Beach day — Halkidiki
07:45 bus 45A to KTEL Chalkidikis → 09:00 coach to Sithonia or Kassandra → swim, taverna, swim → evening coach home. Or the lazy version: karavaki to Peraia.
Itineraries that actually flow
Built around real opening hours, the local meal clock and where the light is best. Steal them whole or mix and match.
- 24 h classic
- 48 h deep dive
- 72 h + escape
- Rainy day
Plan A
The perfect 24 hours
The greatest-hits loop: everything walkable, one bus, zero stress.
- 08:00
Bougatsa breakfast
Bantis (custard, trust us) — or any corner bakery plus a koulouri for the road.
- 09:00
Agios Dimitrios & crypt
Morning light in the great basilica; the Roman crypt below opens with the church. Free.
- 10:00
Roman Forum
Ten minutes downhill: the Ancient Agora and its underground museum.
- 11:30
Markets graze
Kapani → Modiano: olives, cheese pies, a cheeky ouzo among the fishmongers.
- 13:00
Kamara → Rotunda
Walk Egnatia to the Arch of Galerius, then the Rotunda's mosaics (€6, closes 15:30, closed Tue).
- 15:00
White Tower
Climb the city's symbol (€6; summer hours to 20:00). Ice cream on the promenade after.
- 17:30
Nea Paralia stroll
Sea-side all the way to the Umbrellas for golden hour — join the volta.
- 21:00
Dinner in Ladadika
Zythos for the classic, Full tou Meze for the meze parade. Nightcap in the lanes around.
Plan B
Day two: heights & museums
Everything Plan A left out — the old town above and the gold below.
- 09:00
Bus 22 to Ano Poli
From Eleftherias Sq. up to the upper town — €0.60, saves 150 m of climbing.
- 09:30
Walls, Trigonion, Eptapyrgio
Walk the ramparts, morning view from the Trigonion Tower, peacocks at Vlatadon, the tiny mosaic marvel of Osios David.
- 13:00
Lunch under the plane tree
Ouzeri Tsinari — meze in the old town since 1865. Then wander downhill through the lanes.
- 15:30
Museum pair
Archaeological Museum (Derveni Krater, Gold of Macedon, €10) and, if legs allow, Byzantine Culture next door (€8).
- 19:00
Aristotelous aperitivo
Coffee-to-wine transition under the arcades; watch the square light up.
- 21:30
Modern dinner
Mourga or Sebrico (book!). After: bar-hop Valaoritou.
Plan C
Day three: pick your escape
With the city covered, spend day three out — full logistics on the Day Trips page.
Royal Macedonia — Vergina
Morning KTEL to Veria → tombs of Aigai (€20, give it 3 h) → Veria's old quarter for lunch → back by evening. Add Pella if driving.
Olympus & Dion
Early train to Litochoro → Enipeas gorge walk → lunch on the square → Dion archaeological park → sunset train home along the coast.
Plan R
The rainy day (yes, it happens)
- 09:30
Long breakfast
Estrella and its famous bougatsan — brunch culture was made for weather like this.
- 11:00
Museum morning
The Archaeological + Byzantine pair share a dry five-minute underpass walk.
- 14:00
Modiano food hall
Every meze under one restored glass roof — the correct wet-weather lunch.
- 16:00
Metro time-machine
Ride to Venizelou just to see the in-station Byzantine avenue; continue to the MOMus Photography museum at the port.
- 18:00
Historic café
Hot salepi or a slow freddo somewhere warm; Chatzis (1908) does syruped sweets for the soul.
- 21:00
Taverna with rebetiko
Live strings in Ladadika — rain outside improves bouzouki acoustics roughly 40%.
Family version
Swap the afternoon for NOESIS Science Center & planetarium (east of town) — the region's best kid-pleaser, then Modiano for everyone's dinner veto power.
Keep exploring
Build your own
Open these stops in Maps
One-way loops with Google & Apple Maps buttons (walk or transit) — no zigzagging across town.
Top 5 classic route Ano Poli bus-up / walk-down Museums → sea All map routes
FAQ
Common questions
How many days do you need in Thessaloniki?
Two full days for the centre; three to four with a Halkidiki or Vergina day trip.
Can you do Thessaloniki in one day?
Yes for highlights — White Tower, waterfront, Ladadika dinner — but two days is better.
What is the best Thessaloniki itinerary?
Day 1: Galerian sites + waterfront. Day 2: museums + Ano Poli. Day 3: Halkidiki beach.