Thessaloniki NorthGreece
5
Day Itinerary •
Greece
Five days in Thessaloniki and North Greece lets you explore the full extraordinary breadth of the most underrated region in the country, from the remarkable Byzantine heritage of Greece's second city to the extraordinary royal tombs of Macedon at Vergina, the magnificent ancient sites of Pella and Dion, the extraordinary Chalkidiki peninsula beaches and the remarkable monasteries of Mount Athos visible from the coast. This route covers the complete North Greece experience. The extraordinary Byzantine churches and museums of Thessaloniki, the royal Macedonian tombs at Vergina, the birthplace of Alexander the Great at Pella, the sanctuary of Zeus at Dion on the slopes of Mount Olympus, the extraordinary beaches of Chalkidiki and a boat trip along the coast of the Holy Mountain.
Best Time To Visit
April to June or September to November
Getting There
Fly into Thessaloniki Airport (SKG)
Getting Around
Walking in the city. Rental car for day trips.
Budget Per Day
Approx 80 to 150 euros per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate, walking and driving
DAY 1
THESSALONIKI WATERFRONT AND BYZANTINE MONUMENTS
MORNING
THE WHITE TOWER AND BYZANTINE CHURCHES
The White Tower is the most extraordinary Ottoman monument in Thessaloniki, its remarkable 15th-century circular tower on the waterfront now housing the finest museum of Byzantine and Ottoman Thessaloniki. The extraordinary Rotunda of Galerius, the finest Roman rotunda in Greece built in 306 AD, and the remarkable Agios Dimitrios, the largest church in Greece, give the finest Byzantine heritage morning in northern Greece. Entry White Tower approx 4 euros. Drive: 15 min walk
MIDDAY
ARISTOTELOUS SQUARE AND THE CENTRAL MARKETS
Aristotelous Square is the most extraordinary neoclassical public space in northern Greece, its remarkable colonnaded buildings framing an extraordinary view down to the Thermaic Gulf. The remarkable Modiano and Kapani covered markets give the finest food market experience in northern Greece, their extraordinary stalls of fresh fish, spices and regional produce giving the most authentic Thessaloniki experience. Free to explore. Drive: 20 min walk
AFTERNOON
THE ARCH OF GALERIUS AND THE LADADIKA DISTRICT
The Arch of Galerius, the Kamara, is the finest Roman triumphal arch in northern Greece, its extraordinary carved reliefs depicting Galerius's victory over the Persians in 297 AD. The remarkable Ladadika neighbourhood, the former Ottoman oil warehouse district, gives the finest bar and restaurant quarter in Thessaloniki. The extraordinary evening waterfront promenade is the finest urban seafront in Greece. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Eptapyrgio Byzantine fortress at the top of Ano Poli is the finest hidden viewpoint in Thessaloniki, its remarkable seven towers giving the most extraordinary panorama over the city and the Thermaic Gulf. Almost no tourists make the walk up. Free entry.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Bougatsa Giannis The most extraordinary bougatsa in Thessaloniki. Finest cheese and custard pastry in Greece. Open from 6am. | Lunch: Modiano Market Outstanding mezedes and grilled seafood in the extraordinary covered market. Local wine and ouzo. | Dinner: Extravaganza, Ladadika The finest modern Greek cuisine in Thessaloniki. Outstanding local ingredients and wine list.
DAY 2
ANO POLI AND THE GREAT MUSEUMS
MORNING
ANO POLI, THE BYZANTINE UPPER TOWN
Ano Poli is the most extraordinary historic neighbourhood in Thessaloniki, the remarkable upper town preserving an extraordinary collection of Ottoman and Byzantine buildings, wooden-balconied mansions and narrow cobbled lanes. The extraordinary Byzantine walls, the Eptapyrgio fortress and the Chain Tower give the finest medieval urban landscape in northern Greece. The views over the lower city and the Thermaic Gulf are extraordinary. Free. Drive: 20 min walk
MIDDAY
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF THESSALONIKI
The Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki is the most extraordinary archaeological museum in northern Greece, its remarkable collection including the extraordinary bronze Derveni crater, the finest ancient bronze vessel in Greece, the remarkable Macedonian gold jewellery and the extraordinary prehistoric and Roman galleries. Entry approx 10 euros. Drive: 10 min walk
AFTERNOON
MUSEUM OF BYZANTINE CULTURE
The Museum of Byzantine Culture is the most extraordinary Byzantine museum outside Athens, its remarkable collection of mosaics, icons and ecclesiastical treasures from 4th to 15th century Byzantium giving the finest overview of Byzantine civilisation in any single institution outside Constantinople. Entry approx 8 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki documents the remarkable history of the Sephardic Jewish community that made up over half the city's population before the Holocaust. The most moving and extraordinary hidden museum in the city. Entry approx 6 euros.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Trigona Panorama The most extraordinary triangular custard pastries in Greece. Worth the short taxi to Panorama suburb. | Lunch: To Makedonomacheion, Ano Poli Outstanding traditional northern Greek cuisine in the extraordinary upper town. | Dinner: Myrsini, Ladadika The finest seafood restaurant in Thessaloniki. Outstanding fresh fish from the northern Aegean.
