CHRISTMAS IN THESSALONIKI: TOP 10 THINGS TO SEE AND DO
Last update: November 08, 2022
Every year, the first signs of Christmas in Thessaloniki appear in mid-November when most of the commercial stores, cafe-bars, pastry shops, and restaurants of the city are being decorated for the upcoming holidays. Officially, however, the Christmas season in Thessaloniki begins in early December with a large concert and the lighting of the Christmas tree in Aristotelous Square. The event is organized by the Municipality of Thessaloniki and it also includes the setting up of all the festive decorations and installations in the square itself and all around the city.
This year, the concert and the lighting of the Christmas tree will take place on December 7, 2022.
The festive atmosphere in Thessaloniki runs through the whole month of December and is continued even on the first days of the new year until the Epiphany holiday on January 6. During this joyful time of the year, there are many events and things you can see or do in Thessaloniki – probably more than what you might have expected. Here we have gathered for you the 10 best of them.
1) Attend A Festive Event In Aristotelous Square
Besides the concert and the lighting of Thessaloniki’s largest Christmas tree on the first day of the festive period, Aristotelous Square is also hosting the concert and the fireworks show on New Year’s Eve. Additionally to these two major events, the square occasionally hosts smaller-scale happenings and shows by renowned musicians, wind bands and choirs.
The style of the Christmas decorations and the special events in the square during the festive period usually vary from year to year depending on the approach and the directions of the city administration. Usually, there are a lot of things for the entertainment of children, fancy decorations, and other interactive installations (such as the winding music boxes, the selfie spots, and the DJ booths in 2019).
In Aristotelous Square you can also find many street vendors selling roasted chestnuts, roasted corn, candies and “salep”, a winter beverage of the East made of orchid tubers powder, honey, and cinnamon or ginger. On the weekends, during concerts, and when the weather allows it the square can be overcrowded.
2) Visit The Christmas Markets
On December 8, 2019, the people of Thessaloniki had their first European-style Christmas market with 40 wooden houses, a large Christmas tree, a music stage, and several installations for children. The Christmas market was located around the Statue of Venizelos, on the axis of Aristotelous Square, just above Egnatias Street. Festive concerts, food and drinks, craftworks, local products, a carousel, an amusement train, and the houses of elves and Santa Clause were some of the things that you could find in a complete setting that had almost everything.
This year (2022) there are going to be two Christmas markets. The first one at the same location and the second one on YMCA Park, between the Statue of Alexander the Great and Thessaloniki’s International Fair.
3) Explore The Picturesque Ladadika District
The district of Ladadika is one of the most popular historic areas of the city and, since 1985, an officially declared cultural heritage site. The old, 19th-century brick-wall buildings and the cobblestone pedestrian streets of this former olive oil market, when combined with the decorations of the several restaurants, cafe-bars, and night-clubs that currently occupy the area make for one of the most beautiful settings for Christmas in Thessaloniki. Ladadika is a place not to be missed regardless of the time of the year.
4) Walk Under A Blue Layer Of "Stars" On Agias Sofias Street
In 2015, part of Agias Sofias Street in the center of Thessaloniki was converted into a pedestrian-only area. Since then, in every Christmas period, the street is decorated with thousands of blue fairy lights and has become one of the most popular spots for photography. Agias Sofias Street is a busy shopping area and one of the most lively places in Thessaloniki with many cafe-bars and pastry shops. It is also one of the favorite places for street musicians.
The pedestrian part of the street starts at the junction with Tsimiski Street and it ends a few steps before the Byzantine Church of Agia Sofia, one of the most important monuments of the city.
5) Visit The Richly Decorated Stores On Tsimiski Avenue
Tsimiski Avenue is the largest and most popular shopping street in Thessaloniki with several international fashion shops, boutiques, department stores, and malls. The street begins from the district of Ladadika at the west and it crosses the entire historical center of the city ending at the exhibition center of “Thessaloniki International Fair” at the east. Its length is approximately 1.8 kilometers.
Every Christmas season the interior, the window displays, and even the whole front of the buildings on Tsimiski Avenue are richly decorated as the stores compete with each other in order to attract more customers. At the same time, the street is being further adorned by the city municipality with fairy lights and other light installations all along its length.
During December, most stores, besides their regular opening hours, are also open on the last two Sundays before Christmas and the last Sunday of the year from 11:00 until 18:00. On Christmas Eve and on New Year’s Eve they are open from 10:00 until 18:00. On December 25-26 and on January 1st all commercial stores are closed (some stores may be also closed on January 2). See the regular opening hours of Thessaloniki’s stores here.
6) Watch A Festive Show At Thessaloniki Concert Hall
Festive music shows by symphonic or jazz orchestras, ballets and opera shows, philanthropic galas, and choir Christmas shows are only some of the events that take place every December in the two buildings (M1 and M2) of Thessaloniki Concert Hall. Find the schedule and more information about the festive events here.
Thessaloniki Concert Hall is located at the end of the city’s New Waterfront, on Martiou Street (see the location on Google Maps). Do not miss the view from the cafe-bar bistro on the 5th floor of the New Concert Hall (building M2).
7) Visit The Christmas Flea Market At The Port
Thessaloniki’s Christmas Flea Market takes place during the last two weekends of the year and the Fridays before them in Warehouse C of Thessaloniki’s Port, Pier 1 (view on Google Maps). The admission to the flea market is free. Opening hours (2019): 11:00-21:00 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).
8) Visit "Mediterranean Cosmos" Mall During Its Christmas Program
Mediterranean Cosmos is one of the largest shopping malls in Greece and in south-eastern Europe with more than 200 retail units including many fashion shops, electronics stores, restaurants, cafe-bars, and 11 movie theaters. The Christmas program of the mall begins in early December with most of its indoor and outdoor facilities being richly decorated. Inside its vast space, you can find many Christmas-related creative workshops and activities for children, music events, puppet shows, magic shows, and more.
Mediterranean Cosmos is located on the road that connects Thessaloniki with Chalkidiki (11th km of “Thessaloniki – Nea Moudania” National Road – view on Google Maps). It can be reached by car, taxi, or bus (lines 36 and 45). Phone number: +30 2310 489 571. Learn more about Mediterranean Cosmos here.
9) Have Fun At "Asterokosmos" Christmas Theme Park
Asterokosmos is a Christmas theme amusement park with many activities for children and families. It is located inside the city, at the exhibition center of Thessaloniki International Fair (junction of Tsimiski and Aggelaki Streets – view on Google Maps). Most of the activities are taking place indoors, at the pavilions of the exhibition center. At Asterokosmos you can find ice-skating arenas, music events, puppet shows, carousels, elf houses, magic shows, painting workshops, and more. In the outdoor areas, you can also find several amusement park rides.
The admission fee is 7 euros (2019). For more information and pictures see Asterokosmos website.
10) Enjoy the Christmas Atmosphere In A Cafe-Bar
Thessaloniki has lots of beautiful cafe-bars that are mostly visited by young people making the city one of the most lively destinations in Europe. During the Christmas period, the most lavishly decorated cafe-bars can be found on Karolou Ntil Street and Komninon Street (east and west of Aristotelous Square respectively), on Nikis Avenue (along the old waterfront) and on Vassilissis Olgas Street where certain cafe-bars are housed in historic old mansions.
