Holiday lettings & accommodation in Thessaloniki

Deciding where to stay in Thessaloniki should be dependent on what kind of holiday you want to have. If you’d like to be close to the imposing historic architecture, monuments and museums then the historic centre would be the right place for you to stay. That said, public transport will allow you to reach all points of the city with relative ease. The vibrant Ladadika district might just be perfect if you want to be close to the thrilling nightlife that the city is most famous for, as this district contains many of the entertainment venues and tavernas. In the Kapani district, you’ll find the central city market and many shops. The Ano Poli district is located in the north of the city and is one of the few parts that was not engulfed by the great fire of 1917. This historic district features some of the oldest architectural delights in the city, and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There’s so much to do in Thessaloniki, you’ll find yourself spoiled with the options. In the north of the city you’ll find the ancient city walls from the Byzantine era and the 16th century fortified White Tower, which serves as the city’s symbol. The Upper Town features the greatest landscape of traditional old houses and quaint cobbled streets, as well as the the Byzantine citadel, the Heptapyrgion Fort. The Byzantine Churches of Agios Demetrios, Agia Sofia and St. Nicolaos Orfanos are a must-see when visiting the city, as all three are on the list as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Of all of the churches in Thessaloniki, the oldest is the Rotunda. The Rotunda began life as a temple to Zeus and is almost as old as the Pantheon in Rome. Owing to its rich and diverse history, the city also boasts a great many museums and galleries exhibiting works from many different eras.

When it comes to deciding where to wine and dine in a city like Thessaloniki, you’ll find yourself spoiled for choice with many options before you. Regional cuisine in Thessaloniki takes considerable inspiration from Turkish roots, as the city remained under Ottoman rule for one hundred years longer than southern Greece. The resulting Eastern character of the local cuisine is clearly evident in the diverse flavours that are distinctly different from popular cuisine in southern Greece. Thessaloniki is considered by greeks to be a gourmet city with excellent local specialties and mouth-watering fresh dishes available at the ouzo taverns. The region boasts a wide range of restaurants that serve traditional Gyros and Souvlaki - a carnivore’s delight, with pork and chicken. Local sweet dishes include Tsoureki, which is a plaited sweetened bread, and desserts such as Baklava are popular and commonplace. The city is also home to many up-market international restaurants.

Public transport in Thessaloniki is managed by the Thessaloniki Urban Transport Organization (OASTH), which controls the bus networks throughout the city. Buses make up the main mode of public transport within the city, and OASTH operates a fleet of 604 vehicles that serve 75 different routes throughout the Metropolitan Area. Bus tickets can be purchased either from kiosks or on the bus itself, and need to be validated every time you step onto a bus. Most bus services within the city operate from 5am until right after midnight, with some services operating extended timetables until 1am. The line 78N is the airport line and operates 24 hours. A cultural sightseeing line (bus number 50) operates throughout the city and passes all of the major tourist attractions. Bus timetables and route planners can be downloaded via a smartphone app from OASTH, making it easy to plan your journey from A to B.