Thessaloniki: Museums, City History and Ano Poli

The city combines collections spanning several eras with specific places for a stroll and an evening in the center.

Museums offering different approaches to history

In the courtyard of the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, the open-air exhibition “Field - House - Garden - Grave” displays antiquities from Thessaloniki’s heyday in the 2nd to 4th centuries AD. The same museum displays the Derveni Papyrus, considered the oldest surviving book in Europe.

The Museum of Byzantine Culture offers a broad thematic scope: its permanent exhibition comprises eleven galleries covering daily life, worship, burial customs, architecture, art, and trade and business. The authentic exhibits come mainly from Thessaloniki, as well as from Macedonia. Those interested in everyday and economic life as well as antiquities will find here a different approach to history than in the archaeological museum’s open-air exhibition.

City history in the open air

The White Tower reveals another historical layer: its present form was built in the 15th century as part of the modernization of Thessaloniki’s fortifications, replacing an older Byzantine tower. Thessaloniki’s historic center reflects more than 2,000 years as a crossroads of different cultures and has numerous cultural attractions.

A walk through Ano Poli passes houses and villas in the Macedonian architectural style, cobbled lanes, traditional cafés and tavernas. It ends at a high vantage point overlooking the sunset. The walk also passes the Vlatadon Monastery, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The route thus combines architectural impressions with a viewpoint at its end.

Arcades and nightlife at the Bit Bazaar

The Bit Bazaar is a central square in Thessaloniki with seven arcades and antique dealers. In the evening, it is home to tavernas, mezedopoleia and bars. The culinary flavors of Thessaloniki’s historic center are shaped by influences from the East, France and the Balkans. Alongside its architectural character, the square therefore offers its own evening scene.

Central Macedonia as a wider setting

In the wider destination of Central Macedonia, Aigai was the royal metropolis of the Macedonians and the center of their ancient kingdom. The Polycentric Museum of Aigai connects the central museum building with the wider archaeological site: it includes the palace, the ancient theater, the Aigai cemetery with the royal burial precinct of the Temenids, the royal tombs with their treasure display, and the post-Byzantine Church of Saint Demetrios in Palatitsia. The archaeological park of the Aigai necropolis and the royal burial precinct of the tumulus tombs covers 540 acres and includes 530 visible burial mounds. This makes it possible to distinguish between two different historical highlights: Aigai as the royal metropolis of the ancient kingdom, and the antiquities from the 2nd to 4th centuries AD in the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki.

For travel to the wider destination of Central Macedonia, Thessaloniki-Macedonia International Airport connects the region with numerous countries and several domestic destinations. Thessaloniki New Railway Station connects Central Macedonia with Greek cities, international destinations, and the regional units of Kilkis, Serres, Pieria, Imathia and Pella. As transport connections can change, check current routes before traveling.

Discover more destinations: Thermi, Stavros, Peraia, Panorama, Asprovalta, Analipsi, Epanomi, Vrasna, Peristerona, Apollonia, Vasilika, Sindos, Agios Athanasios, Thessaloniki, Neapoli, Kalamaria, Pentalofos, Polichni, Chalkidona, Ano Stavros, Stavroupoli, Agios Pavlos, Oreokastro, Tagarades, Nea Michaniona, Rentina, Ambelokipi, Trilofos, Diavata, Chrysavgi, Loutra Volvis, Nea Kerasia, Thermaikos, Agia Triada, Lagyna, Perivolaki, Angelochori, Agios Antonios.

View the wider travel overview: Central Macedonia.