We made it back to Thessaloniki! This place will always be special to me because it was our first international trip together and definitely ignited our passion for international travel. I was excited to explore this city again and to see what has changed and what is the same. This was also the first time we have revisited an international city, so I was curious to see what I would think of everything this time as a more experienced traveler.

By the end of our quick stay I fell in love with the city and the people all over again. Having more travel experience definitely made this city less intimidating and easier to navigate. Thessaloniki still remains one of my favorite cities in Europe.

Helpful tips, links, timeless markets and delicious restaurants & cafes in Thessaloniki, Greece

Timeless Markets in Thessaloniki, Greece

Kapani Market Αγορά Καπάνι: This is a large market that is open Monday through Saturday from 8am, though closing time varies depending on the stall and day of the week. The market says it is open 8am-4pm Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday, and 8am-9pm Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. However we noticed some vendors closing or closed around 2pm on a Saturday. There are many vendors, so you are sure to find what you are looking for even if a few have already closed. Walking past all the fish vendors made me sad we had only one day in town and no opportunity to cook. The variety and freshness of the seafood is one of my favorite things about the Mediterranean. There were also numerous vendors selling fresh herbs and teas. If you've never had Greek oregano do yourself a favor and pick some up, it is the most flavorful I've tasted!

Λαϊκή Αγορά Ξηροκρήνης σαββατο: When we arrived our host let us know there was a market right down the street that was only there once a week on Saturdays. In the morning we decided to check it out. There were so many vendors with different produce, olives, meat, and cheese. We like to do a walk through first to see what everyone has to offer while keeping mental notes of our favorites, then on our second pass we make our purchases. Everyone was so friendly and happy to help us even if we didn't speak the same language. The prices were great, with most things only being a few Euros a kilogram. We bought grapes, salad greens, tomatoes, feta cheese, peppers, cucumbers and chicken for dinner. We spent about €8.00 EUR ($9.40 USD)

Delicious Restaurants & Cafes in Thessaloniki, Greece

Mpakal Μπακάλ: The restaurant was in a cute alley with plenty of outdoor seating as well as seating indoors. The food was delicious, the atmosphere cozy, and the service was great. I had the giaurtlou which is a minced meat finger (elongated meatball) topped with spiced tomato sauce and Greek yogurt. I've had this dish a few times and this was definitely one of the best! Don had the veal liver, one of his favorite dishes in Greece and this one did not disappoint. Here an appetizer and water were brought out without asking but you have to pay for them €2.60 EUR for the appetizer €1.70 EUR water. I'm sure you could say no, but it looked good so we kept it. It was two types of bread with a delicious tomato sauce, similar to what was on my meatballs. The meals total came to €26.10EUR ($30.09 USD)

giaurtlou

veal liver

Melie: A delicious pastry shop we stumbled across while wandering around. They have a large variety of both savory and sweet treats, as well as sandwiches and salads. We started off with a peinirli, an elongated open pie with cheese and other savory toppings. For our second go around we got loukoumades (donuts soaked in honey) and bougatsa ( a creamy custard wrapped in phyllo) . Everything was delicious and fresh and my only regret was that I couldn't try everything. There is seating outside and upstairs and they also have a bathroom.

Fregio Λ. Νίκης: We had the junior size gelato here which came to €2.50EUR (2.88USD) it was a delicious treat to enjoy right on the water and a great size. I had the vanilla and Don had the mastic, which has a pine flavor and is his favorite. Both were creamy and flavorful!

Ο Γύρος της Αριστοτέλους Aristotle's Tour: We stopped here for an early quick dinner before we headed to our ferry. I had the chicken gyro and Don had the pork belly. We both swapped out the ketchup and mustard for tzatziki. They also come with french fry's inside, I like to take them out and eat them separately. Both gyros were delicious, the pita was perfect and the meat was moist! The total came to €10.40EUR ($12.09USD)

Must see sights in Thessaloniki, Greece

Hagia Sophia Cathedral Ιερός Καθεδρικός Ναός Αγίας Σοφίας: This beautiful Byzantine Cathedral that was built in the 7th century and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. Don't be fooled by the unassuming exterior, the inside is full of beautiful ancient mosaics and unique architecture. Located in the center of the city, this should definitely be on your list of places to visit, though not to be confused with the more famous Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey.

