Thessaloniki itinerary: 1 to 4 days
Plans for one to four days in Thessaloniki, day by day: the OTE Tower, the Archaeological Museum, the White Tower, Hagios Demetrios and the Arch of Galerius and Rotunda first, then the Jewish Museum, Hagia Sophia and the Roman Forum, and the Museum of Byzantine Culture, Zeitenlik and the Science Center as you add days. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 3 days
Thessaloniki in 1 day
Day 1
OTE Tower
Telecom tower in the Thessaloniki International Fair grounds with a revolving cafe-restaurant at the top and views over the city and gulf.
Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki
Museum of ancient Macedonia, with gold from royal tombs, the Derveni krater and finds from Roman Thessaloniki.
White Tower of Thessaloniki
Ottoman-era seafront tower, the symbol of the city, with a museum of Thessaloniki's history and a rooftop view.
Hagios Demetrios
Basilica of the city's patron saint, rebuilt after the 1917 fire, with early Byzantine mosaics and a crypt over a Roman bath.
Arch of Galerius and Rotunda
Roman triumphal arch with carved reliefs and the round 4th-century Rotunda nearby, later a church and mosque, with mosaics.
Thessaloniki in 2 days
Day 1
Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki
Museum of the city's Sephardic Jewish community, once a majority of the population, and its loss in the Holocaust.
Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki
Museum of ancient Macedonia, with gold from royal tombs, the Derveni krater and finds from Roman Thessaloniki.
National Theatre of Northern Greece
The State Theatre of Northern Greece's Royal Theatre near the White Tower, staging Greek and international drama.
White Tower of Thessaloniki
Ottoman-era seafront tower, the symbol of the city, with a museum of Thessaloniki's history and a rooftop view.
Day 2
Heptapyrgion
A Byzantine and Ottoman fortress at the top of the upper town, later a prison, with views over Thessaloniki.
Ano Poli (Upper Town)
The old upper town of Thessaloniki, with narrow lanes, Byzantine and Ottoman houses, city walls and views over the bay.
Hagios Demetrios
Basilica of the city's patron saint, rebuilt after the 1917 fire, with early Byzantine mosaics and a crypt over a Roman bath.
Roman Forum
Excavated forum of Roman Thessaloniki with an odeon, colonnades and a small museum below Dikastirion Square.
Church of the Acheiropoietos
A 5th-century Byzantine basilica in the city centre, one of the oldest churches in Thessaloniki, with early mosaics.
Hagia Sophia, Thessaloniki
8th-century domed church, one of the oldest in the city, with a mosaic of the Ascension in the dome.
Arch of Galerius and Rotunda
Roman triumphal arch with carved reliefs and the round 4th-century Rotunda nearby, later a church and mosque, with mosaics.
Tsimiski Street
Main shopping street of central Thessaloniki, running parallel to the seafront with Greek and international stores.
Thessaloniki in 3 days
Day 1
Thessaloniki Concert Hall
Modern concert hall on the seafront in the east of the city, with two halls for music and events.
White Tower of Thessaloniki
Ottoman-era seafront tower, the symbol of the city, with a museum of Thessaloniki's history and a rooftop view.
National Theatre of Northern Greece
The State Theatre of Northern Greece's Royal Theatre near the White Tower, staging Greek and international drama.
Zeitenlik
Allied military cemetery of the First World War Salonika Front, with Serbian, French, British, Italian and Russian graves.
Day 2
OTE Tower
Telecom tower in the Thessaloniki International Fair grounds with a revolving cafe-restaurant at the top and views over the city and gulf.
Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki
Museum of ancient Macedonia, with gold from royal tombs, the Derveni krater and finds from Roman Thessaloniki.
Museum of Byzantine Culture
Award-winning museum of Byzantine art and daily life, with icons, frescoes, mosaics and jewellery.
Day 3
Heptapyrgion
A Byzantine and Ottoman fortress at the top of the upper town, later a prison, with views over Thessaloniki.
Ano Poli (Upper Town)
The old upper town of Thessaloniki, with narrow lanes, Byzantine and Ottoman houses, city walls and views over the bay.
Hagios Demetrios
Basilica of the city's patron saint, rebuilt after the 1917 fire, with early Byzantine mosaics and a crypt over a Roman bath.
Roman Forum
Excavated forum of Roman Thessaloniki with an odeon, colonnades and a small museum below Dikastirion Square.
Church of the Acheiropoietos
A 5th-century Byzantine basilica in the city centre, one of the oldest churches in Thessaloniki, with early mosaics.
Hagia Sophia, Thessaloniki
8th-century domed church, one of the oldest in the city, with a mosaic of the Ascension in the dome.
Arch of Galerius and Rotunda
Roman triumphal arch with carved reliefs and the round 4th-century Rotunda nearby, later a church and mosque, with mosaics.
