Thessaloniki is an easy destination to plan yourself: hotels, flights, car rental and activities in one place, no juggling ten different sites. Thessaloniki works well as a base for day trips to nearby towns and scenic routes. The city has an airport, so you can fly in directly. There are currently around 20 places to stay listed in and around Thessaloniki, covering a range of budgets. The catalogue includes 8 vetted activities and tours with real guest ratings. 4 routes to nearby towns are mapped out from Thessaloniki, handy if you're planning side trips beyond the city itself.
Accommodation in Thessaloniki starts at around €56 per night, with a typical rate near €102 across roughly 20 nearby options — handy for budgeting your trip.
Well-reviewed hotels: ICON Urban Living, guest rating 10 from 1639 reviews, from €90 per night; Vanoro Hotel, 5-star, guest rating 9.8 from 3737 reviews, from €123 per night; The Modernist Thessaloniki, 4-star, guest rating 9.8 from 2858 reviews, from €139 per night; Antigon Urban Chic Hotel, 5-star, guest rating 9.6 from 109 reviews, from €102 per night; ON Residence - Small Luxury Hotels of the World, 5-star, guest rating 9.6 from 2444 reviews, from €185 per night.
Day trips & routes: Agia Triada (Thessaloniki) — about 4 km, 11m drive; Afitos (Chalkidiki) — about 84 km, 1h 10m drive; Pogradec (Albania, cross-border) — about 276 km, 3h 18m drive; Skopje (Macedonia, cross-border) — about 234 km, 2h 47m drive. 2 of 4 routes cross a border — check the rental company's terms before you go.
Thessaloniki: what to know
Things to see: "Mount Olympus Beyond the Postcards: Myths, Nature & Hidden Paths", rated 5 from 60 reviews, from €129; "Upper Town Historical Tour Experience at Greece", rated 5 from 47 reviews, from €110; "Olympus Mountain Guiding - Mytikas 2918m in a day", rated 5 from 39 reviews, from €1373.48; "Olympus Rock Climbing Course and Via Ferrata", rated 5 from 33 reviews, from €112.48; "Cook & Dine With a Local Greek Family in Thessaloniki", rated 5 from 30 reviews, from €79.
Where to eat: "Argofageio", Mediterranean/European, rated 4.8 (982 reviews); "Sourtoukw Thessaloniki", Mediterranean/Greek, rated 4.7 (602 reviews); "Mamalouka SKG", European/Greek, rated 4.3 (965 reviews); "Kanoula"; "Bougatsa Bantis". Top-rated: "Argofageio" at 4.8.
Thessaloniki has its own airport, so a direct flight is the fastest way in. Getting around the city and out to the 4 nearby destinations listed above is easiest by car — intercity public transport tends to be slower and less frequent. The median nightly rate in Thessaloniki is around €102, useful for comparing overall trip cost against nearby cities.
To rent a car in Thessaloniki you usually need a passport, a driving licence and a bank card for the deposit hold. With 20 places to stay nearby, it's worth comparing a base near the rental desk against one closer to the sights. Given 4 routes worth driving from here, check the mileage and one-way drop-off terms before you book. When touring Greece, plan stops in advance: fuel stations and car parks in smaller towns are not always open around the clock.
