Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece with a population of about 1,000,000 inhabitants, is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It was founded in 315 B.C., and it stretches over twelve kilometers in a bowl formed by low hills facing a bay that opens into the Thermaikos Gulf.

Having recently celebrated its 2.300 years of existence, Thessaloniki is today a modern European city, a thriving city and one of the most important trade and communication centers in the Balkans.
Visiting the Gulf of Thermaikos is a breath taking experience and its picturesque and traditional resorts of Peraia, N. Epivates and Agia Triada have always been poles of attraction for the citizens of Thesssaloniki. Their beaches and camping areas are fully equipped, with nice hotels and pensions springing up everywhere, thus making visitors' stay a very pleasant one. The beautiful and inviting sea along with its peaceful shores present themselves as  the ideal spots for summer sports and other such activities, while sports facilities are all up to date. Very good fish restaurants, steak houses as well as a lot of cafeterias and bars are found in the area. The Aretsou marina is the biggest and most updated one in Northern Greece. Besides being a very safe anchorage, it is also a well equipped area regarding refueling, maintenance and accoutrement.  The Aretsou marina already projects itself as a very dynamic center of development for marine tourism and yachting.

Thessaloniki is definitely a city rich in history and therefore its monuments are a center of attraction for a large number of visitors, both Greeks and foreigners.  It has all the characteristics of a big city. Thessaloniki is a world wide popular trade center and its rich and dynamic market is on a par with the biggest European centers in the launching of new fashions.  Retail outlets with impressive exhibits are a proof of the city's deep and successful tradition.  Thessaloniki is also rich in fur shops, jewelry and silverware as well as in copper products. The Modiano market is the traditional central food market where the great variety of the products on offer impresses both customers and visitors.   It is the city of the gastronomes and this can't be put down to chance. The city if full of picturesque seafood restaurants, of traditional Ouzeris and of bar-restaurants, the quality of which can hardly be matched, thus rendering Thessaloniki a paradise for quality food seekers.

Climate:  Thessaloniki expands from the Gulf of Thermaikos to the slopes of the Hortiatis mountain and from the Gallikos and the Axios rivers to the area of Plagiari. Its climate is that of the Mediterranean countries with an average humidity of 60% that at times can skyrocket to 100%.  In general, the citizens of Thessaloniki enjoy plenty of sunny days throughout the year. Its highest temperature was recorded in July when it reached 43 degrees C and its lowest in the winter months and it was -5 degrees C. On average, the climate is mild with an average temperature of 20 degrees C.

Μonuments - Churches:

• The Arch of Galerius, in Kamara (305 A.D.)
• The Rotonda, on D. Gounari str. (15th century )
• The Aheiropoiitos  Church on Agias Sofias str.  (15th century)
• The Church of Ossios David (15th century)
• Τhe City Walls (16th century)
•  The White Tower, (5th century)
•  The Agios Dimitrios Church on Agios Dimitrios str. (Thessaloniki's patron saint)
• The Crypt, where St. Dimitrios was imprisoned, tortured and buried
• The Agia Sofia Church (8th century)
• The Panagia Halkeon Church (1029 A.D.)
•  The Agia Aikaterini Church (13th century)
• The Agioi Apostoloi Church (14th century)
• The Vlatadon Monastery (14th century)
• The Profitis Ilias Church  (14th century)

Μuseums:

• Αrchaeological Museum: Μ. Αndronikou 6, tel.: 2310-830583, 831037, 867900
• Municipal Art Gallery: Vas. Olgas  164, tel.: 2310-425531
• Historical Archives of Macedonia: Papanastasiou 21, tel.: 2310-816981
• Thessaloniki History Center: Foka 26, tel.: 2310-556072, 264668
• Folklife and Ethnological Museum of Macedonia and Thrace Vas. Olgas 68, tel.: 2310-830591, 812343
• Μacedonian Museum of Contemporary Art: Georgikis Sholis Ave. ( 5th km.)    Filkeram - Johnson, tel.: 2310-240002
• Μusical Museum of Macedonia: Κatouni 12 -14, tel.: 2310-555263-8
• Museum of Byzantine Culture, 3rd Septemvriou str., tel.: 2310-868570-4
• Historical and Arts Museum:  White Tower, tel.: 2310-267832
• Μuseum of the Course of Jewish History in Thessaloniki: Agiou Mina 13, tel.: 2310-250406
• Thessaloniki Museum of the Cinema: Port of Thessaloniki, tel.: 2310-508397-8
• Crypt Museum of Agios Dimitrios: tel.: 2130-270591
• Μuseum of the Macedonian Struggle: Proxenou Koromila 23, tel.: 2310-229778
• Prehistoric Antiquities Museum of Thessaloniki: Μanoli Andronikou 6, Κalamaria, tel.: 2310-830583
• Water Works Museum: 26th Οctovriou 49, tel.: 2310-514029
• Thessaloniki Museum of Photography: Port of Thessaloniki, tel.: 2310-566716-7
• Art Gallery of the Society of Macedonian studies: Nikolaou Germanou 1, tel.: 2310-238601
• War Museum of Thessaloniki: Grigoriou Lambraki, tel.: 2310-266100
• Cultural center of Thessaloniki - National Bank's of Greece educational foundation: Vas. Olgas 108, tel.: 2310-295170-71
• Τhe Tellogleion Foundation, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki:  Agiou Dimitriou 159α, tel.: 2310-247111, Fax: 2310-991610
• Τhe Technical Museum of Thessaloniki: Polytehneiou 45, Dimokratias square, Sindos, tel.: 2310-797300, 799773, 795150

Αrchaeοlogical Sites:

• Palace of Galerius, Navarinou square, (300 A.D.)
• Roman Market and Theater, Dikastiria square
• Roman Baths, North of the Church of Agios Dimitrios
• Νymfaion, one of the basins of Agios Ioannis Prodromos' chapel

For further information regarding culture you may contact:

• Ε.Ο.Τ. (www.eot.gr)
• www.infote.gr

Libraries:

• University of Macedonia:

Open to the public: Mondays - Tuesdays - Wednesdays - Thursdays: 08:00 - 19:00, Fridays: 08:00 - 17:30 Saturdays: 09:00 - 14:00. During examination periods it is open: Mondays - Tuesdays - Wednesdays - Thursdays: 08:00 - 20:00, Fridays: 08:00 - 16:30, Saturdays: 09:00 - 15:00.

• Αristotle University:

Open throughout the year: Mondays - Tuesdays - Wednesdays - Thursdays - Fridays: 09:00 - 15:00

• Central Municipal Library of Thessaloniki (YMCA premises):

Open Mondays through Fridays: 08:00 - 20:00, Saturdays: 09:00 - 14:00.

City Transport System


Transportation can be done either by taxi or by bus.  There are 3 types of buses, the blue the orange and the white ones. The blue and the white ones run within the city and the orange ones expand their rides to areas even outside the city.

Τhe bus fare is the same for all rides within the city, regardless of the distance, and slightly expensive for rides outside the city. Regular ticket prices run up to 0.50 cents for all rides within the city, the so called A zone, and up to 1 euro for rides in the B zone, which covers areas outside the city.  All students are entitled to a 50% discount on all rides, provided they have with them a discount card, issued by the department which they are enrolled to. There are also monthly bus cards for unlimited rides, the price of which is 25 euro.  Tickets can either be purchased from kiosks or from areas specially designated by the city bus organization.



Transportation of the students of the ATEI is conducted by the 52 bus at the new Railway Station terminal. Duration of the ride is 20΄ - 25΄ and the buses run from 06:00 to 24:00 all week long. At the above mentioned bus terminal arrive many buses and as of this, students are allowed to use the same ticket for the final ride to ATEI. More specifically, this is possible for students arriving at the terminal by one of the following buses: 2, 3, 10, 11, 14, 17, 37. Passengers are advised to punch their ticket upon boarding a bus and must always present it whenever asked to do so. Failure to do so will automatically result in a fine of either 9.00 euro or  18.00 euro.
Besides buses, transportation is possible by taxis which are not very expensive.

Bus ticket booking offices:

1. New Railway Station. 
2. IKEA bus terminal.
3. Intercity bus terminal.
4. Stavroupoli bus terminal.
5. Κamara booth (Egnatia st and Iassonidou st)
6. International Fair area booth

Bus passenger service telephone: 185
City bus service website :  www.oasth.gr
Telephones for radiotaxis: 2310-551525, 2310-550276, 2310-550257.