Tsimiski Street
Main shopping street of central Thessaloniki, running parallel to the seafront with Greek and international stores.
Thessaloniki in 4 days
Day 1
Thessaloniki Concert Hall
Modern concert hall on the seafront in the east of the city, with two halls for music and events.
White Tower of Thessaloniki
Ottoman-era seafront tower, the symbol of the city, with a museum of Thessaloniki's history and a rooftop view.
National Theatre of Northern Greece
The State Theatre of Northern Greece's Royal Theatre near the White Tower, staging Greek and international drama.
Zeitenlik
Allied military cemetery of the First World War Salonika Front, with Serbian, French, British, Italian and Russian graves.
Day 2
OTE Tower
Telecom tower in the Thessaloniki International Fair grounds with a revolving cafe-restaurant at the top and views over the city and gulf.
Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki
Museum of ancient Macedonia, with gold from royal tombs, the Derveni krater and finds from Roman Thessaloniki.
Museum of Byzantine Culture
Award-winning museum of Byzantine art and daily life, with icons, frescoes, mosaics and jewellery.
Day 3
Heptapyrgion
A Byzantine and Ottoman fortress at the top of the upper town, later a prison, with views over Thessaloniki.
Ano Poli (Upper Town)
The old upper town of Thessaloniki, with narrow lanes, Byzantine and Ottoman houses, city walls and views over the bay.
Hagios Demetrios
Basilica of the city's patron saint, rebuilt after the 1917 fire, with early Byzantine mosaics and a crypt over a Roman bath.
Church of the Acheiropoietos
A 5th-century Byzantine basilica in the city centre, one of the oldest churches in Thessaloniki, with early mosaics.
Hagia Sophia, Thessaloniki
8th-century domed church, one of the oldest in the city, with a mosaic of the Ascension in the dome.
Arch of Galerius and Rotunda
Roman triumphal arch with carved reliefs and the round 4th-century Rotunda nearby, later a church and mosque, with mosaics.
Tsimiski Street
Main shopping street of central Thessaloniki, running parallel to the seafront with Greek and international stores.
Day 4
Thessaloniki Science Center and Technology Museum
Science museum NOESIS outside the city at Thermi, with hands-on exhibits, a planetarium and a technology collection.
Roman Forum
Excavated forum of Roman Thessaloniki with an odeon, colonnades and a small museum below Dikastirion Square.
Modiano Market
A covered market built in the 1920s, a lively place for fresh food, local produce and tavernas.
Aristotelous Square
The city's main square, opening onto the seafront, surrounded by arcaded buildings, cafes and the Electra Palace hotel.
Watch: Thessaloniki in 3 days
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Thessaloniki
April to June and September to October are the best months in Thessaloniki, with warm weather for the waterfront and nearby beaches. July and August are hot and humid, and many locals head to Halkidiki. Winter is cool and wetter but lively thanks to the large student population, and the International Film Festival takes place in November.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Thessaloniki on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Thessaloniki on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Thessaloniki on GetYourGuide
- From the airport: a private transfer in Thessaloniki with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Greece from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Thessaloniki with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Thessaloniki
- The Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Byzantine Culture are a short walk apart near the exhibition grounds; plan them together.
- Greek state museums and sites are free on the first Sunday of each month from November to March, and on some national holidays.
- The Thessaloniki Metro opened in late 2024 and runs under the centre to the railway station; buses cover the rest of the city.
- Climb to Ano Poli, the old upper town, for views over the city and the gulf from the Byzantine walls, best near sunset.
- Walk the seafront promenade from the White Tower to the Umbrellas sculpture by George Zongolopoulos in the evening, when locals come out.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Ano Poli (Upper Town): XeresNelro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Arch of Galerius and Rotunda: Adam Carr, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki: Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Aristotelous Square: Philly boy92, Public domain
- Church of the Acheiropoietos: Herbert Frank from Wien (Vienna), AT, CC BY 2.0
- Hagia Sophia, Thessaloniki: Andrew Zorin, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hagios Demetrios: C messier, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Heptapyrgion: No machine-readable author provided. Marsyas assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY 2.5
- Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki: Sam. SALTIEL, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Modiano Market: Gerakishow, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Museum of Byzantine Culture: Prof. Vlasis Vlasidis, CC BY-SA 3.0
- National Theatre of Northern Greece: Mister No, CC BY 3.0
- OTE Tower: Tilemahos Efthimiadis ( [1] ), CC BY-SA 2.0
- Roman Forum: Leandro Neumann Ciuffo from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, CC BY 2.0
- Thessaloniki Concert Hall: Tilemahos Efthimiadis, CC-BY-SA-2.0
- Thessaloniki Science Center and Technology Museum: Buch-t, GFDL
- Tsimiski Street: XeresNelro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- White Tower of Thessaloniki: CeeGee, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Zeitenlik: EntaXoyas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
