Is tap water safe to drink in Thessaloniki?

Yes. Tap water in Thessaloniki city is safe to drink. Bottled water is cheap and common, but you can refill freely in the city.

Do people speak English in Thessaloniki?

Widely, especially anyone under 50 and everyone in tourism. Learning a couple of Greek words (kalimera, efharisto) earns instant smiles.

Which emergency number should I call in Greece?

Call 112, the European emergency number — it works from any phone and operators speak English. Direct lines: police 100, ambulance 166, fire 199, tourist police 1571.

Is Thessaloniki walkable?

Very. The centre is flat and compact — the port to the White Tower is about 25 minutes on foot along the waterfront. Only Ano Poli is steep; take bus 22 or 23 up.

Should I carry cash or card?

Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including taxis (POS is mandatory). Keep €10–20 in small notes for kiosks, bakeries and street food.

Thessaloniki Travel Tips

First aid & emergencies

Numbers to save before you fly

All are toll-free from any phone, 24/7. In any life-threatening situation call 112 — operators speak English (and French/German on 1571).

112European emergency — police, ambulance, fire (English OK)

100Police (Hellenic Police)

166Ambulance — EKAV first aid

199Fire brigade

1571Tourist Police — EL/EN/FR/DE, theft, lost documents, disputes

108Coast guard (sea emergencies)

1434Duty pharmacies info line

1016SOS Doctors (home/hotel visits, paid)

210 779 3777Poison Information Centre

Main hospitals

AHEPA University Hospital — Stilponos Kyriakidi 1, next to the university (metro: Panepistimio) · +30 2310 993 111
Ippokratio General Hospital — Konstantinoupoleos 49 · +30 2313 312 000
Papageorgiou Hospital — ring road, west · +30 2313 323 000

Hospitals rotate emergency duty (efimeria). In an emergency call 112/166 and you'll be routed correctly; for non-urgent care ask your hotel or any pharmacist which hospital is on duty today.

Pharmacies & health basics

Look for the green cross; pharmacists are highly trained and speak English — the right first stop for minor issues.
Closed pharmacies post the nearest night-duty pharmacy list on the door; or call 1434.
EU visitors: the EHIC/GHIC card covers treatment in public hospitals. Non-EU: travel insurance strongly advised.
Summer heat is real: water, hat, and shade at 14:00 are not optional in July–August.

Daily life

Money, connectivity & local rhythm

Money

Currency: euro (€). Cards accepted nearly everywhere (POS is mandatory, including taxis).
Keep €10–20 small cash for kiosks, bakeries, church candles.
Use bank ATMs (Alpha, Piraeus, NBG, Eurobank); skip the standalone "Euronet" machines and always choose "charge in EUR", never DCC.
Tipping: round up or 5–10 % for good service — appreciated, never demanded.

Staying connected

EU/EEA SIMs roam free. Others: prepaid tourist SIM/eSIM from Cosmote, Vodafone or Nova stores on Egnatia/Tsimiski (~€10–20 with data, passport needed).
Free Wi-Fi in most cafés; municipal hotspots on the waterfront.
Plugs: type C/F, 230 V — bring an adapter from UK/US.

The local clock

Coffee: any time, minimum one hour. Lunch 14:00–16:00, dinner 21:00–23:00.
Afternoon quiet hours (~15:00–17:30) are respected in residential areas — including Ano Poli.
Small shops close Mon/Wed/Sat afternoons and Sundays; malls and supermarkets run full days.
Bars warm up after 23:00; Ladadika and Valaoritou go late.

Weather & what to pack

Jun–Sep: hot, humid near the gulf — 28–36 °C. Light clothes, sunscreen, refillable bottle.
Oct–Nov & Apr–May: mild (14–24 °C), the nicest city-walking weather; a light jacket for evenings.
Dec–Mar: 3–12 °C, grey spells and the biting Vardaris north wind — pack a real coat.
Comfortable shoes always: marble pavements + Ano Poli cobbles.

Safety & etiquette

Thessaloniki is very safe by European big-city standards. Usual sense applies: watch bags on crowded buses and in markets.
Cross streets carefully — scooters treat red lights as advice.
Churches: shoulders/knees covered, quiet during services; photography usually fine without flash.
Greeks eat late, talk loud and will feed you. Accept the second helping; resistance is futile.

People strolling and cycling along the modern Nea Paralia seafront promenade — Nea Paralia — staying near the water means sunset commutes

Where to stay

Pick your base by personality

Waterfront / Nikis Avenue — gulf views, sunset walks, 10 min to everything. The classic choice.
Aristotelous & the centre — first-timers' sweet spot: sights, metro, cafés at the door.
Ladadika / port end — restaurants and nightlife downstairs (light sleepers: ask for a back room on weekends).
Ano Poli — guesthouses with views and total atmosphere; steep lanes, fewer taxis.
Kalamaria — residential seaside calm, marina dinners; 20 min to the centre (metro from late July 2026).

Book far ahead for the Film Festival (November) and TIF (September) weeks — the city genuinely fills up.

Speak a little Greek

Ten phrases that open doors

English is widely spoken — but these earn you grins and better portions.

English	Greek	Say it
Hello / Good morning	Καλημέρα	kah-lee-MEH-rah
Good evening	Καλησπέρα	kah-lee-SPEH-rah
Thank you	Ευχαριστώ	ef-khah-rees-TOH
Please / You're welcome	Παρακαλώ	pah-rah-kah-LOH
Yes / No	Ναι / Όχι	neh / OH-hee
How much is it?	Πόσο κάνει;	POH-soh KAH-nee
The bill, please	Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ	ton loh-ghar-yaz-MOH
Cheers!	Στην υγειά μας!	steen ee-YAH mas
Delicious!	Πεντανόστιμο!	pen-dah-NOS-tee-moh
Where is…?	Πού είναι…;	poo EE-neh

FAQ

Questions every visitor asks

Is tap water safe to drink?

Yes — Thessaloniki's tap water is safe and tastes fine. Refill freely in the city. On day trips to villages and islands, locals often prefer bottled; ask.

Do people speak English?

Widely — nearly everyone under 50 and everyone in tourism. Menus in the centre are bilingual. A kalimera and efharisto from you still work wonders.

Is the city walkable?

Extremely. Port → White Tower is ~25 minutes flat along the sea, and most sights sit inside that rectangle. Only Ano Poli climbs — take bus 22/23 up and wander down.

Card or cash?

Cards work everywhere by law, including taxis. Carry a little cash for kiosks, bakeries, and the odd market stall. See Money above for ATM advice.

Is there a beach in the city?

Not a swimmable one downtown. The closest proper sand is Peraia/Nei Epivates across the gulf — 50 minutes by karavaki water bus (€10) — or Epanomi by bus/car. For the famous stuff, give Halkidiki a full day.

What about arriving at 3 am?

The 01N night bus runs airport→centre all night (€2), and the taxi flat rate is €35 between 00:00–05:00. Both routine and safe. Details on Getting Around.

Do strikes affect visitors?

Occasionally a general strike pauses transit and museums for a day; they're announced days ahead. Ask your hotel, check local news, and build one flexible day into longer trips.

When do the water buses run?

Mid-April into autumn, several round trips daily (not Tuesdays early season), weather permitting — €10 one-way from the Port and the White Tower pier. Live schedule at karavakia.gr.

Disclaimer

Phone numbers, fares and hours on this site were verified in July 2026 against official sources. Things change — reconfirm critical details (hospital duty, timetables, holiday closures) locally or on the linked official sites.

Keep exploring

Prepared? Now enjoy the city

Essentials & practical info