Named Greece's first “city of gastronomy” by UNESCO in 2021, Thessaloniki is undoubtedly the country’s de facto foodie capital. A tour of Kapani and Modiano markets is the best way to get an overview of the produce that makes the city’s cuisine so special. Start the day with bougatsa—layered filo pastry stuffed with feta or sweet semolina custard (doused in icing sugar and cinnamon)—and later move on to spiced soutzoukakia meatballs, mussel pilaf, and syrupy trigona pastries.

Thessaloniki’s waterfront White Tower (Lefkos Pyrgos) is nearly synonymous with the city. This emblem dates back to Ottoman rule, when the site was used as a prison. The Ottoman architectural legacy is more visible in Thessaloniki than in Athens—not least because Thessaloniki remained part of the Ottoman Empire far beyond the 1820s Greek War of Independence until 1912, meaning it spent nearly 500 years under the Ottomans. A Thessaloniki walking tour undoubtedly should take in the tower.

The Jewish Museum is among the best places to visit in Thessaloniki to discover this aspect of the city’s religious and cultural heritage, while a visit to the Holocaust memorial on Eleftheria Square is as worthwhile as it is sobering. Thessaloniki’s main market, Modiano, is not only a place to explore Thessaloniki food and drink, but also Jewish history—it was built by prominent Italian Jewish architect Eli Modiano.

The MOMus-Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art houses the Costakis Collection, one of the world’s largest collections of Russian avant-garde art, while the Thessaloniki Museum of Photography, set in a renovated port warehouse, is the only state-run museum in Greece dedicated entirely to photography. The city’s creativity shines even brighter if you time your visit right, with the Thessaloniki International Film Festival taking over each November.

The Aristotle University—Thessaloniki has a youthful energy and, as is often the case with student cities, a vibrant nightlife to match. Whether it’s sipping unique cocktails packed with local flavors (tsipouro negroni, anyone?) on a roof terrace, enjoying a glass of wine as night falls, or dancing until dawn at a bouzoukia club, there’s an evening adventure to suit every taste. Not sure where to start? Join a bar crawl for the inside track on Thessaloniki nightlife.

Long famed for its penchant for retsina—a somewhat infamous Greek white wine infused with pine resin—Greece is making a name for itself as a wine destination. The vineyards surrounding Thessaloniki are home to native grape varieties including the white Malagousia and red Xinomavro. One of the region's best wineries, Ktima Gerovassoliou, is only around 40 minutes from Thessaloniki—there’s no better way to experience local wines than a visit to the vineyard’s museum paired with a tasting.

If visiting Thessaloniki in summer, take the convenient water taxi over to the city beaches of Peraia and Neoi Epivates. For an even more idyllic waterside retreat, make the short drive to the silky sands of Halkidiki, considered one of the most serene. Discover Halkidiki’s three “fingers”—the Kassandra, Sithonia, and Athos peninsulas, crowned by pine forests and scenic villages—during a cruise or other excursion. Visiting off season? Opt for a warmer swim at the Pozar Thermal Baths.

Thessaloniki’s Nea Paralia promenade stretches over 3 miles (4.8 kilometers), from the city’s port to the imposing Megaro Mousikis concert hall. A stroll along the waterfront is a beloved local activity, particularly on clear days when there’s a chance of glimpsing Mt. Olympus. As well as 13 themed gardens and a triumphal monument to Alexander the Great, here you’ll find George Zongolopoulos’s Umbrellas installation. This art display has become a symbol of the city to rival the White Tower.