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Central Macedonia Travel Guide

Kentrikí Makedonía · Capital: Thessaloniki

The White Tower on the Thessaloniki waterfront. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Central Macedonia is Greece's north: Thessaloniki, the country's second city, founded in 315 BC and named for Alexander the Great's sister. The White Tower on the Thermaic Gulf waterfront, the old town of Ano Poli above it, and Aristotelous Square are the essentials.

Inland: the royal tombs of Vergina, where Philip II of Macedon was buried, and ancient Pella and Dion. East: Chalkidiki's three peninsulas, Kassandra, Sithonia and the monastic republic of Mount Athos, autonomous, open to men only with a permit.

Destinations in Central Macedonia

  1. The entrance to the royal tombs at VerginaRoyal tombs of Vergina4.8The tomb of Philip II, father of Alexander, under the great tumulus.
  2. The White Tower on the Thessaloniki waterfrontWhite Tower4.6Thessaloniki's 15th-century waterfront tower, now the city museum.
  3. The monasteries of Mount AthosMount Athos4.6The autonomous monastic peninsula: 20 monasteries, men only, permit required.
  4. Thessaloniki from the walls of Ano PoliAno Poli4.5The old upper town: Ottoman walls, the Heptapyrgion and the city views.
  5. Klimataria beach, SithoniaSithonia beaches4.5The middle Chalkidiki peninsula: coves and pine-backed beaches.
  6. Aristotelous Square, ThessalonikiAristotelous Square and the waterfront4.4The great square and the promenade along the Thermaic Gulf.
  7. The Stag Hunt mosaic at ancient PellaPella4.3The ancient Macedonian capital: mosaics and the museum.
  8. The Hellenistic theatre at ancient DionDion4.2The sanctuary city at the foot of Mount Olympus.
  9. The Byzantine tower at Nea Fokea, KassandraKassandra4.3The western peninsula: resorts and beach clubs.
E. Macedonia & ThraceCentral MacedoniaThessalyNorth AegeanSouth AegeanCentral GreeceWestern GreecePeloponneseAtticaWest MacedoniaEpirusIonian IslandsCrete

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Top Cities & towns in Central Macedonia

Thessaloniki ›Litochoro ›Edessa ›Veria ›Pella ›Ouranoupoli ›

Regional food

  • Bougatsa (custard pie), the Thessaloniki breakfast
  • Trigona panoramatos (cream-filled triangles)
  • Seafood along the waterfront

Read the full Greek food guide ›

Getting there

Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia (SKG) is 15 km southeast of the city. The Egnatia Odos motorway links Thessaloniki with the west and the Turkish border. KTEL Macedonia buses serve the region.

Find hotels in Thessaloniki ›