Thessaloniki Travel Recommendations
Kalimera!!
While I'm watching "Yabanci Damat (a turkish comedy series about Greek/Turkish relations)," and the temperatures are starting to drop below freezing, I decided to give us some summer air through a Thesseloniki guide. In this article, I'll be discussing a city Turks refer to as "the Izmir of Greece", a city that holds great sentimental value for them.
Thessaloniki's small size makes it an ideal weekend getaway, and there are plenty of transportation options, especially from Istanbul: You can reach Thessaloniki by plane, bus , or car. While the journey can take between 8 and 10 hours by car or bus, it only takes around an hour by plane.
In the following paragraphs, I will talk about my favorite stops in Thessaloniki and activities you can do on a weekend getaway.
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The House Where Atatürk Was Born:
Of course, I can't start this article without mentioning the house where Mustafa Kemal was born, which makes us all feel warm inside when we hear the word Thessaloniki and is probably the main reason why we all go to the city in the first place.
Entering the house is such a feeling... You allow Atatürk to embrace you, traveling back in time, gazing at the same walls and ceiling as he did. There's no entrance fee to the museum as it works as a Turkish consolate at the moment ; you can visit it every day between 10:00 and 17:00.
Cinema Museum:
Cinema museums have a special place in my heart – as a film enthusiast, I always check to see if there is one anywhere I go.
Although the Cinema Museum in Thessaloniki is smaller than other museums I've visited, its ambiance, aesthetics, and the quotations alongside the small newspapers it contains—in short, every detail—will definitely increase your interest as you explore. The regular fee is 2 euros, but if you're a student, you can visit for 1 euro.
White Tower:
The White Tower, a legacy left to Thessaloniki by the Ottoman Empire, has become the symbol of the city.
Once used as a defense against attacks from the sea, it later served as a prison in the 1800s. In 1826, this tower witnessed a horrific massacre at the behest of Murad II and was known for a time as the Bloody Tower. Later, the Greek state decided to cover up this dark past with white paint. Although this paint has faded over time, the White Tower retains its new name.
It is possible to go inside the tower, and it is currently used as a museum, but I am not sure if it is worth the money.
Archaeological Museums of Thessaloniki:
I think you'll agree with me if I say that Greece's essential attraction is its archaeology and ancient civilizations. Given this, it would be strange to think that Thessaloniki doesn't have an archaeological museum. By comparison, while I like the Istanbul Archaeological Museum better, it's a must-see, considering all the progress we've made.
Agia Sofia Church:
This building, inspired not only by its name but also by Istanbul's famous Hagia Sophia in its style, is one of the city's oldest churches and is still in use today. Admission is free.
Ship Bars:
Finally, I'd like to mention the cruise ship bars, which really caught my attention. While not exactly typical of Thessaloniki, sipping a refreshing drink while enjoying the cruise is still a very enjoyable experience.