If you want to buy a property in Greece and have all the advantages of city living but go further afield than Athens. Some of the country’s gems are to be found far from the bustling capital.

While many tourists will visit Athens and the multitude of islands off the Greek coastline, if you want to buy home or a holiday retreat in the country there are many other options. 200 miles north of the capital and hugging the warm waters of the Thermaic Gulf you will find Thessaloniki. A city bursting with restaurants, bars, and historical sites. It also boasts exceptional transport links into its European neighbours, making it a great spot to build an adventurous retirement or varied summer escape.

The second largest city in Greece, Thessaloniki is no second fiddle to Athens. It has a diverse history and culture of its own. Buying a home in Thessaloniki offers many advantages too besides avoiding the tourists of the capital.

A city of sea and spices

Overlooked by Mount Chortiatis to the south-east of the city and built around an ancient port, Thessaloniki was a key trading center for both the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires. If you were to buy a property here, this blend of history would surround you every day. You will see it in the classical, Christian, and Muslim architecture that lines the streets, and taste its influences at the many stalls filling the city’s market.

Fresh food and spices in Kapani market

There are 15 UNESCO world heritage monuments to discover across the city, such as the Kapani Market, a highlight of the old city. Among the rows of stalls, you can sample Grecian sweets and spices and discover local foods.

Thessaloniki’s rich history is reflected in its restaurant scene, borrowing dishes from Greek, Ottoman and Jewish cuisines. Throughout the city you will find Mezedopleía. These local taverna specialize in meze, offering small and large dishes, such as Saganaki (pan-seared goats’ cheese) and souvlaki (roasted spiced pork or chicken served fresh tzatziki).

It would take far longer than just a holiday to discover all of the local foods and restaurants that dot the city. International residents will be able to find these delights over years of return visits.

A short flight to warm winters and cool summers

One advantage of buying a property in Thessaloniki is that you can fly direct from airports across the UK and wider Europe. It will take just over three hours to fly direct from London Gatwick and Stansted. Meanwhile, it’s a short 50-minute flight from Athens for any connecting flight. From there, a 20-minute drive takes you into the heart of the city.

A European escape within easy reach of family and friends back home

Such swift connections make extended weekend stays in your holiday home possible and, if you plan to stay for longer periods, put you in easy reach of family and friends that wish to visit.

Travel within the city

It’s easy to move around the city thanks to an extensive bus network, but on November 30, Thessaloniki’s metro will make travel through the city’s districts fast and simple. Under construction since 2006, the metro’s opening was delayed after builders discovered numerous ancient sites as they made excavations for the line. City architects have incorporated many of these sites into the stations’ designs, giving travelers a glimpse of history as they navigate the city. One station, Venizelou, is the only stop in the world that contains an open archeological excavation.

Image: Alexandros Michailidis via Shutterstock

Thessaloniki acts as a major Macedonian rail hub, allowing you to cheaply reach cities across central Europe. Using the city as your base, you can travel to Bucharest, Budapest, Sofia, Vienna and Istanbul with ease. The network also presents easy travel within Greece, with regular trains to Athens and Larissa, making stops in the foothills of Mount Olympus on the way.

How Thessaloniki’s climate compares to Athens

While only a 50-minute flight from Athens, if you buy a property in Thessaloniki to enjoy a much more forgiving climate.

The temperature in Athens can reach as high as 47.5°C, making it the hottest mainland city in Europe. Whereas the Pindus mountain range shelters Thessaloniki from those extremes.

The city has a luxurious average high of 32°C in summer. However, this won’t mean you have to suffer cool winters. In January, the average low in Thessaloniki is 7°C, significantly more endurable than weather in the UK.

An affordable city to call home

Away from the demands of tourists, Thessaloniki’s residents enjoy a lower cost of living than Athenians with cheaper groceries and restaurants. That difference makes for significant savings when you compare it to London, where, according to residents surveyed by Numbeo, a three-course meal for two in the capital costs an average of £80, whereas you can get the same in Thessaloniki for less than half that price.

Over a long summer in your holiday home, those savings will allow you to indulge in a show at the National Theatre of Northern Greece, an opera at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall or charter a yacht to sail out from one of the coastal city’s many piers. You may also want to put it towards learning the language. While the city is welcoming to international residents, and boasts a large student community, to get the most out of your new home you should consider learning Greek.

Property in Thessaloniki is similarly affordable. A one-bedroom apartment near Aristotelous Square in the city center and a short walk from the waterfront can be found for under €100,000. Two-bedroom properties with separate living room and private terrace in the same neighborhood go for €155,000.

Image: Pit Stock via Shutterstock

If you are keen to explore the city’s food scene, you should focus your attention on Ladadika. This district near the old port is bursting with restaurants serving traditional meze and modern dining. It’s also less than a ten-minute walk from the Kapani Market. Property in the district is in high demand, so you may only be able to live among the restaurants with a budget of €500,000 or more. Still, it’s only ever a short metro journey away.

If you want to live in the foothills of Mount Chortiatis, walking among the valleys and woodlands that make up the Seich Sou Forest National Park, take a trip to Panorama. The suburb boasts beautiful villas and townhouses starting from €320,000. If it’s a natural vista that excites you, here are other Greek homes with a mountain view.

This northern metropolis offers a rich history on your doorstep and an easy gateway into Europe

When you think of buying property in Greek cities, it may be Athens that comes first to mind but if you want to escape the tourists and the extreme summer heat, make sure to seek out the food and culture of Thessaloniki. This northern metropolis offers a rich history on your doorstep and an easy gateway into Europe.

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