Where to stay in Thessaloniki

Ladadika and Aristotelous Square are the waterfront centre: the old warehouse streets of Ladadika, the markets and the promenade to the White Tower, about 1 km away. Around Kamara and the Rotunda, between Egnatia Street and the university, the streets are full of students and cafes and close to two metro stations. Ano Poli, the upper town inside the Byzantine walls, is quiet and steep, about 3 km by road from Aristotelous Square.

Kalamaria, a separate municipality on the coast south-east of the centre, has been on the metro since 27 August 2026 and is about 10 km from the airport. Perea and Agia Triada, beach suburbs on the far side of the gulf, are about 11 and 15 km from the airport and about 24 and 28 km by road from Aristotelous Square.

The centre, from the port to the Makedonia Palace and north to Agios Pavlos, is covered by THESi, the city's controlled parking. Visitors pay EUR 1.70 an hour, Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 21:00 and Saturday from 09:00 to 16:00, and may stay 4 hours in one sector before moving the car to another. Sundays and public holidays are free. The ParkPal app charges by the minute and needs the plate and the sector number from the street sign. Resident spaces need a municipal permit card.

Four hours at a time does not fit a car that stays put for days, so in the centre a hotel or flat with its own parking is the practical choice. Ano Poli's lower streets fall inside THESi zone C, whose boundary follows Akropoleos and Eptapyrgiou streets. For Kalamaria, Perea and Agia Triada no official parking source was found, so ask the host.

The roads from Thessaloniki to Halkidiki have no toll stations. GetCar's guide Driving in Thessaloniki: the Airport, the Flyover Works, Parking and Tolls covers the ring road works and the motorway tolls.

Greece charges a climate resilience fee per night and per room or property, paid by the guest and collected by the host before departure. Article 44 of Law 5177/2025 sets it: from April to October EUR 8 in a short-term rental, EUR 15 in a detached house over 80 m2 and EUR 2 to EUR 15 in hotels by star rating; from November to March EUR 2, EUR 4 and EUR 0.50 to EUR 4. Tax press lists the same amounts for 2026.

Hotels and professional hosts also charge the municipal visitors' fee on the price of stays under six months, which the guest pays: 0.5% nationally. The City of Thessaloniki raised it to 0.75% in council decision 795/2024 of 2 December 2024, and Thermaikos, which includes Perea and Agia Triada, in decision 312/2024 of 18 December 2024, which stays in force until the council changes it; neither sets an end date, and no later decision was found on Diavgeia as of September 2026. No Kalamaria decision was found, so the national 0.5% applies there. Private hosts who let one or two properties do not charge the fee.

Every short-term rental must show its 11-digit AMA, the registry number from the tax authority AADE, on every platform and advert; licensed properties show a 16-digit ΕΣΛ or a 7-digit ΜΑΓ number instead. Since 1 July 2026 no property in the city's 1st Municipal Community, which the municipality describes as running from the edges of Ano Poli to the seafront and from the White Tower to the port, can be registered as a short-term rental for the first time. The ban runs to 31 December 2026 and can be extended. Rentals registered before July 2026 still operate, and Kalamaria, Perea and Agia Triada lie in other municipalities.

From November to March the climate fee falls to EUR 2 a night in a short-term rental and EUR 0.50 to EUR 4 in hotels. THESi parking is free on Sundays and public holidays, which makes a Sunday arrival in the centre easier with a car.

For an early or late flight, Kalamaria and Perea are about 10 and 11 km from the airport; buses 1X and 1N also link the airport with the centre. For beach days in summer, stay in Perea or Agia Triada; for a winter city stay, the centre and Kalamaria are on the metro.

A first visit on foot and nights out: Ladadika and Aristotelous Square.

The metro, cafes and the university quarter: Kamara and the Rotunda.

Quiet streets and views: Ano Poli.

A month by the sea on the metro: Kalamaria.

Beaches, the airport and a car: Perea and Agia Triada.