Is Thessaloniki Worth Visiting? 17 Pros and Cons (From a Local!)
Thessaloniki is located in northern Greece, specifically in the region of Central Macedonia. It’s the second largest city in Greece (after Athens!) with more than 1 million inhabitants. Greeks call Thessaloniki the most beautiful city in Greece. More beautiful than Athens!
The famous White Tower is the main symbol of Thessaloniki and it’s worth it to visit Thessaloniki even for just that. But, lets break down the pros and cons of this city and answer the real question… “Is Thessaloniki worth visiting?”
I personally think so, but I want you to make that decision for yourself (after all, Greece has soooo many amazing places to visit!)
But, if you’re looking for a city rich in natural beauty, archaeological importance, and delicious Greek food, Thessaloniki should be your next destination.
So, without further ado, let’s get started with the top reasons to visit this city to answer if Thessaloniki is worth visiting!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link, we may earn a small commission if you purchase through these links at no additional cost to you.
Top Reasons to Visit Thessaloniki
1. Many historic sites
Thessaloniki has many major archaeological sites all over the city center. The list starts with the famous White Tower and it continues with Rotonda, the Roman market, the Arch of Galerius, and lots of Byzantine churches. Whether you’re a fan of history or not, you’ll definitely enjoy these attractions while taking a walk in beautiful Thessaloniki.
It won’t be hard to find any of the above as they’re all in the city center and are within walking distance from each other. I suggest you start with the White Tower and then move on to the Arch of Galerius and Rotonda.
📍Recommended Tour: Thessaloniki Private Historic Walking Tour
2. Relaxed people
Even though Greece has been voted as the most stressed country in Europe, the people of Thessaloniki tend to have a more relaxed attitude about things and if you visit for long enough, you might get that attitude as well.
It’s pretty common for people to come down to the seafront, take walks, drink coffee, relax under the White Tower, and enjoy the benefits of Thessaloniki. That’s how they keep their reputation of “the most chill Greeks”!
That said, you’ll have to spend some time in Thessaloniki in order to understand how relaxed people really are and how they operate in their everyday lives.
3. Fun nightlife for all ages
Nightlife in Thessaloniki is really accessible and a great form of entertainment for all ages. Let’s start with the fact that Thessaloniki is full of students from all over the world because of Aristotle University. This means that, at night, clubs, taverns, bars, and restaurants are full of young people trying to have fun.
But, Thessaloniki is not only for young people! Older visitors can choose any form of entertainment they want and it’s almost guaranteed that they’ll have a lot of fun.
Ladadika is the most famous place for nightlife in Thessaloniki with lots of clubs, bars, and restaurants (with live music). If you want to experience Thessaloniki’s vibrant nightlife, you need to go to Ladadika.
4. Incredible weather
As in most of Greece, Thessaloniki tends to have really nice weather most times of the year. Most days in Thessaloniki are sunny and you’ll really enjoy walking outside and exploring the city. Rainy and cloudy days are less common but will still appear from time to time.
Even though it’s sunny, Thessaloniki is cold compared to other major cities of Greece like Athens. Especially in winter, the weather could give you a hard time if you want to go out for a walk or to have fun.
5. Perfect for traveling on a budget
A lot of travelers choose Thessaloniki because of its affordable lifestyle. You can visit Thessaloniki and not spend as much as you would in other countries.
Food is really cheap whether you buy fast food or food from local restaurants. Hotels and Airbnb apartments are also very affordable in most cases.
Last but not least, shopping is also cheap, especially if you choose local shops and not large businesses.
Tip from a local! If you are traveling on a budget, I suggest that you stay away from the hotels located near Aristotelous Square. It’s the main square of the city and hotels are really overpriced there.
6. Lots of shopping
Thessaloniki has some of the best shopping in Greece. There are two shopping malls of Thessaloniki, Cosmos and One Salonica. One Salonica is located in the Western part of the city around 3 kilometers away from the city center. It’s an outlet mall with brands like Polo, Ralph Lauren, Nike, Adidas, Diesel and more. There you’ll find many shops for clothes, shoes, and accessories as well as a big cinema named Cineplex.
Cosmos on the other hand is located in the Eastern part of the city, near Thessaloniki’s airport. It’s bigger than One Salonica with many more things to do.
Locals choose Cosmos over One Salonica most of the time. Cosmos is quite far from the city center but buses are going there many times within the day.
7. Family-friendly destination
Thessaloniki is ideal for families in all aspects. Whether you want to educate your children on something or you just want to go out and have fun, you’ll find what you’re looking for. With so many museums, your children can learn a lot about the ancient Greek civilization as well as the Byzantine Empire.
