Thessaloniki, founded in 315 BCE and named for Alexander the Great’s sister, has been Macedonian, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman—layers you feel in its UNESCO-listed churches, Roman forum, and sea-swept promenades. It’s Greece’s culinary capital of the north, where sesame-scented koulouri and syrupy trigona panoramatos fuel late nights in Ladadika.

Central Macedonia rewards slow travel. Base yourself in Thessaloniki for museums and markets, then escape to nearby legends: Mount Olympus, the royal necropolis of Vergina, and the cool cascades of Edessa. When the city heat rises, Halkidiki’s pine-fringed bays and stone villages like Afytos offer perfect contrast.

Practical notes: Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG) has frequent flights from Europe; intercity trains and KTEL buses connect the region. Summers are hot—plan museums in the morning, beaches and siestas in the afternoon, and meze marathons after dusk. Tap-and-go cards are widely accepted; reserve popular restaurants in peak season.

Thessaloniki

Greece’s second city is all attitude and appetite: sunrise over the Thermaic Gulf, espresso at a sidewalk table, then a day threading Byzantine mosaics, spice-fragrant markets, and waterfront art. It’s compact, walkable, and wonderfully social.

Top sights blend eras: the White Tower, Rotunda, Arch and Palace of Galerius, Ano Poli’s Ottoman lanes, the Roman Forum, the Archaeological Museum, and the acclaimed Museum of Byzantine Culture. Don’t miss sunset along the New Waterfront and its kinetic “Umbrellas” sculpture.

Days 1–5: Museums, markets, and meze

• Orientation stroll: Start at the White Tower and walk the promenade to the “Umbrellas,” then head inland for the Arch of Galerius, Rotunda, and Roman Forum. Cap it with sweeping views from Ano Poli’s Trigonion Tower.
• Museum morning: Pair the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki (gold of Macedon, Hellenistic masterpieces) with the Museum of Byzantine Culture next door—two of Greece’s best.
• Markets and bites: Weave through Kapani and the revived Modiano Food Market for olives, cheeses, and spice stalls. It’s the city in microcosm—noisy, generous, and delicious.
• Coffee & breakfast: Try Bougatsa Bantis (since 1969) for cream-filled bougatsa dusted with cinnamon; Estrella for the playful “bougatsan” and brunch plates; and a quick koulouri (sesame bread ring) from street vendors.
• Lunch & dinner ideas:
  • To Elliniko: Macedonian casseroles, salads piled with local cheeses, and meze meant to share.
  • Charoupi: Creative Cretan plates—slow-cooked goat, apaki pork, and earthy greens—paired with Cretan wines.
  • Sebriko Meze Bar: Seasonal meze, house-cured bites, and Greek natural wines in a lively space.
  • Diagonios: Classic “politiki” flavors—try the soutzoukakia in tomato sauce and smoky eggplant.
• Sweets & drinks: Pick up trigona panoramatos at Elenidis, then cocktails at Vogatsikou 3 or wine at The Blue Cup off Navarinou.

Book these curated experiences (recommended windows: Days 1–4):

• 

  Best of Thessaloniki: Private Guided Tour — a historian-led deep dive into Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman layers. Ideal for your first morning to get the stories straight.

• 

  Thessaloniki Street Food Tour with a Local Guide — nibble through koulouri, bougatsa, souvlaki, and spice market secrets while meeting the makers.

Where to stay: Browse central apartments and sea-view stays on VRBO Thessaloniki or compare boutique hotels on Hotels.com Thessaloniki. Look around the Waterfront, Ladadika, or the museums quarter for easy walking.

Getting to Thessaloniki (SKG): From European hubs, check fares on Omio (flights in Europe)—nonstops often run 1–3 hours, ~$60–$180 one way. From overseas, compare connections on Kiwi.com (long-haul). From Athens, trains to Thessaloniki take ~4–5 hours; see Omio (trains in Europe).

Onward to Halkidiki (Day 6, morning): Bus from Thessaloniki’s KTEL Halkidiki station to Afytos/Kallithea takes ~1–1.5 hours, ~€8–€12; search Omio (buses in Europe). Driving is ~1 hour down the Kassandra peninsula.

Afytos (Halkidiki)

Stone-built Afytos perches over emerald coves, with tavernas cantilevered above the sea and fishing boats bobbing below. Pine meets Aegean here; days slip by between swims, village strolls, and long, lazy lunches.

Use Afytos as a base to explore Kassandra’s lively beach scene or hop east to Sithonia’s quieter bays. Evenings glow with balcony dinners and music on the square.

