A historical city
In 315 / 316 B.C., the Macedonian king Cassander cohabits 26 scattered, coastal and inland settlements (polismata) and gives the name of his wife to the new city, Thessaloniki, the sister of Alexander the Great. Due to its geopolitical position, the city began to develop at a rapid pace and was gradually transformed into a commercial and later a cultural hub of the Hellenistic period. At that time, the first Judeans settle in the city, and new religions and customs are introduced, mainly from Egypt. Since then and to this day, Thessaloniki has played an important role in the development of the region, as a port, a centre of trade and civilization and as a commercial and cultural crossroads between two continents and – at times – between two worlds.
During the last two years, Thessaloniki has been steadily promoted, as the most popular urban Greek destination point, and has received awards from HELEXPO and the GTO within the framework of the Philoxenia Tourism Awards.
A cosmopolitan, historical city, situated at a key geographical position, with a historical civilization of many centuries. An important city in ancient times, and also during the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine period, Thessaloniki today stands as a gateway to the Balkans, endowed with its own timeless personality and following a steady rate of modernization.
The tourism development of the whole region of Northern Greece has created a unified area, with Thessaloniki right at its very centre.


