the Thessaloniki Archaeological Museum, The Museum of Byzantine Culture, State Museum of Contemporary Art, Thessaloniki Museum of Photography, Museum of Cinematography in Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki Technology Park, Museum of Science, Folklore and Ethnological Museum of Macedonia and Thrace, Thessaloniki International Fair, Jewish Museum, Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art, Municipal Gallery of Art, Teloglion Foundation of Art, Museum at the White Tower, Museum at Aghios Demetrios, Goulandris Museum of Natural History, and Attaturk House. Whew, that’s a lot of history, culture, and things to do! You can also hit up the northernmost Byzantine wall, where you can take a long walk along the enormous seafront promenade which has great views of the city. You should also check out “upper town” with its traditional old houses, small cobblestone streets, Byanine citadel, and Eptapyrgion fort. Thessaloniki was also once known as “the mother of Israel”, due to the once flourishing Jewish community here, which existed from the Roman period and grew after the Ottoman Empire took in the refugees from Spain (”Sephardis), until World War II when most of the city’s Jews were transported to Auschwitz. However, there are still two Synagogues, and you can visit the Jewish Museum.

Nightlife in Thessaloniki

Some cities like to brag, but when a 2007 New York Times article called it the “Seattle of the Balkans” it was settled: this city has the best nightlife around and isn’t afraid to say “it’s all Greek to me!” Being the liveliest city in Northern Greece, Thessaloniki has tons of the trendy bars, most of which are located along the old seafront (Nikis ave.) and around either the downtown area or in the old city. You can also find numerous bars and tavernas at Krini, an area in eastern Thessaloniki. They even has floating bars that leave ever 2 hours and take a short trip across the water, playing foreign and traditional music!

Dining in Thessaloniki

Eating in Thessaloniki is best summed up into this philosophy: local specialties and cheap ouzo taverns are good and foreign restaurants are bad. Avoid big chains and stick to local shops for the best food. For some of the best Greek food around try Chatzis, famous for its collection of Greek Asia Minor sweets, Terkenlis, famous for its variety of “tsoureki”, a sweet bread much like brioche, and Elenidis, considered the expert in “trigona”, or triangles made of sfoglia and filled with cream. Thessaloniki has also voted baked quince as the best dessert to enjoy in winter. Goody’s is a Greek fast-food chain where you can find semi-traditional food for cheap on the go.

Shopping in Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki has very high fashion stores such as Proxenou Koromils, Mitropoleos, and Tsimiski. Although you won’t find bargains, the cute shopping areas coupled with tons of cafes make it the perfect place to shop, have some coffee, and then keep shopping! For cheaper clothing and more bargains check out Egnatia street. If you’re looking to buy more authentic food, try the Terpsis and Omega delicatessens at the Modiano market. You could even bring back sweets from Salonica, like tsoureki, or sweetened bread for which Thessaloniki is famous.

Thessaloniki Travel Tips

• Thessaloniki has many different consulates throughout the city, so be sure to visit at least one.
• The city is very visitor-friendly, and virtually crime-free!
• Check out the nightlife scene while visiting.