The countdown to the most festive season of the year has begun! The Christmas season kicks off on December 8th and we are ready for the most beautiful celebration of the year!
From festive bazaars overflowing with Christmas cheer to dazzling theatrical spectacles and family thrills plus recipes to sweet the holiday season – there’s enough Yuletide action going on in Thessaloniki to jingle all your bells and promise you unforgettable experiences!
Thinking of visiting Thessaloniki? Here are the top things you should know, the best things you can do and of course the best things you should eat!
What to do in Thessaloniki for Christmas
Visit The Christmas Markets
Christmas cheer without cost: Thessaloniki Christmas markets entice visitors with free admission this winter. That means more money left over for gifts, treats and mulled wine!
This year, Thessaloniki will have two new Christmas markets that will open at the beginning of December, in two central parts of the city. Up to 30 cabins will be placed in the park of YMCA, and up to 39 cabins in the park of Dikastirion square, behind the statue of Eleftherios Venizelos. The stands that will be set up will sell agricultural products such as walnuts, chestnuts, legumes, nuts, wines. Flowers, ornamentals, aromatic and medicinal plants, household products, sweets, jewelry, toys, books will also be sold. Wooden houses and stalls will “sprout” there, where the entrepreneurs of Thessaloniki will be able to sell food, sweets, hot drinks and wine, Christmas decorations and ornaments.
Strolls around the city center
The exquisite adornment of the city promises us the most romantic strolls around. It is impossible to exclude from them the magnificent bird-eye views of Aristotle Square, the walks under the blue layer of “Stars” on Agias Sofias Street, the bright circled decoration at Mitropoleos Str., Egnatias str. and the seafront illuminated by modern light installations.
Here’s the must-do list:
- Strike a pose for a selfie in front of Aristotelous Square Christmas tree with the Thermaic Gulf in the background
- See the beautiful Agias Sophias Street Christmas blue lights shimmer above one of the most popular shopping streets of the city.
- Get cycling and follow Nikis Avenue cycling route to enjoy the gorgeous seaside views accompanied with thousands of Christmas lights.
- Explore one of the most beautiful settings for Christmas in Thessaloniki – Ladadika District- and the decorations of the several restaurants, cafe-bars, and night-clubs that dominate the area
- Discover the festive celebration on a magical stroll all around the city on Christmas Eve! Head for Vasileos Irakleiou str. & Modiano Market: listen to Greek music, dance with the locals and drink red wine!
Enjoy the Greek Christmas Carols
Carols for us Greeks is the sweetest Christmas memory of our childhood. Traditionally, kids go door to door carol singing in Christmas Eve and ask, “Shall we?”. If you happen to visit Thessaloniki during Christmas, follow the twinkling lights of Aristotelous and Agias Sofias streets, where choirs and street musicians perform carol concerts in the run-up to Christmas. This is your best chance to sing along to carols and be part of Christmas events that take place all over the city.
Shopping time
Tsimiski Avenue, Mitropoleos Avenue and Agias Sofias street are the largest and most popular shopping streets in Thessaloniki with several international fashion shops, boutiques, department stores, and malls. Every Christmas season the interior, the window displays, and even the whole front of the buildings are richly decorated to attract more customers. 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). You can find small shops in every corner of the city center, or you can buy Christmas presents from the biggest shopping streets of Thessaloniki. Along with authentic Greek souvenirs, you can find locally made Christmas ornaments and seasonal gifts.
Mediterranean Cosmos is another great idea for your Christmas shopping as it 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.
Watch a festive show at Thessaloniki Concert Hall
The Thessaloniki Concert Hall in collaboration with the Department of Music Science and Art (DMSA) of the University of Macedonia co-organize a big Christmas celebration that will introduce us to the festive season. Through a wide spectrum of music creation that encompasses all genres of music, the event will present spectacular performances that will make us feel the festive spirit.
Watch a festive show at Thessaloniki Concert Hall
Women’s Byzantine Choir “Eyneanides” / Students of the Specialization “Chanting Interpretation and Performance” / Vocal ensemble DMSA
Experience a festive journey to Italy through the country’s songs performed by three tenors of our times, who are here to remind us to live our life as it comes! Viva la vita!
The Italian Tenors Sing with Moysa: The three Italian Tenors will present a festive programme packed with Italian music, popular arias and Christmas songs!
For tickets click here.
