Weekend in Thessaloniki

Are you in need of a quick weekend vacation? How about visiting Thessaloniki in Greece?!

Thessaloniki is a city full of life 24/7 and it doesn't matter if you are a morning person or a night owl, Thessaloniki has the answer for you. Prepare yourself for incredible sights, great food and partying all night long!

Start your day with some tasty 'mpougatsa',paper-thin sheets of unleavened flour dough separated by a thin film of butter and filled all together with feta cheese or patisserie cream.
Now that you probably ate too much (believe me) you'll need something to help you digest, a walk at 'Paraliaki Street' or 'Nikis Boulevard' is what you should do. Starting from the 'old port' to the famous 'Aristotelous Square' (an architectonic marvel), and continue all the way to the 'White Tower', a beautiful monument constructed by the Ottomans sometime after the army of Sultan Murad II captured Thessaloniki in 1430, have your coffee there 'on the go' or go back and enjoy it at one of the many coffee shops 'Paraliaki Street' offers. Cafe-bar 'Saxophono' would be a wise choice there.

How about lunch then? The region of 'ladadika' has the best food in town, it doesn't matter if you are a fan of meat or fish, you'll find what you are looking for there. The tavern '1901' is my favorite, famous for its tasty Greek-Turkish appetizers and Ouzo (Greek alcoholic drink).

After that maybe time for some shopping, walk up and down Egnatia and Tsimiski streets and buy yourself into oblivion, from clothes to souvenirs, those two streets got it all and when that's over time for another coffee. Visit the 'Tower of OTE',a 76-metre-tall tower located in the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Center. It's an expensive choice but totally worth it. It offers panoramic view of Thessaloniki that you'll be dreaming about for a long long time.
Then a good dinner option would be at one of the taverns of 'Athonos Street' where you can enjoy live Greek music and traditional Greek dishes. The tavern 'To Dixti' is my personal choice there, trying out the 'Mouzaka' (Layers of baked potatoes, eggplant, minced meat and béchamel cream with a variety of herbs and spices) is a must.
Not tired yet huh? Finish your day off at one of the many great night clubs in 'Salonica'. The '8ball' night club if you like disco music, 'Markiz' or 'Vogue' if you like Greek music (they stay open till early in the morning).
If you are not a fun of loud music then try a beer bar like 'Bolivar', a great and rich variety of beers accompanied by rock music.

It's not the brightest city in Europe, it doesn't have neon lights or larger than life skyscrapers but what it does have is the feeling of hospitality, a time capsule in history of the old days and a smell of freedom like no other... And remember... Travelling is the only thing you buy that makes you rich...

Mary Kali

Tags: Weekend in Greece