DAY 3
VERGINA AND THE BIRTHPLACE OF ALEXANDER
MORNING
VERGINA AND THE ROYAL TOMBS OF AIGAI
The Royal Tombs of Aigai at Vergina are the most extraordinary archaeological discovery of the 20th century, the remarkable underground burial complex containing the intact tomb of Philip II of Macedon. The extraordinary gold larnax with Philip's bones, his gold oak wreath and ivory portrait give the finest royal burial experience in the ancient world. Entry approx 12 euros. Drive: 1.5 hr drive to Pella
MIDDAY
PELLA, THE BIRTHPLACE OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT
Pella is the most extraordinary Macedonian ancient city in northern Greece, the remarkable capital of the Macedonian kingdom and birthplace of Alexander the Great in 356 BC. The extraordinary pebble mosaics of the ancient houses, the finest surviving pebble mosaics in the ancient world, and the remarkable Pella Museum give the finest insight into the Macedonian world that conquered Persia. Entry approx 8 euros. Drive: 1.5 hr drive back
AFTERNOON
RETURN TO THESSALONIKI
Return to Thessaloniki with time to revisit favourite neighbourhoods. The extraordinary Bit Bazaar antique market near Aristotelous Square gives the finest antiquarian shopping in northern Greece. The remarkable evening atmosphere of the waterfront, with the extraordinary illuminated White Tower reflected in the Thermaic Gulf, is the finest evening view in Thessaloniki. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Lefkadia painted tombs near Naoussa are the finest hidden Macedonian painted tombs in Greece, their remarkable 4th-century BC frescoes giving the most extraordinary surviving ancient Greek painting outside Athens. Almost entirely unknown. Entry approx 4 euros.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Local cafe before driving Early start for Vergina. Pick up koulouri sesame bread rings from a street vendor. | Lunch: Taverna in Vergina or Pella village Outstanding local northern Greek cuisine near the extraordinary ancient sites. | Dinner: Aristotelous Square restaurant Outstanding final evening. The finest square in northern Greece with local wine and mezedes.
DAY 4
DION AND MOUNT OLYMPUS
MORNING
DION ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK AND SANCTUARY OF ZEUS
Dion is the most extraordinary ancient sanctuary in Macedonia, the remarkable sacred city at the foot of Mount Olympus where the Macedonian kings made sacrifices to Zeus before their campaigns. Alexander the Great sacrificed here before leaving for Persia in 334 BC. The extraordinary floor mosaics, the sanctuary of Isis and the remarkable ancient theatre give the finest archaeological park in northern Greece. The Dion Museum contains the finest Macedonian sculpture collection outside Thessaloniki. Entry approx 8 euros. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
THE LOWER SLOPES OF MOUNT OLYMPUS
The lower slopes of Mount Olympus above Litochoro give the most extraordinary mountain approach in Greece, its remarkable gorge of the Enipeas river and the extraordinary monastery of Agios Dionysios perched on the cliff face giving the finest natural landscape in the entire Olympus region. The walk to the monastery takes 1.5 hours through extraordinary forest. Monastery free. Drive: 1 hr drive to Chalkidiki
AFTERNOON
ARRIVE IN CHALKIDIKI AND FIRST PENINSULA
Chalkidiki is the most extraordinary peninsula coastline in northern Greece, its remarkable three fingers of land extending into the northern Aegean. The first peninsula, Kassandra, gives the finest beach resorts. The extraordinary turquoise waters, the pine forests running to the sea and the remarkable small fishing villages give the finest introduction to Chalkidiki. The beach at Possidi lighthouse is the finest on the first peninsula. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary ancient theatre of Dion is the finest hidden ancient theatre in Macedonia, its remarkable stone seating carved into the hillside giving performances against a backdrop of Mount Olympus that is among the most extraordinary theatrical settings in the ancient world. Entry included in Dion Archaeological Park ticket.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Breakfast before driving south Early start for Dion. The extraordinary drive along the Thermaic Gulf coast to Olympus is an hour. | Lunch: Taverna in Litochoro Outstanding local Greek cuisine in the finest mountain village in Macedonia. | Dinner: Seafood restaurant in Chalkidiki Outstanding fresh fish dinner on arrival at the extraordinary Chalkidiki coast.
