Thessaloniki - walking tour

A walking tour of Thessaloniki is a tireless route that will introduce you to the main attractions of the Bride of the Thermal Bay, a city with a rich Roman and Byzantine heritage, a city that is rightfully considered the cultural capital of Greece.

Thessaloniki, sprawling with an amphitheater on the bay, attracts visitors with its centuries-old history, a huge number of historical and Christian monuments, the interweaving of styles and cultures, its unique and fascinating aura of a modern and at the same time permeated with antiquity of the city.

The meeting with the guide will take place at the main shrine of the city - the Basilica of St. Dmitry Mirotochivy, the patron saint of Thessaloniki. In addition to getting acquainted with this monument of Byzantine architecture, its unique frescoes and decoration, you can go down to the crypt, where the saint died.

Further on the way to the sea you will see the excavations of the Roman Forum – the trading and political center of Thessaloniki during the Roman Empire with the ruins of public buildings, galleries, amphitheaters and baths. Continuing the walk in the center, you will get to the street and Aristotle Square - the heart of Thessaloniki, the architectural masterpiece of Ernest Ebrard with majestic neoclassical buildings, peristyles and colonnades.

Nearby is the temple of Hagia Sophia with unique frescoes of the 11th century, which resembles the cathedral of the same name in Constantinople and also played an important role in the life of the city.

The Arch of Galeria and the Rotunda will introduce you to the legacy of the Roman emperors. And at the end of the program you will find yourself at the White Tower (a symbol of modern Thessaloniki), located on the picturesque embankment - a favorite resting place for local residents and guests of the city.

A walk through Thessaloniki will allow you to discover the city, which since 315 BC has been the political, cultural, commercial and religious crossroads of the Balkans.

Interesting facts:
10 early Christian and Byzantine monuments in Thessaloniki included in the UNESCO World Heritage List;
The city is named after the half-sister of Alexander the Great - Thessalonica;
After 1207, St. Dmitri (the patron saint of the city) is depicted on icons riding a red horse, piercing the spear of Kaloyan, the Bulgarian king who besieged Thessaloniki. The saint miraculously appeared on the walls of the city and, descending into the enemy camp, killed Skiloyan (from "skilos" - a dog), as the Byzantines called him.
Until the second half of the 19th century, Thessaloniki was located within the fortress walls, which today remain only in the upper part of the city;
Aristotle University in Thessaloniki is the largest educational institution in the Balkans.
Thessaloniki is called the “city of students”, about 150,000 people study here annually;
* Thessaloniki pedestrian embankment has a length of 3.5 km;
In 1997, Thessaloniki was elected the “Cultural Capital of Europe”.
In the year 49 the Apostle Paul preached in Thessaloniki;
Thessaloniki is the birthplace of Cyril and Methodius.

Useful information:

walking tour; if necessary, you can order an additional transfer to the place of the beginning of the route;
For your comfort and safety, wear comfortable shoes; do not forget to bring headgear with you;
The route program can be changed for reasons beyond the control of the company (force majeure); weather conditions and at the discretion of the guide, if necessary;
After the tour, you can visit one of the museums (Archaeological or Byzantine); make a small cruise along the Thermal Bay or a bike tour along the new embankment of the city;
* Possible in the afternoon.

* Russian language guide services

Separately paid:

* Lunch;
Entrance tickets to museums and archaeological parks;
Transfer to the starting point of the tour (on request).