Thessaloniki, (520 km. north of Athens) is the second largest city of Greece and the most important center of the area. Built near the sea , it is a modern metropolis bearing the marks of its stormy history and its cosmopolitan character, which give it a special beauty and charm.
Take a tour in the center of Thessaloniki and plan to visit its nearby destinations. Also, while being in Thessaloniki it is worth going up to Halkidiki, the famous sea resort only 30 min distance.
Thessaloniki has been voted “European City of the Future 2014”:
Six journalists, lectors at universities and writers from Spain were invited by Thessaloniki Tourism Organisation and guided to the city’s attraction. With articles full of details for the city, all of them are suggesting Spanish people to travel to Thessaloniki. Among all the European capitals, Thessaloniki is the most attractive destination, due to its museums, ancient monuments, combined with its natural beauty.
A city of diverse beauty and hospitable people. Thessaloniki has always been a crossroad of civilizations, a place where the East and West meets, where great cultures and religions have been mixed. Gastronomy, events, world-class heritage sites, shopping are some of the things that visitors can indulge in.
Not to mention the distinctive student vibe that is an integral part of its charm as the city hosts country’s largest university campus, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
The compact size of the city and the walking distance proximity of the top-attractions make Thessaloniki an ideal city-break destination.
Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, holds an uninterrupted history of 2,300 years. Named after the sister of Alexander the Great, the city was founded as the major port of the Macedonian kingdom. It was the historic meeting point of five different cultures: the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and Jewish, which despite some turbulent encounters merged and flourished peacefully, creating a truly cosmopolitan city in South East Europe, with a population today of more than one million people.
Commercial and Business Centre
The city boasts a busy commercial port, which functions as a gateway to SE Europe for cargo from the Far East. Thessaloniki plays an important role and has a special interest in the Balkan, European and wider international area. The city’s key position is also reinforced by its hosting several international economic and political institutions, such as the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB), the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP), the Office for the Stability Pact for SE Europe, the Institute for Balkan Studies (IMXA), and the Centre of International and European Economic Law (CIEEL).
The city is also home to the Centre for Democracy and Reconciliation in SE Europe (CDRSEE), the European Centre for Information to Enterprises as well as the UNESCO Centre for Women and Peace in the Balkans (UNES Centre). The annual International Fair is a well established highlight of the City’s commercial activities