DAY 5
MOUNT ATHOS COAST AND CHALKIDIKI
MORNING
MOUNT ATHOS COAST BOAT FROM OURANOUPOLI
The boat cruise along the Mount Athos coast from Ouranoupoli is the most extraordinary maritime experience in northern Greece, its remarkable passage along the Holy Mountain giving extraordinary views of the 20 Orthodox monasteries clinging to the steep wooded cliffs above the Aegean. The extraordinary Great Lavra monastery, founded in 963 AD, and the remarkable Simonopetra monastery on its rock are the finest monastery views in Greece. Women may not land but the views from the boat are extraordinary. Approx 15 euros. Drive: 30 min drive to Sithonia
MIDDAY
SITHONIA PENINSULA AND HIDDEN BEACHES
The Sithonia peninsula is the most extraordinary coastal landscape in Chalkidiki, its remarkable combination of pine forests, deserted coves and extraordinary turquoise waters giving the finest beach scenery in northern Greece. Porto Koufo, the deepest natural harbour in Greece, and the extraordinary Kalogria and Elia beaches give the finest swimming in Chalkidiki. The remarkable Toroni ancient site on the headland is free. Sithonia is almost entirely unknown to foreign visitors. Drive: 1.5 hr drive to Thessaloniki
AFTERNOON
RETURN TO THESSALONIKI FOR DEPARTURE
Return to Thessaloniki along the extraordinary Chalkidiki coast road with time for a final coffee on the waterfront before departing from Thessaloniki Airport. The extraordinary Thessaloniki airport is 15 kilometres from the city centre. The final view of the White Tower from the waterfront before departure is the most extraordinary farewell in northern Greece. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Nea Fokaia tower in Chalkidiki is the finest hidden Byzantine watchtower in northern Greece, its remarkable 15th-century fortification standing alone on the beach of the first Chalkidiki peninsula giving the most extraordinary combination of Byzantine heritage and Aegean beach in the region. Free entry.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Breakfast at Ouranoupoli port Outstanding Greek breakfast at the port before the extraordinary Mount Athos boat cruise. | Lunch: Fish taverna at Porto Koufo Outstanding fresh fish at the deepest natural harbour in Greece. Extraordinary Aegean seafood. | Dinner: Final dinner on the Thessaloniki waterfront Outstanding mezedes and northern Greek wine on the extraordinary Thermaic Gulf waterfront.
Where To Stay
Thessaloniki, Nights 1 to 4 Electra Palace or Makedonia Palace Hotel. Central and walkable. Approx 90 to 250 euros per night. Chalkidiki, Night 5 Porto Carras Grand Resort or Sani Resort. Finest beach hotels in northern Greece. Approx 150 to 400 euros. Budget option Rent Rooms Thessaloniki or local guesthouses in Chalkidiki. Approx 30 to 80 euros per night.
Top Tips
1. Vergina Royal Tombs: book online ahead. The underground museum is extraordinary and gets crowded in summer by 11am.
2. Thessaloniki food: the city's bougatsa, trigona Panoramatos, grilled corn and seafood mezedes are the finest in Greece.
3. Mount Athos coast boat from Ouranoupoli: the finest view of the Holy Mountain. No permits needed for the boat cruise.
4. Dion Archaeological Park combines the finest ancient sanctuary landscape in Macedonia with extraordinary mountain scenery.
5. Chalkidiki Sithonia peninsula: the finest beaches in northern Greece and almost entirely unknown to foreign visitors.
6. Pella Archaeological Site is free and the finest hidden ancient city in Macedonia. The pebble mosaics are extraordinary.
Total Budget
80 to 150 euros/day