Thessaloniki Private Historic Walking Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Thessaloniki's rich history
- Visit the iconic White Tower
- Discover ancient artifacts at the Archaeological Museum
- Stroll through vibrant local markets
- Learn about Byzantine and Ottoman influences
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Expert local guide
- Visit to White Tower
- Exploration of Archaeological Museum
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
The White Tower of Thessaloniki (Greek: Λευκός Πύργος Lefkós Pýrgos; Turkish: Beyaz Kule; Ladino: Kuli Blanka) is a monument and museum on the waterfront of the city of Thessaloniki, capital of the region of Macedonia in northern Greece. The present tower replaced an old Byzantine fortification, known to have been mentioned around the 12th century, that the Ottoman Empire reconstructed to fortify the city's harbour sometime after Sultan Murad II captured Thessaloniki in 1430. The tower became a notorious prison and scene of mass executions during the period of Ottoman rule. The White Tower was substantially remodeled and its exterior was whitewashed after Greece gained control of the city in 1912. It has been adopted as the symbol of the city.
The Church of Saint Demetrius, or Hagios Demetrios (Greek: Άγιος Δημήτριος), is the main sanctuary dedicated to Saint Demetrius, the patron saint of Thessaloniki (in Central Macedonia, Greece), dating from a time when it was the second largest city of the Byzantine Empire. It is part of the site Palaeochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessaloniki on the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO since 1988.
Built in 306 A.D. by the romans, Rotunda is one of the oldest religious sites of the city. Going back to the late 3rd century A.D., after a number of long devastating wars, the romans decided to divide the Empire into 4 regions, each with its own provinces , thus leading to the creation of a new form of leadership, the Tetrarchy.
Galerius Arch (kamara) and Rotunda were basic elements of the palatial complex. Original intensions were predicting its use as a mausoleum, although many archaeologists believe it was initially used as a roman temple. The dimensions of the main structure are quite impressive.
The Roman Forum of Thessaloniki is the ancient Roman-era forum of the city, located at the upper side of Aristotelous Square. It is a large two-terraced forum featuring two-storey stoas, dug up by accident in the 1960s
Meeting point
Start Location
Church of St. Demetrios, Agiou Dimitriou, Thessaloniki, Greece
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour is conducted in English
- Private tour; no other participants
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes
- Bring a bottle of water
- Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Good to know
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Kids under 18 years old half price entrance tickets with show of the passport.
- Meeting point Aghios Dimitrios church entrance.
- Meeting point Aghios Dimitrios church entrance.
- Most travelers can participate
- Near public transportation
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Please make sure you will wear comfortable shoes and hats especially during summer months
- You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Traveler reviews
Outstanding Guide and educational tour
Our excellent guide, Maria, met us at the beautiful Holy Church of St. Demetrius. Inside, after speaking to the significance and history of the Church, Maria lead us through a fascinating underground tour of ancient baths and religious architecture. As this was a walking tour we covered a lot of ground although at a leisurely pace which accommodated my knee. We lunched at a favorite local sidewalk cafe with an AMAZING bakery. We covered a large area of the City ending with Alexander the Great’s impressive statue. Maria was incredibly knowledgeable about Thessaloniki and we were so fortunate to have her as our guide.
Great in depth tour!
This was a fantastic tour! Our guide customized the tour on the spot as he learned more about what we were interested in and wanted to know more about. There was a perfect balance between visiting all of the touristy spots and seeing local spots to truly experience the city. This tour was so in depth and was a lot of fun. It is a must if you visit Thessaloniki. I highly recommend doing this tour on your first day in Thessaloniki so you can get the local scoop on what to see and where to eat.
Great highlights of Thessaloniki!
Great walking tour to experience highlights of Thessaloniki! Maria was a fantastic guide. She went above and beyond to ensure the tour was a success!
A well-paced tour covering millennia of Thessaloniki's history
We learned so much of Thessaloniki's history in a visual and engaging way. Our tour started at the Church of St. Demetrios, where we went underground into the old Roman baths where the Saint was killed. We learned about the history of the many incarnations of the Church from Roman times onward. From there, we saw Byzantine architecture and symbolism in the Church of Agia Sophia and learned more about the origins of the Iconoclast movement. Another highlight was the Rotunda, which was built by the Pagan emperor Galerius, turned into a Christian church, and then turned into a mosque by the Ottomans. We also visited the Arch and Palace of Galerius, heard the history of the White Tower, and ended by the statue of Alexander. The pace of the tour was excellent for us and packed with new information. By far the best walking tour we took in Greece.
excellent
Amazing symbolic monument museum at sea front. A must to see when you visit the city. Thessaloniki's top landmark, the 34m-high White Tower has a harrowing history as a prison and torture chamber.