Excursion Thessaloniki highlights tour at Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki is considered the second capital of Greece, not only in terms of population after Athens, but also because it is the capital of central Macedonia. Situated on the sea and founded in 315 B.C., the city was named after a sister of Alexander the Great, Thessaloniki.

Seafront Promenade & White Tower

Commence your city discovery with a drive through the seafront promenade. The White Tower was once a major component in the system of walls and fortifications that originally surrounded the entire town. Today it houses a museum on the history and art of Byzantine Salonika. Your coach will stop to let you take photos of this prominent landmark.

Archaeological Museum

Next, continue with a visit of the Archaeological Museum. Renowned as one of the best of its kind in Greece, the museum boasts an important collection of material from Salonika as well as Macedonia and Thrace. Its main attraction is displayed in a special wing and features a unique collection of finds from the famous royal tombs at Vergina, including two richly decorated chests of solid gold and other masterpieces of Macedonian metal work.

The Citadel

Re-board your coach and travel to the Citadel, located on the site of the ancient acropolis. The Citadel is part of the original defence walls and its he interior is fully restored. On the highest point stands a fortress, formerly used as a prison.

Ayios Dimitrios

Your final stop will be at the Agios Dimitrios which is arguably considered the most important church of Thessaloniki. The church is dedicated to Dimitrius, the town's principal saint and patron. The church was gutted in the great fire of 1917, but archaeologists were successful in rebuilding the structure with materials recovered after the blaze.

The tour concludes back at the pier.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion may include: White Tower, Archaelogical Museum, The Citadel, Ayios Dimitrios

Note

Please note: This tour involves an extensive amount of walking at times over uneven surfaces, with a few steps to negotiate. This tour is not suitable for guests with limited mobility and guests who utilise a wheelchair. It is strongly recommended to wear comfortable walking shoes, a hat and sun protection and bring bottle of water from the ship. Tour timeline may vary to avoid overcrowding. Please be advised that maximum allowed to enter museums might be reached at the time Silversea guests arrive. Therefore, a delay might occur while waiting for some visitors to exit the museum.