Thessaloniki, in the Central Macedonia region of Greece, is the country’s second biggest city after Athens and one of its most popular tourist destinations. Though it’s a city by the sea, it doesn’t typically attract beach holidaymakers. Instead the majority of its visitors come for the local culture, the historical buildings and the fantastic cuisine.

With a history that stretches over 2,000 years, Thessaloniki has much visual evidence of its rich and varied past. Sightseers will find old ruins of Roman and Byzantine origin, and museums offering artefacts from the same eras and other besides.

In the hot summer months, the beaches invariably attract visitors and though those closest to the city are maybe not the best, a short journey by hire car can bring you to a number of prettier and less crowded ones. Families in particular will enjoy the blend of activity and relaxation on offer at these scenic sandy strips.

Family visitors will enjoy the delights of attractions such as Magic Park and Thessaloniki Zoo, while visitors of all ages will find something of interest at the Waterland theme park, especially on days when the mercury is hitting the upper end of the scale.

The city presents some excellent dining opportunities and anyone not afraid to sample something new will undoubtedly lap up the local cuisine. Eating out is reasonably priced and there are plenty of venues where the food is authentic and not tailored to tourist tastes.

Thessaloniki has a solid visitor infrastructure which comprises, among other things, good local transportation services and variety of accommodation options. In the latter category, there are some big names such as Hyatt Regency and Holiday Inn, as well as wealth of independent hotels with ratings from two to five stars.

Getting to Thessaloniki is best achieved by air via Thessaloniki International Airport or by train, bus or car from other European destinations. Flights arrive regularly from across Europe and the airport is a 16-kilometre ride from the city centre.

Thessaloniki’s climate is subject to a mix of both Mediterranean and continental influences, bringing it hot summers and winters that are cool and for the most part dry. The spring and summer seasons are usually mild and wet, with March and November seeing significant volumes of rain. December is the wettest month of the year, seeing up to 57 mm.

Summer is the ideal time to visit if you are sun seeker but it’s also the busiest time of year so beaches and poolsides are generally crowded. Summer temperatures peak in July, when the mercury can easily climb to 32°C. If you prefer things a little cooler and quieter, then consider June, September or October for your visit.