In July, Alieke and Danielle went on a workation to Thessaloniki. We must confess that we had not heard of this city, which is located in the north of Greece, before. Having also visited Athens, we see it a bit like this: Athens is more comparable to Amsterdam and Thessaloniki to Utrecht. They are both beautiful cities, but both with their own unique atmosphere. Daniëlle likes to tell more in this blog about how she liked working remotely in Thessaloniki!
More about the city
Many students live in this city, which immediately creates a lively vibe. In the summer, some students go back to their parents’ homes outside the city, but the city remains incredibly lively. What struck me most is that we really encountered zero Dutch people, how nice is that! In that respect, this city really is still such a hidden gem in Europe. There are mainly many Greeks and people from the Balkan countries.
I love being in a place where you are really among the locals. Plus point number one!
A bit of history
If you are going to Thessaloniki, then you should know a bit more about its history. For example, the city has traditionally been an important port city, which has also contributed to the huge growth in its population. Today, a large portion of its inhabitants are students; as many as 80,000 of the city’s total 320,000 people live there because they are studying at one of several universities. And where you find students, you also find nice restaurants and bars and of course I tried those too!
Travel to and in Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is super easy to get to. There are regular flights from the Netherlands and from the airport you drive into the new part of town within 15 minutes and within 20 minutes you are in the old city center. In the city itself you can get to many places on foot, something I really like. There are also buses going and by the end of 2023 the first metro line will open, making it even easier to get around Thessaloniki.
Discovering Thessaloniki culinary
Something that the guide who showed me around the first day proudly told me is that Thessaloniki is Greece’s first Unesco City of Gastronomy. They are immensely proud of that, because every Greek we met further brought up this fact. That made me curious as a lover of good food, so I went to investigate. And that did not disappoint, I found the food here fantastic! Whereas in Dutch Greek restaurants I see a lot of meat on the menu, I found out that this is absolutely not the case in Greece itself. In fact, many Greeks eat a lot of vegetables with their main meal. Since I am a vegetarian, that worked out very well.
Thessaloniki’s best restaurants
We did an extensive food tour full of tastings and by the end of the day had a true food baby in our tummies. The food was totally worth it, below are my tips for the best restaurants and food hotspots in Thessaloniki:
- Anza Restaurant. The restaurant attached to the Vanoro hotel serves delicious dishes that excel in simplicity. In addition, we were surprised by a delicious Greek wine from a small-scale local vineyard.
- Agora Modiano food hall. I found this food hall to be truly a walhalla. I tasted the most delicious local cheeses, learned how to taste olive oil and had an authentic Greek beer. Must visit!
- Iliopetra. “There is not often room in this little restaurant” our guide told us as he took us to Iliopetra. My curiosity was piqued and I was not disappointed. The handwritten menu here is different every day and based on what fresh produce they can get that day. So you never know in advance what you will get here, how fun is that?
- Wine tasting / Taste Gallery Ble Vin. True wine lovers should really go to Ble Vin. The wines are really fantastic and the dishes they serve here are a picture to behold and unprecedentedly delicious. Highly recommended!
- Bantis Bougatsa. Bougatsa is a Greek specialty made of filo pastry that comes in both savory and sweet varieties, you really must taste it! This little store you might just walk by but definitely don’t. The current baker is the third generation who has elevated his grandfather’s recipes to an art. By far the most delicious bougatsa I ate during my workation in Greece!
Funfact: In Greek restaurants in the Netherlands, you will be served ouzo by default with your visit. In Thessaloniki, however, they drink a variation of this strong drink called Tsipouro. I found the drink, which can contain between 40% and 45% alcohol, quite heavy but the Greeks love their glass before dinner!
What to do during your workation
Sure you work during your workation, but when you are free there is plenty to do in Thessaloniki!
- Guided walking tour. In my opinion, one of the easiest and fastest ways to get to know a city. By going out with a guide you not only discover more about Thessaloniki, you also learn your way around. Win-win!
- Cooking Workshop. What fun this was to do! I threw myself wholeheartedly into making veggie zucchini balls with feta that we got to eat ourselves afterwards. Don’t feel like cooking? You can also just sit down at this restaurant. Among the locals by the way, because tourists you will not find here easily.
- Mount Olympus hiking. So this is where I love it: in just under an hour and a half drive you are at Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece. According to Greek mythology, the Greek gods lived on this mountain. I visited some wonderfully beautiful places there and I definitely recommend you to visit this mountain when you spend some time in Thessaloniki as a digital nomad.
- Visiting Chalkidiki. ‘Are you going to Chalkidiki? You’re going to love it! That was the standard response from everyone I told of our planned visit to the three peninsulas near Thessaloniki. And they were right! Remote work has never been so easy to combine with a vacation! During your workation in Greece, follow the Greeks and spend your weekends on one of the three peninsulas: Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos.
- The bars and restaurants district: Ladadika. The district where you will find the nicest restaurants and bars. Start the evening with dinner and continue your way to a cocktail bar and end up dancing at a club. An advantage of a student city; the nightlife is buzzing here!
Funfacts about Chalkidiki: single, forgiven and abandoned
This region is made up of three peninsulas, and the Greeks had something fun to say about this! Indeed, island number 1, Kassandra, you visit as a bachelor where you hope to find your partner. Once you find one, you move on to peninsula number 2: Sithonia, the place for couples and families. Does it unexpectedly go completely wrong with your relationship? Then island number 3 is the end station, all abandoned bachelors end up on Athos, the place where Orthodox monks also have their home. Well, this may sound a bit sad but what is nice to know is that almost all hotels on the peninsulas are owned by Greeks. So you won’t find any large-scale, international hotel chains here. We like that!
Staying and working in Thessaloniki
After all the facts and tips about all the sights in Thessaloniki, you would almost forget that during your remote work adventure, there is also somewhere to live and work. We stayed in the middle of the historic center during our workation, which is really recommended. It was only a 5-minute walk to all the restaurants and bars. On the recommendation of the tourism agency we work with, we went to the Vanoro Hotel. A very comfortable and stylish hotel with really great staff. They were super helpful and we spent a long evening socializing and hearing all about their life in Thessaloniki. And what is definitely worth a special mention: they have an unlimited all day breakfast menu that says “order as much as you want, the chef will take it as a compliment”. Well, you don’t have to tell us twice: guess who came back to the Netherlands 2 kilos heavier?
Coworkings, coffee shops and workplaces
As you read, we saw and did an awful lot of fun things in Thessaloniki, but we also actually worked there! There are several coworkings where you can rent flex desks when you want to do some concentrated work for once. Most places rent a desk by the day, ideal for a short workation, but a week or a month are also possible. Want to read more about the workplaces I visited? Check out my blog about the nicest coworkings, coffee shops and workplaces in Thessaloniki.
Fun to know about Thessaloniki
- Thessaloniki is located in the region of Macadonia. So that is not the same as the country of Northern Macadonia.
- Virtually all residents leave every weekend for Chalkidiki, the beautiful peninsulas just 45 minutes away by car.
- Many people who live here have second homes in Chalkidiki. Which seemed a little crazy to me because Greeks are not necessarily rich.
- Just a 1-hour drive away you are in the mountains and imagine yourself in another world. The most famous mountain is Mount Olympus. Where many stories of different myths go around.
Want more tips about Thessaloniki? You can find more to do’s in the city and surrounding areas here.
