Sightseeing in Thessaloniki - what to see. Complete travel guide

This Greek resort is famous not only by its magnificent beaches, but also by rich historical heritage. The history of the city enumerates more than 23 centuries, and every era has added some iconic and remarkable places to the city.

The most popular excursion in Thessaloniki is, without a doubt, a trip to White Tower built in the middle of the 15th century. You should definitely visit the old Acropolis and see the remains of the fortification wall, which was built in the times of Byzantine Empire. Learn about the history of the city and its most significant events in the Archaeological Museum, which offers truly unique exhibits and collections.

In addition to sightseeing, the guests of this city have an opportunity to go to the neighboring towns, where have remained many wonderful historic sites. Here holidaymakers will be able to enjoy the magnificent nature of this place. The city has absolutely no high-rise buildings, so you will enjoy magnificent looks the coast from any street. There are many parks here, where you can relax under the shade of trees, ride a bicycle or try roller skating. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Fans of beach rest will surely enjoy wide selection of entertainments. You can go to the central beach that is the location of numerous entertainment centers and restaurants, or go to one of remote bays, where you can enjoy the silence. Fans of outdoor activities and tourists with children should not forget to visit the new water park. It’s really hard to find such large choice of water slides, waterfalls and rides anywhere else in Greece. In this park tourists will find areas for adults, teenagers and younger children, so your rest here will be not only funny but also comfortable. Thessaloniki always prepares plenty of entertainments and surprises for its guests, and this is why the resort has remained popular for many years.

In 2000, a Military Museum was opened in Thessaloniki. Its collection is quite interesting and includes exhibits from different periods in the history of Greece. Here visitors see artifacts of the time of the Balkan wars and the Greek Revolution. Much of the collection is dedicated to World War II. Ancient documents, maps, and samples of weapons are also found there. A part of the museum's building is occupied by a library.

The Museum of Byzantine Culture will be a wonderful place for family holidays. Despite the fact that it was founded in 1913, the official opening of the museum was held only recently, in 1994. Nowadays, unique antique sculptures, ceramic products, ancient weapons, and ornaments are available to visitors. All of them date back to the reign of the Byzantine Empire. During world wars, the museum collection has already been incredibly large. In order to maintain unique artifacts, they repeatedly transported them to Athens.

The Basilica of St. Demetrios is very symbolic for the city. On the place where currently the church is located, there were Roman baths in the 4th century. The very first church in their place was built in the 7th century. It was destroyed during an earthquake soon afterward. The church had to be literally restored from the ruins. In the 14th century, the temple was converted into a mosque. They began to conduct Christian religious services at the beginning of the 20th century only.

Some of the historical sights in Thessaloniki are of world importance. The Temple of Sacred Sofia is the UNESCO World Heritage site. According to historical data, the first church in its place was built in the 5th century. Three centuries later, it was completely rebuilt and remained unchanged since then. During the Middle Ages, this temple was converted into a mosque. It was returned to the Christian community about a hundred years ago.

A popular sightseeing object is the monastery of Vlatadon. This Orthodox monastery was founded in the 14th century. Now, it is considered an outstanding architectural monument in the Byzantine style. Buildings of various periods are preserved on its territory. The vast adjoining area is beautifully decorated. You can enjoy old trees of bizarre shapes and elements of stone decoration there.