Days 6–9: Beach time, boat day, and slow Greek nights

• Beach-hop: Walk or drive to Afytos Beach for calm water and tavernas; nearby Varkes and Liosi beaches are postcard-still in the morning. For a livelier vibe, head to Kallithea or down to Pefkochori.
• Private cruise (signature day):

  

  Best of Halkidiki Daily Private Cruise — charter a boat to hidden coves, snorkel over clear sand, and picnic on a tiny beach. Great in light morning winds; expect 6–7 hours on the water.
• Village wander: Stroll Afytos’ cobbled lanes, peek into modest stone churches, and stop for a frappe at a balcony cafe overlooking the gulf.
• Coffee & breakfast: Grab warm cheese pies and tahini rolls from village bakeries, or settle in at Fortuna All Day on the main square for espresso, yogurt with thyme honey, and sea views.
• Lunch & dinner by the water:
  • Thea Thalassa (Afytos): A beloved fish taverna hanging over the sea—order grilled sea bream, garides saganaki, and a village salad.
  • Sousourada & Sgouros Skantzoxiros (Afytos): Creative meze—smoked aubergine, octopus with fava, and playful pairings with local wines.
  • Kritikos Gallery & Restaurants (Ouranoupoli): A destination seafood meal if you venture up the Athos coast—aged tsipouro, impeccable shellfish, and a serious cellar.
  • To Simadi (Nikiti): On the marina—fresh catch of the day, crunchy gavros, and lemon-drenched horta if you day trip to Sithonia.

Where to stay: For seaside houses and villas, browse VRBO Halkidiki or narrow to stone homes in Afytos via VRBO Afytos. Compare resort and boutique options on Hotels.com Halkidiki or Hotels.com Afytos.

Logistics: Without a car, base in Afytos or Kallithea for frequent buses; see Omio (buses in Europe). A rental car makes hopping to Sithonia’s beaches easy and cuts transfers to ~30–60 minutes between villages.

Return to Thessaloniki (Day 10, morning): Bus back takes ~1–1.5 hours, ~€8–€12. If you’re catching a flight at SKG, allow ~2.5–3 hours door-to-gate in high season.

Thessaloniki (Return)

Use your last days for “deep cuts”: royal tombs, mountain lore, and a grand finale in the Meteora monasteries. Evenings are for Ladadika, seaside sunsets, and that one last bougatsa.

Days 10–13: Day trips and goodbye feasts

• Vergina & Pella (royal Macedon): The golden larnax and painted tombs at Vergina (Aigai) are among Greece’s most moving sights; Pella’s mosaics bring the royal capital to life.

  

  Book: Discover Vergina and Pella: Day Trip to Macedonian Kingdom.
• Meteora (full-day adventure): Otherworldly sandstone pillars topped with monasteries—an unforgettable capstone to your trip.

  

  Book: Full-Day Trip to Meteora from Thessaloniki. Expect an early start, 3 hours each way, with monastery visits and scenic stops.
• Mt. Olympus lore: If you didn’t drive yourself to Litochoro, join a guided bus day that combines ancient Dion with trails and waterfalls in the national park.

  

  Book: Thessaloniki: Bus Trip to Dion & Mt Olympus National Park.
• Optional soak: Prefer R&R? Swap one excursion for the Pozar hot springs with a waterfall stop in Edessa (naturally heated pools in a forested gorge).

  

  Book: Pozar Thermal Baths and Edessa Day Trip from Thessaloniki.

• Farewell food crawl: Circle back to favorites or try:
  • Extravaganza for modern Greek plates (think octopus with tarama and citrus).
  • 7 Thalasses for refined seafood—carpaccio, shellfish, and seasonal fish baked in salt.
  • Ouzeri Tsinari up in Ano Poli for vine-shaded meze and a time-warp setting.
• Final sweets: One more box of trigona for the road, and maybe a jar of Macedonian honey or tahini from Kapani.

Airport departure: Taxis to SKG run ~25–35 minutes from center off-peak. If using public transport, allow extra time and check options on Omio (buses in Europe). For onward flights in Europe, compare on Omio (flights); for intercontinental legs, see Kiwi.com.

Trip pacing at a glance

• Days 1–5: Thessaloniki core highlights, museums, guided city and street food tours.
• Days 6–9: Afytos (Halkidiki) beach time and private cruise day.
• Days 10–13: Return to Thessaloniki for Meteora, Vergina & Pella, or Mt. Olympus; farewell feast.

Across 13 days you’ll taste, walk, swim, and time-travel through Northern Greece—Byzantine domes by breakfast, pine-scented coves by noon, and starlit meze by night. Thessaloniki and Halkidiki make a duo you’ll daydream about long after your suitcase is unpacked.