Moreover, you can do all kinds of fun activities like visiting an escape room or playing football. Thessaloniki has the right facilities for these and even more. Restaurants are also suitable for kids, with affordable prices and appropriate environments.
8. Beautiful views of sea
As with many destinations in Greece, the stunning views are unparalleled to anywhere else in the world! The Thessaloniki gulf is a beautiful place to go for a walk, especially around sunset. There’s also a wooden ship that takes people on a trip to Thessaloniki’s bay named “Thermaikos Kolpos”.
Tip from a local! Even though it’s really beautiful to watch Thessaloniki’s Bay, you shouldn’t try to swim there as it’s not very clean. Enjoy the sea from a distance!
9. Welcoming atmosphere
People in Greece are very hospitable to visitors and that’s also the case in Thessaloniki. Don’t hesitate to ask for instructions or help, most people in Thessaloniki will always be open to help you.
It’s not just the people working in restaurants and cafes who are polite and hospitable. If you ever visit Thessaloniki, you’ll instantly understand what I’m talking about!
10. Stunning natural beauty
Even apart from the beautiful sea, Thessaloniki is surrounded by mountains (Seih Sou and Mount Chortiatis) that add to the natural beauty of the land. These mountains give you the ability to go for a hike, explore the natural beauty of Thessaloniki, and reset.
Around these mountains, you’ll also find taverns with local food! Some of the best restaurants in Thessaloniki are located in these mountains are are absolutely worth visiting. My favorite restaurant is Kinigos restaurant on Mount Chortiatis that I highly recommend you checking out!
11. Events all year round
No matter what time of the year you decide to visit Thessaloniki, there’s always an event waiting for you. Whether that’s watching a famous Greek singer, a national parade, or a Christian celebration, you will love it.
There are events for all tastes and with a simple Google search, you can find everything about them. In my opinion, if you want to live the Thessaloniki experience to the fullest, you have to visit at least one event while visiting!
12. Fun sports teams
The people of Thessaloniki love sports, especially soccer. That’s probably because 2 of the biggest teams in Greece have stadiums in Thessaloniki. These 2 teams are “Paok” and “Aris”.
Therefore, if you’re a sports fan, you should make some arrangements and watch a soccer or basketball match in the stadium! One stadium, the stadium of Paok, is located in an area called “Touba” and the other one is located in an area called “Charilaou”.
Cons to visiting Thessaloniki
13. Some unsafe areas
The center of Thessaloniki is really safe and you shouldn’t be worried about anything happening to you while you’re there. That said, there are some areas in Thessaloniki, Western Thessaloniki more specifically, that you should definitely avoid.
The areas of Menemeni, Dendropotamos, Evosmos, and Ampelokipoi are places with high criminal scores, and even locals tend to avoid them!
14. Traffic and parking issues
Thessaloniki has a lot of traffic, especially around noon on weekdays. This creates traffic jams in the main streets, Egnatia, Tsimiski, and Leoforo Nikis. There’s nothing you can do about it other than avoiding the city center at noon if you are driving.
In addition, parking can be hard to find in a city like Thessaloniki. That’s why I definitely suggest you find a hotel with parking space. And you won’t have to worry about finding somewhere to park your car!
15. Language barrier (sometimes)
Even though Thessaloniki is a large tourist destination, locals may find it difficult to communicate with you in English. The language barrier is more common with locals of older ages since the majority of young people know English exceptionally well.
Travel tip! If you find yourself in a situation where you need a local’s help but can’t communicate with them, try a translator on your phone and the situation will get much easier!
16. Limited public transport
The means of public transport in Thessaloniki are very limited. Actually, the only way is by taking the bus. Sure, there are tons of buses, but they are often overcrowded.
There are no trams and the subway is currently under construction. But, in a few years from now, you’ll have the ability to take the subway and get to your destination very quickly and hassle-free!
17. Pickpocketing and theft
As with many touristy destinations in Europe, pickpocketing and theft is unfortunately common. One of the major places you should be careful of pickpocketing is the bus. Sometimes, it can get so crowded hat thieves can steal things from you and you won’t even notice. Always be careful and hold your stuff while on the bus.
Pickpocketing and theft are not very common around the tourist attractions, though, but it would still be wise to use common sense and guard your belongings.
So, Is Thessaloniki Worth Visiting?
Is Thessaloniki worth the visit after all? In my opinion, it definitely is! Thessaloniki is one of the most beautiful cities in Greece and travelers almost never regret visiting.
With stunning attractions, delicious food, and natural beauty, Thessaloniki will make you fall in love with it. All big cities have dangers but if you’re careful and informed enough, everything should be just fine!
Another incredible region of Greece that is worth visiting is Corfu! With some of the most beautiful coves in all of Greece, a local-led wine scene, and a charming main town, Corfu will leave you speechless.
