Tour report
Between Ancient Traces and the Modern Metro
Our city tour through Thessaloniki took us into the heart of a city where past and present exist side by side. Between historic sites, ancient walls and bustling streets, the day unfolded with plenty of variety, feeling less like a classic sightseeing tour and more like a continuous shift in perspective. New details kept appearing, while modern city life moved to its own distinctive rhythm all around us. What stayed with us most was our first journey on the autonomous metro 🚇. The modern form of transport alone was a new experience for us. Even more impressive, however, was how visibly history has been preserved in some of the stations. They feel like more than functional stops, placing archaeological traces centre stage so that travelling through the city also becomes an encounter with its past. For us, this was precisely what made Thessaloniki so special: antiquity and modernity are not separate here. Ancient structures, historic sites and contemporary infrastructure all belong to the same urban space. You leave the streets and descend into the metro, yet remain connected to the city’s history. In the end, we were left with a city trip full of impressions, culture, sunshine and Greek life. Thessaloniki won us over not with a single sight, but with the complete picture: vibrant, steeped in history and open to the future.
Moment
„In Thessaloniki, even a metro journey becomes an encounter with history.“
Route
The route.
Our city tour took us through Thessaloniki to historic sites, lively streets and visible traces of antiquity. Another part of the day was our journey on the autonomous metro and visits to stations where archaeological finds have been integrated into the modern transport infrastructure. No precise starting point, finishing point or route was recorded.
Personal note
What stayed with us most was this gentle transition between different eras: vibrant Thessaloniki above, and below, a modern metro offering direct glimpses into the past. Unexpected moments like these are what make a city special to us—when travelling is not just about visiting places, but about discovering their character step by step.
Tour participants