Greece’s second city

Known by one American newspaper as the ‘Seattle of the Balkans’ - is the undisputed gateway to mainland northern Greece and the beautiful northern Aegean coastline. Stay in town and, amid the 21st century throng of modern Greece, you’ll be treated to a festival of early Christian and Byzantine splendour, which have helped more than one of its sites on to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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Must see:
The 1700 year-old Rotunda of St George is worth a visit to marvel at its death-defying longevity... with 6 metre-thick walls it miraculously survived the city’s earthquakes unscathed.

Must eat at:
Intricate but sweet pastries are very much the local delicacy. Try Terkenlis in town for its own brand of delicious sweet breads, known locally as tsoureki, with a whole family of toppings and fillings.

Must be there for:
The whole city lives outdoors in the summer months – and the theatrical community is no exception. The beautiful Garden Theatre plays host to the annual Open Theatre Festival, which runs on various dates from June to September, which is worth a visit, just for the experience (even if you haven’t got a word of Classical Greek).

Well-travelled tips:
- The seafront promenade is where to head for a sunset stroll lubricated by just a few pre-dinner ouzos.
- The newish Museum of Byzantine Culture was voted the best in Europe just a few years ago. It’s a comprehensive collection with fascinating insights into this once mighty civilisation.

Visa:
British citizens do not need a visa to visit Greece.