Why Thessaloniki makes for the perfect family city break

Kayleigh Rattle

From pirate-themed boat trips to fossil-filled caves and even a waterpark, Greece's second city of Thessaloniki^* is bursting with exciting things to see and do for kids and adults alike.

Getting to Thessaloniki: you'll find great value family holidays to Thessaloniki with TUI^*, which offers escapes to the city all year round.

Cycle along Nea Paralia

Whether you're arriving by car, boat or landing at the nearby Thessaloniki Airport, the city's 5 km-long waterfront is a welcome sight. With Mount Olympus on the horizon across the water and Thessaloniki's skyline shimmering high above the city, the waterfront, also known as Nea Paralia, is a scenic starting point for any visit.

Redeveloped in 2013, it's tree and monument-lined, and kids will love posing for a picture beneath the shield-lined Alexandra the Great Monument.

With a dedicated cycle path, it's also a perfect area to explore on two wheels, our four. A two- or four-seater bike rental (from €10 to €15) will allow you to take in Thessaloniki's waterfront sights, such as the 15th-century Ottoman White Tower of Thessaloniki, aka Lefkós Pýrgos, without having to worry about tired legs.

Set sail on a boat trip

To admire Thessaloniki's scenic waterfront and the Gulf of Thessaloniki from another perspective, hop on one of a choice of boats.

Kids will love the pirate-themed Black Pearl Ship, inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean, plus the chance to have their picture taken with a Captain Jack Sparrow lookalike. Tickets are free in exchange for buying a drink on board.

Also look out for Arabella, another pirate cruise leaving from the same place but aboard a historic vessel that dates back to 1935 and was used in WWII.

Taste trigoni & bougatsa

You can't go on holiday with kids without being armed with snacks and, thankfully, Thessaloniki has plenty of delicious local delicacies on offer for hungry children (and adults!).

Having been designated by UNESCO as a Creative City of Gastronomy in 2021, Thessaloniki is unsurprisingly brimming with must-try specialities such as the historic bougatsa, which dates back to the Byzantine era.

This sweet or savoury pastry is typically filled with cheese or custard, and you can grab one (or several) freshly-made from Bougatsa Giannis, just behind the White Tower, which has been making them daily since 1996.

To complete your mid-morning munch, just a couple of streets away is Trigoni Elenedi, which is famous for its triangle-shaped vanilla cream-filled filo pastries known as trigoni. Watch them be filled with fresh cream while you wait, and then devour them in seconds.

If tired parents need a caffeine kick, Thessaloniki happens to be the home of the Frappé, which you'll find plenty of in the cafés adorning the waterfront and Aristotle Square, but why not also try a freddo espresso, which is made with Greek espresso and mixed with ice cubes.

Jump on a hop-on-hop-off bus

While many of Thessaloniki's highlights, such as the White Tower, Aristotle Square and the Arch of Galerius are within walking distance of the waterfront, neighbourhoods such as Ano Poli are a bit further away, which can be demanding on little legs.

A hop-on-hop-off bus from CitySightseeing offers a child-friendly introduction to the city and will also take you past the Archaeological Museum and the Port of Thessaloniki, as well as to Ano Poli, Thessaloniki's pretty upper town filled with bustling traditional tavernas, cobbled streets and the Heptapyrgion, a Byzantine fortress.

Spend the day at Greece's largest waterpark

Just a 15-minute drive from the city centre (or a free shuttle bus from Thessaloniki Railway Station), Waterland Waterpark is the perfect way to spend a splash-filled day, and also super convenient if you've got time to pass before boarding your flight.

As Greece^*'s largest waterpark, it has plenty to offer families of all ages, from a 200 metre-long Crazy River to a giant swirling funnel. Little ones will love Pirates Island, packed with slides and activities and a water bucket that spills every 30 seconds, and the fun-filled kids' pool. There's also a wave machine, waterslides and even a petting zoo on site.

Be amazed at the Museum of Illusions

Close to the Old Port of Thessaloniki, you'll find the Museum of Illusions, a fantastic multi-sensory museum for kids and adults alike.

Prepare to giggle away with your family as you explore several optical illusions from holograms to vortex tunnels and illusion rooms, which make it look like you're upside down; plenty of hilarious photo-taking opportunities guaranteed.

Visit the NOESIS Science Center

Just outside of the city center (approximately 15-to-20 minutes by car towards Halkidiki) is the NOESIS Science Center & Technology Museum.

It's a great stop to consider if you're en route to Halkidiki, or simply passing time before a flight, as there's a 150-seater planetarium, a 300-seat cinema with 3D screenings, plus a 3D simulator to keep kids busy.

There's also an impressive classic car offering, a 'technopark' featuring interactive exhibits and a whole section devoted to Ancient Greek technology; in particular, engineering, construction, ship building and telecommunications.

Explore a prehistoric cave

Kids will thank you for making a pit-stop at Petralona Cave, a 50-minute drive from the city centre. Filled with stalagmites and stalactites, it also boasts one of Europe's largest collections of fossils.

While this prehistoric cave is thought to have formed close to a million years ago, it was only discovered in 1959 by a local shepherd.

Head to the Blue Flag beaches of Halkidiki

It's impossible to talk about beaches without mentioning Halkidiki^*. Made up of three peninsulas, Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos, Halkidiki boasts over 100 Blue Flag beaches, many of which are flanked by clear-blue Aegean waters on one side and verdant olive groves and greenery on the other.

Cosmopolitan Kassanda is a great option for families, with many of the beaches geared up for tourism and home to hotels and buzzing restaurants.

Pefkochori Beach (approximately a 90-minute drive from Thessaloniki) is one such family-friendly resort that boasts pristine shallow waters perfect for snorkelling in as well as a selection of tavernas, bakeries and shops along the main throng.

Climate in Thessaloniki

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C	8	10	14	19	24	29	31	31	27	21	15	10
Hours of sunshine (daily)	3	4	5	7	8	10	11	10	8	6	4	3
Days with some rainfall	9	9	8	9	9	7	4	4	4	7	9	10
Sea temperature °C	13	12	13	14	18	23	25	26	24	21	17	15

The above guide shows the climate in Thessaloniki. Find out more about conditions across the country in our complete guide to the climate in Greece.

Ready to take your kids to Thessaloniki? Find the latest online offers on family holidays with TUI all year round.

More about Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Kayleigh Rattle

Posted in: City Europe Family

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Greece - quick facts
Flight time^✝	3.5 to 8.5 hours
Time difference	UK +2 hours
Language(s)	Greek
Currency	Euro
Electricity	C + F plug (230V)
Driving side	Right
Why visit?	Beaches Culture Nature Nightlife
Tourist info	Greek National Tourism Organisation

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