Thessaloniki with Children

Thessaloniki is an easier city with children than it looks. It is flat where it matters, it has a long seafront promenade, and Greek culture takes children everywhere — into tavernas, into cafés, late into the evening.

The big advantage

The waterfront promenade is five kilometres of car-free path beside the sea, with themed gardens, a cycle lane and open space. It is where children can run without you worrying, and adults can sit.

Bikes and scooters can be hired along it.

What works with children

• The White Tower — you climb it in a spiral, the view at the top is the reward, and the visit is short.
• The metro — for children who have not used one, it is an outing in itself. The trains are new and the stations clean.
• Zongolopoulos's Umbrellas — the most photographed spot in the city, with open space around it.
• The markets — Modiano and Kapani, full of colour, noise and tasting. Better in the morning.
• The Rotunda and the Arch — big, impressive, quick. They ask no patience.

What to avoid with small children

Ano Poli is beautiful but steep and cobbled. With a pushchair it is hard work. If you want the view, go up by taxi or bus and walk a short stretch along the walls.

The museums are excellent but demanding for young ages. Pick one, not two.

Practical notes

• Eating: most restaurants take children without fuss and many have high chairs. There is no "children's hour" — the city eats late and children are part of it.
• Heat: in July and August avoid the centre between noon and 5 p.m. See the month-by-month guide for what to expect.
• Swimming: you do not swim in the city itself. The nearest options are Peraia and Agia Triada across the bay, or Chalkidiki for a full day.
• Pushchairs: fine in the centre and along the seafront; less so on the pavements of the shopping streets.