If you want an amazing holiday – Greece is the word.
Here we reveal the delights of the countrys dynamic second city, Thessaloniki. Its rightly known for its city-within-a-city food market, but theres so much more to experience and explore.
From dreamy beaches to top tavernas and from fascinating museums to brilliant bike tours, Thessaloniki has all the ingredients for a holiday to remember.
Beaches
There are some sand-sational beaches near Thessaloniki.
Just to the south is Peraia beach, which can be reached by bus and, if you want to sustain a nautical theme, by ferry. After you disembark, youll discover a mile-long strip of fine sand and a gently sloping seabed thats shallow for about 150ft, so its great for kids.
Also connected to the city by bus is Agia Triada beach, a bit further south. Its festooned with top tavernas and sun loungers, and boasts enticing crystal-clear water.
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Continue along the coast for a few miles and youll arrive at Epanomi beach, which is long, lovely and laced with some great dining-out options.
The wonders of the White Tower
The citys emblem is the 111ft-high White Tower on the waterfront – an unmissable landmark.
Built in the 15th century, the history of this former Byzantine fortress is fascinating, if gruesome. It was once used as a place of execution for convicts, giving rise to the chilling moniker the Tower of Blood.
In 1883 it became known as the White Tower after a prisoner whitewashed it in exchange for his freedom.
Since 2008 the Tower has housed an intriguing permanent exhibition on Thessaloniki over seven floors, covering its history from the age of its founding in 315BC to the present day.
The balcony at the top affords visitors terrific views of the cityscape.
Bike tours
Pedal power is the perfect way to peruse Thessaloniki – and there are several top tour companies to choose from.
English-speaking guides will take you to the citys most fascinating sights – such as the iconic White Tower, the labyrinthine streets of Ano Poli, the mesmerisingly mosaic-y Church of Agia Sofia, the statue-studded Arch of Galerius and the restaurant-laden Ladadika district. And most of the tour companies cater for little uns, too, with child seats available to hire.
A wheel-y great way to get under the skin of the city in double-quick time.
The famous food market
Mosey on over to the charming glass-roofed Modiano Market for a veritable feast of food stalls and bars.
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Built in 1930 in central Thessaloniki next to Aristotelous Square and named after the architect who designed it – El Modiano – the Market encapsulates the vibrant spirit of the old city.
Inside youll find myriad merchants selling all manner of spices, cheese, fish, meat and vegetables.
The advice? Take your time, soak up the atmosphere of this glorious city-within-a-city and let the exotic scents fill your nostrils.
Magnificent museums
Culture vultures prepare to swoop, because Thessaloniki boasts several excellent museums.
Theres the Archaeological Museum, for instance, which is one of the largest museums in Greece. It contains masterpieces of ancient Greek art dating from prehistoric times to late antiquity. The Derveni Crater, an ornate vase dating to 330-320BC, and The Gold of Macedon exhibition, dedicated tο ancient Macedonian precious metals, are two of the highlights.
The Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki is another must-see.
Its housed in a rare city centre building – the former office of Jewish newspaper LIndependent – one of the few to survive the great fire of 1917 intact.
Jews have had a presence in Thessaloniki for 2,000 years and the museum traces that heritage with a fascinating collection of religious objects, rare books and material salvaged from the citys Jewish cemetery and synagogues that were destroyed by the German WWII occupation.
The Museum of Byzantine Culture, meanwhile, contains a staggering 3,000 Byzantine objects in its 11-room 37,000-square-foot permanent exhibition, from mosaics to tomb paintings.
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Sensational shopping
Thessaloniki city centre is heaven for those with the urge for a credit-card splurge, because its brimming with shops, from designer boutiques to major department stores.
The biggest shopping boulevard is Tsimiski Street, which is great for upscale clothing, electronics and jewellery.
Make a beeline from here to the likes of Mitropoleos Street, for more designer gear and stylish eateries, and Egnatia Street for top sports equipment.
Quality shopping is also ready and waiting in Pavlou Mela Street, Leoforos Nikis Ave, Ermou Street and the pedestrianised Agias Sofias Street.
And there are plenty of cafes to refuel in.
Tasty tavernas
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