Holy Church of Saint Nicholas Orphanos-Ιερός Ναός Αγίου Νικολάου των Ορφανών: This early 14th century Byzantine Church has some of the most amazing and intact frescoes in Thessaloniki. This was one of my favorite churches in this city. I was amazed at how well preserved the frescoes were and I was shocked that we had this amazing site all to ourselves. Though I imagine it was a fluke as I can't see why anyone would want to miss this! As you wander the church's grounds keep an eye out for some of the resident tortoises. The church is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is free to enter.

Arch of Galerius: A 3rd century structure built to honor the Roman Emperor Galerius is one of Thessaloniki's most popular destinations. The parts that are still intact are in surprisingly good condition and I'm still in awe of the craftsmanship of the masons from over 1,800 years ago. The level of detail that is still preserved is amazing and definitely worth a look. After that, head to the Rotunda to enjoy some of the early Byzantine architecture and one of Thessaloniki's oldest buildings. Built in 306CE, it was originally a pagan temple and was later converted into a Christian Church. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

White tower: Situated right on the waterfront, this monument and museum is a must stop. Constructed in the 15th century it was a notorious Ottoman prison. The tower got its name when a prisoner whitewashed it in exchange for his freedom. You can enjoy climbing the six floors of the tower and learning about the history of Thessaloniki as each floor has a different museum. At the top you will be rewarded with a panoramic view of Thessaloniki and the Mediterranean.

Alexander the Great Statue-Άγαλμα Μεγάλου Αλεξάνδρου: A bronze statue of Alexander the Great riding his noble steed of 20 years, Bucephalus. The statue was built in 1974 and is over 6 meters high (19.7 feet). It's located on the waterfront close to the White Tower making it an easy site to add to your list.

Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki-Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Θεσσαλονίκης: If you are into history as Don and I are, this museum is a must. I could have spent all day enjoying its extensive collections. I recommend stopping here first so you can better understand the history of Thessaloniki and northern Greece. They have amazing collections from the Neolithic period (always my favorite) to the late antiquity period. The marble statues are breathtaking up close and it's hard to imagine how anyone could create something so beautiful and lifelike out of stone. Tickets are €8 EUR per person but I read they will increase to €10 EUR in 2026.

Image credit

CeeGee, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Where we stayed in Thessaloniki, Greece

Kostas Apartment 1: This apartment was perfect for our short stay, but would also be great for longer ones, though there is no washing machine. It's located right outside of downtown making the price more responsible. Though I think if you book further in advance then us, you can find even better deals. It was still within walking distance from downtown for us, but you can catch an easy bus right at the corner as well. The kitchen had everything we needed to make a delicious dinner and breakfast and the balcony was really nice for coffee and tea! The water was safe to drink in this apartment but do not flush your toilet paper! The owner was super friendly and offered some great advice for places to go. I would definitely stay here again. Two night cost us €88EUR ($103USD)

Blue Bottle Bouquet Hotel: We stayed here back in 2021, this was our first hotel on our first international trip. It was an amazing experience and we would have stayed here again but it was booked. The staff was so welcoming and offered great recommendations. They had a delicious breakfast in their cafe that offered a large variety of pastries, both savory and sweet, yogurt with honey, fresh juice and any coffee you like. It was an amazing start to the day. It's also located within walking distance of the waterfront and many attractions.

Affordable luggage storage in Thessaloniki, Greece

City Locker's: Great storage unit in the heart of downtown. This is the only unit I could find that was priced by locker, not per bag. The small locker is €4.00EUR and can fit 1 small backpack, the medium locker is €7.00EUR and can fit up to 3 cabin bags or 1 large suitcase and the largest locker costs €12.00. We rented the largest locker and had more than enough room for our two large backpacks and one small, we could have easily fit in the medium. There are instructions next to the door on how to download the app (they even provide Wi-Fi) and use the facility, as this is unstaffed. Everything was very secure and safe and I would use them again!