Take the little ones to the magical world of Asterokosmos
Feeling playful?
The largest and most impressive Christmas Park, which includes a unique Fun Park, with 15 games, and 2 ice rinks, gives, for another year, the pulse of the holidays, in Thessaloniki! The Christmas extravaganza, which takes place under the auspices of Magic Park, awaits you, at the International Exhibition Center of Thessaloniki, from 10.12.22 – 08.01.23!
With Just €8 Entry, You Have Unlimited Access*
- In 15 Luna Park games
- At the 2 ice rinks
- In daily Magic shows with the famous magician Gray Ampa
- In daily performances Karagiozis by Agapios Agapiou
- In puppet shows with TIKNIK
- In numerous other events and events, such as concerts, musical performances, and many other happenings, as well as surprises!
Attend a festive event in Aristotelous Square
This year, the start of the festive season will be on December 7 with the big concert that will accompany the lighting of the Christmas tree.
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.
Another concert will be organized in Aristotelous in view of the arrival of the new year. At the turn of the year, the city will shine with a massive firework Show on New Year’s Eve and so should you!
Additionally to these two major events, the square occasionally hosts smaller-scale happenings and shows by renowned musicians, wind bands and choirs.
Nightlife
Nightlife in Thessaloniki will never let you down! Christmas in Thessaloniki means party until the small hours of the day! Valaoritou, Ladadika & loads of bars are waiting for you! Now is the perfect time to make friends and memories! The region of Macedonia is known for its hospitality & locals can show you the well-kept secrets of the city center during day…and night!
Family Time at the museums
The museums of Thessaloniki are decorated with colors, laughter and Christmas mood and invite young and old to believe in the magic of Christmas with festive programs,concerts, bazaars and workshops.
What to eat in Thessaloniki for Christmas
That the Greek people have a really sweet tooth, we already knew. 365 days a year the shop windows are full of pies, cakes and cookies. But in December it’s almost impossible to meet the needs of the Thessalonians. Tsourekia, melomakarona, diples and kourabiedes are typical Christmas delicacies. Around December you will find at least one of these sorts in almost every household and pastry shop of the city.
Indulge in Greek Christmas sweets
One thing is certain: When you see “Melomakarona” in pastry shops or bakeries, you know that Christmas time is just around the corner. Bakeries all over the city line their shelves with melomakarona, kourabiedes and diples, the most common sweet treats of Greek Christmas that are produced only during this season.
Melomakarona: They are made with flour, sugar, orange, pure olive oil, walnuts, herbs (cinnamon, cloves) and of course good quality honey. In many parts of Greece, Melomakarona are regarded as a sweet treat that brings good luck for the New Year.
Kourabiedes: This traditional Greek sweet -snowy- dessert is the embodiment of the festive season. They are made with almond and other nuts and dusted with icing sugar. This icing sugar is the one responsible for betraying you after you eat one.
Diples (Fried Turnovers): Diples are fried folded treats made from thin sheets of dough strips folded while being fried in hot oil. These sweets are then drizzled with honey syrup as they cool down, while cinnamon (and sometimes chopped nuts) is dusted on them. Coming in circular or triangle shapes, these can be easily found throughout the country.
The famous “Tsoureki” with chestnut from Terkenlis: No one can resist a good tsoureki, let alone a stuffed one. Made with fine flour, fresh butter and spices, this Chestnut Cream filled brioche dipped in White Icing is freshly prepared in Terkenlis workshop and served to your festive table or just as treating and gifting.
Eat like a local: tasty and plenty of food!
Vasilopita or how to welcome the New Year the right way.
In Greece we don’t say “Happy New Year”. We say, “WHERE IS VASILOPITA?”. The cutting of this Christmas cake has a specific ritual which is followed with devotion to welcome the New Year.
Vasilopita is dedicated to Saint Basil, the Santa Claus in Greek tradition, who brings the gifts the first night of the new year. Most families cut it right after the changing of the year or after lunch on the 1st of January. Traditionally, a coin is put inside the cake before it is baked. When it is time to cut it, everyone comes around the table and the householder starts assigning pieces to everyone. The first piece, traditionally, is for the Christ, the second for the Virgin Mary, the third for the house and the rest are for the members of the house by order of age. The person whose piece has the coin inside is considered lucky for the rest of the year!
Celebrate like a king: Christmas dinner in local hotels
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