Arrival in Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki - Arrival in Thessaloniki, the largest city of Northern Greece. Transfer to hotel, leisure for the rest of the day.

Thessaloniki - City tour with museum

Arch of Galerius - The Arch of Galerius stands on what is now the intersection of Egnatia and Dimitriou Gounari streets. Construction of the arch spanned the years 298 and 299 AD; it was dedicated in 303 AD to celebrate the victory of the tetrarch Galerius over the Sassanid Persians at the Battle of Satala and the capture of their capital Ctesiphon in 298.

Rotunda - The Rotunda of Galerius, also known as the Rotunda of Saint George, is the oldest of Thessaloniki’s churches. Some Greek publications claim it is the oldest Christian church in the world, although there are competitors for that title. It is the most important surviving example of a church from the early Christian period of the Greek-speaking part of the Roman Empire.

Holy Church of Hagia Sophia - The Hagia Sophia in Thessaloniki, Greece. With its current structure dating from the 7th century, the church is one of the oldest churches in the city still standing today. Because of its outstanding Byzantine art and architecture, in addition to its importance in early Christianity, it is one of several monuments in Thessaloniki listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.

Aristotelous Square - Aristotelous Square is the main city square of Thessaloniki and is located in the city centre. It was designed by French architect Ernest Hébrard in 1918, but most of the square was built in the 1950s. Many buildings surrounding the central square have since been renovated and its northern parts were largely restored in the 2000s.

East Thessaloniki Byzantine Walls - The 4-kilometre-long city walls surrounded the city of Thessaloniki during the Middle Ages until the late 19th century, when large parts of the walls, including the entire seaward section, were demolished as part of the Ottoman authorities’ restructuring of Thessaloniki’s urban fabric.

Museum of Byzantine Culture - The museum showcases a broader cultural and educational nature and aims to collect, preserve, protect, conserve, exhibit and study the works and objects of the early Christian, Byzantine, medieval in general and post-Byzantine periods, mainly from the geographical area of Macedonia and the excavation material of the territorial scope of the 9th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities, with which it is in close collaboration.

Church of Saint Dimitrios - Patron of Thessaloniki - The museum is a scientific institution, open to the public, of a broader cultural and educational nature, aims to collect, preserve, protect, conserve, exhibit and study the works and objects of the early Christian, Byzantine, medieval in general and post-Byzantine periods, mainly from the geographical area of Macedonia and the excavation material of the territorial scope of the 9th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities, with which it is in close collaboration.

White Tower of Thessaloniki - The White Tower of Thessaloniki is a monument and museum on the waterfront of the city of Thessaloniki, the capital of the region of Macedonia in northern Greece. The present tower replaced an old Byzantine fortification, known to have been mentioned around the 12th century, that the Ottoman Empire reconstructed to fortify the city’s fortress sometime after Sultan Murad II captured Thessaloniki in 1430. During the period of Ottoman rule, the White Tower became a notorious prison and scene of mass executions.

Mount Athos

Ouranoupolis - Very early departure to the picturesque village of Ouranoupoli to embark on a mini cruise to Mount Athos. Mount Athos is a mountain and peninsula in northeastern Greece and an important centre of Eastern Orthodox monasticism. Mount Athos is home to 20 monasteries under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.

Back to Ouranoupolis, free time. We return to Thessaloniki. Overnight at the hotel.

Thessaloniki - Pella - Vergina

Pella - After breakfast, depart to Pella. We will visit the monumental palatial complex that occupies the northernmost hill of the city and covers an area of 60.000 m2. Wander around the city’s commercial and manufacturing centre, the so-called agora (ayorá), which was in fact the biggest agora of the ancient world. This huge building complex of 70.000m2 included shops, workshops, administration offices, and the repository of the city’s historical records. The main avenue of the agora was actually connected with the city’s port, the ruins of which are still visible today. The ancient agora is constructed according to the famous urban planning of Hippodamus (Hippodamian grid plan): well-defined city blocks, paved streets with sidewalks, and elaborate water supply and sewage systems. They all illustrate Pella’s modern infrastructure and sophisticated urban design.

Vergina - The two-storey private houses built in Doric and Ionic rhythm bring to mind images of a prosperous, ancient, city. We will continue to Vergina. The excavation by Professor Manolis Andronikos and his associates under the Great Tumulus of Vergina village in Imathia, Central Macedonia in 1977 brought to light the most important archaeological discovery of the 20th century in Greece. Today’s Vergina (Ancient Aigai), in the foothills of Mt. Pieria, was the first capital of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia, called Aigai. The site of the Royal Tombs under a modern roof hosts the main excavation, as well as an exhibition of the major finds from the burials. It is protected by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage and comprises a unique discovery of an enormous universal impact.

Return to Thessaloniki. Overnight

Transfer to the Airport

Thessaloniki - Breakfast and morning transfer to the airport.

• 4 nights in a 4-star hotel of your choice
• Athos Cruise including transfer
• Daily breakfast
• Complimentary arrival and departure transfers
• Guided Pella Vergina Tour
• Explore with a Thessaloniki City Tour

• City tax
• Personal expenses (meals, drinks, tips)
• Optional excursions and visits
• Anything that is not mentioned in the included section
• Tour Guide