Greece - Korina Miller [226]
The National Theatre of Northern Greece ( 2310 288 000; Ethnikis Amynis 2) offers classical Greek drama and modern theatrical works. Additionally, the following cinemas operate:
Aristotelion ( 2310 262 051; Ethnikis Amynis 2)
Cinema Pallas ( 2310 278 515; Leoforos Nikis 73)
Olympion ( 2310 277 113; Plateia Aristotelous)
Plateia Alpha Odeon ( 2310 290 100; cnr Tsimiski & Plateia Aristotelous)
Shopping
West Egnatia has bargain-basement shopping, whereas Tsimiski offers high fashion (though not everything’s expensive; women’s shoes and jewellery are both affordable and good quality). International name-brand shops line Tsimiski, and fill the mall off it, below the US consulate.
Rihardos ( 2310 860 254; www.rihardos.gr, in Greek; Konstantinopoleos 27) Who knew there were so many different kinds of bouzouki? Rihardos, one of Greece’s biggest purveyors of traditional instruments, has a huge array of Greek instruments, plus Western brand-name guitars (and Chinese knock-offs) in this and two other nearby shops. Friendly owner Rihardos and his English-speaking son, Joseph, explain everything about these unusual instruments. Take bus 31 from Egnatia east to the Faliro stop (five to 10 minutes); continue across the intersection with Paraskeopoulos, turn left and Rihardos is facing you.
Getting There & Away
Thessaloniki is northern Greece’s transport hub and gateway to the Balkans. Major European airlines and budget airlines fly regularly. Both planes and ferries serve some island groups.
AIR
Makedonia Airport ( 2310 473 212; www.thessalonikiairport.gr) is 16km southeast of town, and served by local bus 78. Internationally, Makedonia Airport serves a number of European destinations.
Olympic Air ( 2310 368 666; www.olympicairlines.com; Navarhou Koundourioti 1-3) is near the port, and Aegean Airlines ( 2310 280 050; www.aegeanair.com; Venizelou 2) is on Plateia Eleftherias.
Olympic Air operates more than 15 domestic routes, the most services go to Athens (€65 to €115, 55 minutes, seven daily). Aegean Airlines has 12 daily flights to Athens (€60 to €93). Travel agencies selling tickets are widespread; Remember Travel ( 2310 246 026; remembertravel@mail.gr; Egnatia 119), just off Kamara, sells tickets and has good postsale customer service. Another good all-purpose travel agency, further east, is Aspect Travel ( 2310 240 567; mail@aspect.ondsl.gr; Vasillis Olgas 283).
For island flights, Island Hopping.
BOAT
Thessaloniki’s a major ferry and hydrofoil hub; Island Hopping.
Many port-area travel agencies sell tickets; try Polaris Travel Services (Agias Sofias 2310 278 613; Egnatia 81; 8am-8.30pm; Port 2310 548 655; polaris@otenet.gr; Navarhou Koundourioti 19; 8am-8.30pm) or Karaharisis Travel & Shipping Agency ( 2310 524 544; Navarhou Koundourioti 8; 8am-8.30pm).
BUS
Domestic
The main bus station ( 2310 595 408; Monastiriou 319), 3km west of centre, features different windows selling tickets to specific destinations, meaning the worker at one window cannot sell you a ticket for or give information about anything other than their specified destination. There’s no general information booth and this enhances the station’s unpleasant, stressful nature.
Note, however, that Halkidiki-bound buses leave from the Halkidiki bus terminal ( 2310 316 555; www.in-ktel.gr, in Greek), on Thessaloniki’s eastern outskirts. To get there, take bus 2 or 31 to the Botsari stop from the train station, or from anywhere along Egnatia; at Botsari, bus 36 continues the final 10 minutes. With traffic, it’s about one hour from the train station to the Halkidiki bus station.
International
OSE ( 2310 599 100; Aristotelous 26)