Helpful phrases in Greek

Hello: Γεια σας (Yassas)

Good Morning: Καλημέρα (kah-lee-mehr-rah)

Thank you: Ευχαριστώ” (ef-ha-ree-STO)

Good Evening: Καλησπέρα (kah-lees-peh-rah)

Yes: Ναί (Naí)

No: Όχι (OH-hee)

How to say one through ten in Greek

One: ένα (éna)

Two: δύο (dýo)

Three: τρία (tría)

Four: τέσσερα (téssera)

Five: πέντε (pénte)

Six: έξι (éxi)

Seven: επτά (eptá)

Eight: οκτώ (októ)

Nine: εννέα (ennéa)

Ten: δέκα (déka)

Helpful tips when travling to Thessaloniki, Greece

Sim card: We purched a sim card from Cosmote which included unlimited data for 30 day and cost $17.63 USD

ATM: We used a Eurobank ATM located HERE. It only charged €1.80 EUR fee, but remember never to select currency conversion! After you select local currency it will ask you again if you want to convert, HIT NO! This is very important, if you opt to have the money converted you will likely pay a 20% fee for the withdrawal.

Is Thessaloniki pedestrian friendly? Yes! There are plenty of sidewalks and crosswalks to get you where you need to go as well as some streets that are pedestrian only.

Is the tap water safe to drink? Some places. In our rental the water was safe, but it's always best to check first as there are a lot of places in Greece where it is not safe.

Language: The official language is Greek, though English is widely spoken in the tourist areas. But if you are like us and like to venture out of the tourist areas, Google Translate works well and the Greek people are more than happy to work with you. The written language uses the Greek alphabet that was formalized in the year 403BCE, almost 2500 years ago!

Maps: We used Google Maps for walking and bus directions and it worked really well. Though don't be surprised if the bus is running a few minutes behind.

Buses: There are plenty of buses to get you where you need to go. Google will tell you that all buses take credit/debt cards, but this is not true. They are in the process of adding the machines, but as of 2025 not all routes have them. Your best bet is to head to their website and find the closest vendor for a bus pass or download the app. Both can be done HERE.

Plug type: Greece uses two plug types, Type C (two round pins) and type F (two round pins with two grounding clips. the voltage is 240V so your 110-120V hairdryer from the U.S. will not work there.

Visa: Greece is part of the Schengen Area, so as of 2025 U.S citizens do not need a visa for stays under 90 days. Starting in late 2026 US citizens will need to apply for an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System)

Public restrooms: Most cafes and restaurants have toilets you can use as a customer. There are some paid public toilets that cost about 1 EURO though they are not abundant and some are in a state of disrepair.

Pulbic trash cans: There are many public trash cans around, especially in tourist areas

How we got to Thessaloniki, Greece from Skopje, North Macedonia

Bus from Skopje to Thessaloniki: We booked our tickets a few months in advance through Flixbus, which I would recommend because these buses fill up fast during peak season. When you arrive at the Skopje bus station head to the counter to have your ticket validated, they will check your passport and visa (if you need one) and print you a bus ticket. While you are there you will also need to purchase a platform ticket (not included in bus ticket) for 50 DEN ($1.00 USD) If you didn't pay for a seat your seat number is printed on your ticket. We did not pay extra to choose our seat, but we still got to sit together, though I'm sure that is not always the case. While boarding the bus the driver checks your ticket and takes your passport. They will hold on to it until you cross into Greece. The driver takes the box of passports to border control when you exist North Macedonia and you stay on the bus. At entry customs into Greece the driver again takes the box of passports but this time you can get off the bus for a 15 minute break. There are no stores here, only bathrooms, and they are free. After everyone is back on the bus, the box of passports is passed around starting from the back. This seemed a little strange to me, but everyone got their correct passport back so all is well. The seats on the bus are comfortable, though there is no fold down tray. There also is no Wi-Fi, but there is a toilet. Bring your own toilet paper!

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog, your continued support means the world to us! If you haven't already, please sign up for emails so you can stay up to date. And remember, step out of your comfort zone when you travel; try new foods, stay in traditional accommodations, try and speak the native language, even a few phrases is appreciated, talk with strangers, accept invites into their homes, and leave the tourist districts whenever possible. If you're not embracing their culture and their way of life you're missing the most rewarding experiences traveling has to offer!

Thanks to All our Supporters!

• Brandon (Exxon)

• Ann M.

• Jennifer McDonald

• Jonel Wachtman

• Robin Tice

• Gail McCarty

• Erin Bergen

• Clair Blume

• Andrew Knox

• Justine Knox

• Seth Yoder

• Cheryl Reeves

• Janet McCarty

• Diane Richardson

• Ann Slagle

• Stephanie Bender

Enjoy our content?

Show your support and donate here. Unfortunately life isn't free, content creation takes time, and we need to be fed frequently.

Thanks! Moose and Bugs