Getting Married in Thessaloniki, Greece: Everything You Need to Know

06.02.18

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Thessaloniki is a lively, unique city on a daily basis, but it’s an even better place to get hitched. Whether you’ve already decided you’re getting married in Thessaloniki, Greece, or are still looking for the perfect spot to host your big day, this handy guide includes all the must-know information about Thessaloniki weddings. From the coolest venues to the top attractions for your out-of-town guests, we’re breaking down the basics to help you plan the wedding of your dreams in Greece.

Ready to start planning your Thessaloniki wedding? Check out this handy guide for everything you need to know.

The Basics
Thessaloniki is a city that combines a wide waterfront, a maze of wanderable streets, a passion for food (with many local specialities), fine beaches just a bus ride away, and a laid-back spirit. Summer and early fall weddings are a favorite among couples, with June and September being the most popular months to get married.

With a population of nearly 800.000 making it the fifth largest and most populated city in the Balkans and the second most populated city that is not a capital, after Istanbul, Thessaloniki is Greece's second major economic, industrial, commercial, and political center and a major transportation hub for the rest of south-eastern Europe.

Before planning your Thessaloniki wedding, be sure to brush up on the city’s busy event calendar and make note of any that could potentially affect your wedding date (traffic, hotel availability, etc.). Some examples are the "Dimitria Festival", the annual Thessaloniki International Trade Fair, and the International Film Festival.

Getting There and Getting Around
For far out-of-town guests, a flight into Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia (SKG) is likely the most convenient. Located about 15 km (9 miles) of the city center, SKG is the third-largest airport in Greece and the main airport of Northern Greece, it serves the city of Thessaloniki, the popular tourist destination of Chalkidiki, and the surrounding cities of the region. There are direct flights to Thessaloniki from various international destinations such as Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Birmingham, Brussels, Copenhagen, Doha-Hamad, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Larnaca, London, Manchester, Milan, Moscow, Munich, Paphos, Paris, Rome, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Tel Aviv, Vienna, Zurich.

Once you’re settled in, taxi rides are the easiest option for getting around for the wedding and accompanying events. Downtown Thessaloniki is known for being a very walkable city, with many restaurants, shops, and attractions accessible on foot. Bike share programs and a designated bike lane along the waterfront make it easy (and kinda fun) for anyone to get around on two wheels.

Weather
Thessaloniki's climate is directly affected by the sea it is situated on. The city lies in a transitional climatic zone, so its climate displays characteristics of several climates. July is the hottest month in Thessaloniki with an average 24-hour temperature of 26°C (79°F) and the coldest is January at 6°C (43°F) with the most daily sunshine hours at 12 in July. The wettest month is November and the best month to swim in the sea is in July when the average sea temperature is 26°C (79°F).

The best time to host your Thessaloniki wedding would be late spring, early summer, or early fall to avoid any uncomfortable weather conditions. During these months the weather is warm. Even though the summer months are hot with rather humid nights, it’s still a popular season for couples to wed. Just make sure to have an indoor option or a shaded area for your receptions.

Wedding Accommodations & Transportation
Since Thessaloniki is known for attracting large crowds, it can easily accommodate out-of-town guests for any wedding size. If you’re hosting your reception in a hotel, you’ll be probably offered a room block to secure space for your guests. If you’re choosing a different type of venue, the city offers a variety of boutique hotels, five-star hotels, or low-cost hotels and other rentals that guests can check into during their stay.

Transportation is an oft-forgotten, but super-important wedding need. Think about renting a shuttle bus as an easy, fun way to get your guests to and from your wedding festivities.

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Wedding Venues

Whether your style is classic and elegant or modern and trendy, there are different options available when it comes to wedding venues in Thessaloniki. Some of the most popular types of venues include:

Rooftops

If you are dreaming of a wedding witnessed by nothing but your friends, the stars, and all the lights of the city, then rooftop venues are the right choice for you. You simply can’t go past a rooftop wedding in Thessaloniki. Rooftops are such a glamorous, chic, memorable, and versatile backdrop for a wedding. A stripped-back space, you can adorn them in lanterns and string lights, or keep them simple and let the view do the talking.

Gardens

There’s nothing that screams romance quite like a lush and lovely garden wedding venue. Thessaloniki's garden wedding venues can infuse your day with a whimsical, fairytale-like quality that can be achieved or enhanced by personal styling. These outdoor wedding venues are ideal for warmer weather months, but many have indoor spaces that can work at any time of year.

Beaches

What could be dreamier than getting married with your toes in the sand, listening to the waves, and feeling the breeze in your hair? Beach weddings have a relaxed ambiance, ideal for lively celebrations that feel like a true vacation. Thankfully, Thessaloniki has amazing beaches within easy reach, some only a short drive away.

Hotels

You’ll find big-name hotels in Thessaloniki, such as the Hyatt Regency, but the city is also home to a variety of five-star hotels that are perfect for any couple wanting the hotel wedding experience.

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Things to Do In Thessaloniki

With so much to do and see in the Thessaloniki area, your out-of-town guests are in luck! To help narrow down all of the options, we recommend creating a list of attractions and sharing it with your guests in a welcome bag.

Seafront of Thessaloniki

The favorite walk of the Thessalonians will surely become your favorite habit too! Few cities in Europe have as large as Thessaloniki's seafront and it has been regenerated so that residents and visitors can enjoy walking or cycling, a unique route by the sea!

Aristotelous Square

The heart of the city beats in Aristotle Square, one of the most beautiful and biggest squares of Greece. The "openness" to the sea offers spectacular views, so it is a favorite meeting place and also a favorite place for relaxation and entertainment for both Thessalonians and visitors of the city.

White Tower

The White Tower, the emblem of Thessaloniki, which dominates the port area, was built in the late 15th century, as the south-east tower of the city’s fortification. It is an imposing six-storey, cylinder-shaped structure, with 22.70 meters in diameter and 33.90 in height. It currently operates as a Museum offering a journey to the city’s history, from the time of its foundation, up until now.

Rotunda

Rotunda, one of the most important and imposing monuments of Thessaloniki, with its architectural strength and its wall mosaics of incomparable art and beauty internally, constitutes a special monument, balancing uniquely between the pagan and Christian world. Today the Rotunda, with a history of over 1700 years, is both church and cultural - archaeological monument, where the litany (performed once per month) combined with the tourist visiting and hosting cultural events that match the character and history of the monument.

Ladadika

Ladadika = Fun! The ultimate experience of all day and night entertainment is listening to the name Ladadika! Used to be a commercial neighborhood and due to the wholesale it housed the oil depots by which got its name (oil = Ladi). In 1985 it was declared as a preservable area and its restructure began and the two-storey vivid colored warehouses became cafes, stylish bars, restaurants, pubs, bistros, clubs, etc., and the pedestrian area flooded with sounds from all musical trends.

Museums

From the archaeological treasures of Macedonia, Byzantine heritage and contemporary art in photographic clicks, the Olympic Games, and the Orient Express, the more than 30 museums in Thessaloniki containing within them the course, evolution, and creativity of the city.

Thessaloniki Wedding Inspiration

It helps to see how real couples have put all the wedding pieces together. Check out these beautiful Thessaloniki weddings for more wedding inspo.

Mayra & Philippos's glam wedding

Renee & Nikos's hotel wedding

Irini & Bhavesh's urban wedding

Thinking about getting married in Thessaloniki, Greece? Get in touch at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..