A day in Thessaloniki, Greece
Thessaloniki is in the north of mainland Greece. It’s placed in the middle of the Balkans and is accessible by bus from many of the other Balkan cities. I visited at the end of March (in the off season). It was already sunny and busy.
It’s the second biggest city in Greece and it was formed 300 years after Athens. Because of this it has a strong Roman presence. 10% of the population are students, giving the city has a young vibe.
I arrived here on the 6am bus from Skopje, which took 5.5 hours and cost 1,280 Macedonian denar (approximately €20). There were only 5 other people on the coach and I bought my ticket at the bus station just before it left.
Alternatively you can fly into Thessaloniki airport.
9 am : Frappé coffee
Start the morning with a Frappé coffee. This foam covered iced coffee drink is hugely popular in Thessaloniki and you’ll see everyone drinking it. You can have it with or without sugar (I personally like it really sweet).
10 am : Grab a pastry on the go
The Greek breakfast pastry is called bougatsa. Every street has a different pastry shop with a wide selection. It’s not healthy but they taste great.
One of the key things you’ll notice in Thessaloniki is the huge amount of graffiti. It’s everywhere! Among the kids here “tagging” is a thing – to claim their territory. Hidden within the graffiti is some good street art, but the large majority isn’t.
11 am : Visit the churches
You can either go on a self guided tour or a free walking tour with Giorgos Semkos, which starts daily at 11am from Agia Sofia Square.
Something I found common in the Balkans is opening times for buildings and monuments aren’t always correct. Sometimes the person with the key might not be there or has gone home. But luckily the churches were open during the morning and all free to get into.
1) Church of Panagia Chalkeon
This is also called the red church or Virgin Mary of Copper Works. It’s a short walk from Aristotelous Square (the largest square in the Balkans) on the way to the Greek Agora Roman remains. It was build in the 11th century. This is a beautiful church from the outside, surrounded by greenery and is surprisingly small inside.
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