). It is considered the northern capital. Located in the north of the country, in Central Macedonia, on the coast of the Aegean Sea. First mentioned in the IV century BC. Total area - 112 sq. km. The local population is 400 thousand people.
Thessaloniki was awarded the status of European Capital of Culture in 1997. It seems that time has stood still here - the architecture has not undergone any major changes over the past 50 years. There are no high-rise modern buildings in the city, all buildings are no more than 3 floors. Thessaloniki has long been the center of Christianity, so a lot of monasteries and churches have been preserved.
The city is also famous for its cultural program - various festivals, theatrical performances, and concerts often take place here. Those looking for nightlife will find clubs, discos and bars. Numerous restaurants are open for gourmets.
Short story
The city was founded by the Macedonian king Cassander in 315 BC. and named after his wife Thessalonica. In a slightly modified form, the name has survived to this day.
In 146 BC. captured by the Romans. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the city became the second largest and most important in Byzantium.
In 904, Thessaloniki was captured by the Saracens, and in 1185 they were besieged by the Sicilian Normans.
Since 1206 - the capital of the Kingdom of Thessaloniki.
In 1387-1402 the Turks dominated here. In 1423, power was transferred to the Venetians, and after 7 years it became part of the Ottoman Empire.
The city was recaptured by the Greeks only during the Balkan wars of 1912-1913.
Thessaloniki city on the map of Greece
How to get there
1. Airplane.
Thessaloniki has an international one that accepts regular and charter flights from Russia, Ukraine, the CIS countries and Europe. Direct flights from Moscow are operated by Aegean Airlines, Ellinair, Aeroflot, S7. Travel time from Moscow is 3.5 hours. It is quite realistic to fly for $ 100 one way, if. You can also get to Thessaloniki with connecting flights, for example, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul.
The city is connected by direct flights with Crete, Corfu, Rhodes, Santorini, Kos, Mykonos. True, flights are not always available in the low season.
2. Ferry.
There is a ferry service to Athens, Crete, Corfu, Santorini, Kos, Lesvos. You can get there faster by speedboats.
3. Train.
Thessaloniki is the country's largest railway junction. Trains connect it with Athens, Belgrade, Constantinople, Bucharest, Sofia and Skopje.
4. Bus.
You can also get here by bus from most cities in Northern and Central Greece.
To the hotel
You can get from the airport to the city by bus number 78, which runs every 45 minutes. The fare is 0.6 euros, the travel time is also 45 minutes.
If you need to get to a certain place, for example, a hotel, then it is better in advance.
Cheap flights to Thessaloniki
You can buy air tickets as profitably as possible with the help of special search engines that collect data from all airlines.
Transport
1. Buses.
The average fare is 1 euro. You can buy tickets at special BUS TICKETS ticket offices and in the stalls of the city. If you pay on the bus itself, it will be 10 cents more expensive.
There are also tickets for the whole day, or rather for 4 hours. If you plan to travel on several buses per day, then be sure to buy just one.
Many stops have an electronic scoreboard that displays bus numbers and the waiting time for each of them.
2. Car rental.
3. Taxi.
If you do not plan to actively move around, then instead of renting a car it will be more profitable.
sights
Excursions in Thessaloniki are organized to all important sights, and this
- Basilica of Saint Demetrius,
- Triumphal Arch of Emperor Galerius,
- basilica Achiropyitos,
- Church of the Holy Apostles,
- Latomu Monastery,
- Church of Panagia Chalkeon.
