Essentials
- City
- Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece
- Population
- 815,000 (Metropolitan Area)
- Internet Speed
- Average 100-200 Mbps (Fiber available via Cosmote/Nova)
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (EUR). 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD.
- Tap Water
- Potable and safe to drink, though some prefer bottled or filtered for taste.
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Cosmote (best coverage), Vodafone, Nova. Prepaid 30GB roughly €15-€20.
- Banking for Expats
- Piraeus Bank, National Bank of Greece (NBG), Revolut (widely used by nomads).
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Blueground (furnished), Spitogatos.gr (long-term rentals).
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards accepted almost everywhere by law (POS required).
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, Zeustra Rentals (approx. €800-€1,200/month center).
- Budget Accommodation
- Stay Hybrid Hostel (Ionon Dragoumi 43), approx. €25-€35/night.
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Ladadika and Aristotelous Square for proximity to nightlife and landmarks.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Ano Poli (Upper Town) for views/quiet or Toumba/Ano Toumba for local prices and community.
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- OK!Thess (Komotinis 2), Coho (Laskaratou 7). Day pass approx. €15.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Ypsilon (Edessis 5), Local Coffee & Spirits (Palaion Patron Germanou 17).
- Networking Events
- Thessaloniki Digital Nomads Meetup, TechTalks at OK!Thess.
- Social Events for Expats
- InterNations Thessaloniki, Expats in Thessaloniki Facebook Group.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- FreeNow (Uber is available but largely summons licensed taxis).
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- ThessBike (various stations on the promenade), Rise Scooters.
- Best Beach Nearby
- Agia Triada (25km) or Peraia Beach. 1 hour drive to Halkidiki (Sani, Afytos).
- Top Regional Airline
- Aegean Airlines / Olympic Air.
- Top International Airline
- Ryanair, EasyJet, Lufthansa (Thessaloniki Airport 'Makedonia' SKG).
- Highway Access
- A1 (Egnatia Odos) connecting East to West Greece.
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Thessaloniki Railway Station (Monastiriou St).
- Public Transport Passes
- OASTH Bus system. Single ticket €0.90, monthly pass €27.
- Regional Travel
- KTEL Buses (Makedonia Station) for regional travel; Train to Athens (4.5 hours).
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Papageorgiou General Hospital, Interbalkan Medical Center (Private).
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Shakti Yoga Studio (Ethnikis Amynis 26), Zen Yoga.
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Warehouse 7 (Port area), Holmes Place (Center). Approx. €45-€70/month.
- Laundry Services
- EasyWash Self Service (Egnatia 144), approx. €5 per load.
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Wolt, efood (The most popular locally).
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Bougatsa (sweet or savory pastry at Giannis, Mitropoleos 92).
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- rOOTS (Balanou 4), Tarantula (Olimpou 86).
- Best Dessert Spots
- Choureal (Paleon Patron Germanou 7), Terkenlis (Aristotelous Sq).
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Kapani Market (Vlali Market) for fresh local produce.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Skroutz.gr (The Greek Amazon), Public.gr.
- Grocery Delivery
- Sklavenitis via efood or Wolt Market.
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Valaoritou Street and Ladadika district.
- Local Brewery
- Sulla Terra (local craft), SKNIPA (Thessaloniki microbrewery).
- Wine Bars
- Souel Wine Concept Bar (Pavlou Mela 2), Chotzas Wine Bar.
- Street Food Stalls
- Derlicatessen (Kouskoura 7) for 'souvlakia'.
- Popular International Cuisine
- Ngon (Vietnamese), Tris kai Exi (Creative Greek/Modern).
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- White Tower (Lefkos Pyrgos), Rotunda, Arch of Galerius (Kamara).
- Museums & Art Venues
- MOMus–Museum of Contemporary Art, Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki.
- Historical Sites
- Roman Agora, Walls of the Old City (Heptapyrgion).
- Religious Sites
- Hagios Demetrios (Patron saint's church), Agia Sophia.
- Annual Events
- Thessaloniki International Film Festival (November).
- Cultural Districts
- Ano Poli (UNESCO World Heritage area).
- Theater Venues
- National Theatre of Northern Greece (Moni Lazariston).
- Local Markets
- Modiano Market (recently renovated luxury food hall).
- Music Scene
- Mylos (Geogiou Andreou 56), Eightball Club (Ladadika).
- Street Art
- Mural cycle at the Port and around Navarinou Square.
- Cooking Classes
- Marmita Cooking Lab (Pantazidou 55).
- Art Galleries
- Zina Athanassiadou Gallery (P.P. Germanou 5).
- Historic Buildings
- Villa Bianca, Casa Bianca, Government House (Konake).
- Local Heritage
- Strong Byzantine and Ottoman architectural fusion.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Seih Sou Forest (Paupaio) for hiking/biking overlooks.
- National Parks Nearby
- Axios-Loudias-Aliakmonas Delta National Park (25km away).
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Nea Paralia (New Waterfront) – a 5km coastal promenade.
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Trigoniou Tower in Ano Poli at sunset.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Kalochori Lagoon (Flamingos and varied migratory birds).
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Not permitted in public parks; restricted to organized camps in Halkidiki.
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- ACS Courier, Geniki Taxydromiki, ELTA (Greek Post).
- Tech Repair Services
- iRepair (Tsimiski 87), Plaisio.
- Table Tennis Spots
- YMCA (XAN) Thessaloniki.
- Language Classes
- Aristotle University Modern Greek Language School.
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Thessaloniki Municipal Central Library (Ethnikis Amynis 27).
- Community Centers
- ActionAid Hellas Youth Center (Palaion Patron Germanou).
- Gaming Lounges
- Inspot (many locations), Battlenet Gaming Stations.
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Regency Casino Thessaloniki (near the its airport).
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,200 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = €112,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,900 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = €66,500)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,900 per m² (e.g., 55 m² = €159,500)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,700 per m² (e.g., 55 m² = €93,500)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,700 per m² (e.g., 85 m² = €229,500)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,600 per m² (e.g., 85 m² = €136,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 22%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 5%
- Tax System
- Resident-based taxation on worldwide income.
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 44% (for income over €40,000)
- VAT
- 24% (Standard), 13% (Food/Public Transport)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable under EU ATAD guidelines.
- Property Tax
- ENFIA (Annual tax based on location/size).
- Property Transaction Tax
- 3% Real Estate Transfer Tax + Notary/Legal fees.
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Greece offers a 50% income tax break for 7 years for digital nomads relocating there.