Museums

Museum guide Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki is a city at the crossroads of epochs, where museum collections tell about ancient Macedonia, Byzantine culture and modern Greece. Here, each walk turns into a small journey: from archaeological finds to avant-garde installations, from religious shrines to scientific and technical discoveries. For lovers of museums and rich excursion routes Thessaloniki offers a rich palette of impressions and a convenient starting point for further trips to the region.

The best museums Thessaloniki neighborhood

At the heart of the city’s museum life is the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, with an extensive collection of items from the Macedonian period and rare artifacts that help to understand the grandeur of the ancient heritage. Noesis, a science centre and technology museum, attracts visitors with interactive exhibitions and a planetarium that clearly explains the achievements of science and technology. The Ethnographic Folk Art Museum of Macedonia and Thrace preserves costumes, utensils and folk artifacts of the region. The Olympic Museum illustrates the history of sports and Olympic traditions, and the Ataturk House Museum reminds of the Balkans’ ties with the close history of neighboring peoples. The State Museum of Modern Art and the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art present the projects of Greek and foreign artists, and the museums of Jewish heritage capture the unique Sephardic culture of Thessaloniki. The Museum of Byzantine Culture is a rare center dedicated entirely to the Byzantine world, and the Museum of Cinema and the Museum of Photography showcase the country’s visual histories. The historical building of the Museum of Macedonian Struggle contains documents and objects of the national liberation era. In the vicinity, you should pay attention to the pilgrimage routes and the Athos Guide Center – a convenient starting point for those who want to get acquainted with the monastery heritage on the Athos Peninsula.

Museum exhibitions and events

Thessaloniki museum poster is dynamic: temporary exhibitions are regularly opened here, retrospectives of modern artists, popular science programs and thematic screenings of cinema and photography are held. Noesis organizes educational cycles and temporary exhibitions, and the city’s exhibition halls host imported collections and curatorial projects. Following the posters of museums, you can get to unique shows and events that update the perception of familiar expositions and give a reason to return again.

Come to Thessaloniki to walk the museum routes and experience the city’s multi-layered history. The best way to see the main thing is to book a tour with a private guide: local guides will make a personal route, tell little-known stories, help with tickets and make a trip to museums truly memorable. Book a tour and discover Thessaloniki from a new side.