Living in Thessaloniki.
A short guide for students arriving in the city — the practical things worth knowing before you come, and the local context that helps everything make sense once you're here.
Thessaloniki is the second-largest city in Greece, with roughly a million people in the metropolitan area and more than 150,000 students. It is a university hub, a Mediterranean port, a gateway to the Balkans — affordable by Western European standards, dense with cafés and history, and built around a long waterfront that defines daily life as much as any single building does.
History.
Thessaloniki was founded in 315 BC by the Macedonian king Cassander and became one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire. The Byzantine era, the Ottoman period, and the cosmopolitan communities of the nineteenth century each left a deep mark on the urban fabric — from the Byzantine walls and churches, many of them built in the fourth and fifth centuries, to the remains of the old Jewish market in the city centre.
Today the city is a layered palimpsest. A Roman rotunda stands a few hundred metres from an Ottoman bath, which stands a few hundred metres from a modernist apartment block. The historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage landscape in places, and the everyday route between classrooms, cafés, and the waterfront passes through more centuries of building than most European capitals can claim.
Getting here.
Thessaloniki "Macedonia" Airport (SKG) sits about 15 km from the city centre and serves direct flights from many European cities. Ryanair, Aegean, Wizz Air, and others operate regular routes. From the airport, the centre is reachable by:
- Bus line 78 — about 45 minutes, €1
- Taxi — approximately €20–25
The city is also connected by train (the central station sits near the port) and by intercity KTEL coaches from the rest of Greece and several Balkan countries. Both options are useful if you are flying into Athens first or arriving overland from Bulgaria, North Macedonia, or further north.
Getting around.
Thessaloniki has a metro. The new network includes a stop serving Aristotle University — "University" station — making travel to and from campus fast and reliable. The main axis of the city is fully covered.
The city bus network (OASTH) provides frequent service across the whole city. A monthly student pass costs around €15 and covers unlimited journeys. Many students also use bicycles — the city has expanded its cycle lanes significantly in recent years, especially along the waterfront, which makes the seafront ride from the centre toward the eastern neighbourhoods one of the most pleasant commutes in the city.
For occasional trips, taxis (easily called through the Beat app) and shared e-scooters are widely available.
Cost of living.
Compared with most Western European cities, Thessaloniki offers a fairly affordable cost of living — especially for food and accommodation. The figures below are typical ranges for a student. Actual spending varies with lifestyle, neighbourhood, and how often you eat out.
Monthly expenses
| Category | Cost / month | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (room in shared flat) | €200–350 | shared with roommates |
| Rent (studio, alone) | €350–550 | higher near universities |
| Food (cooking at home) | €120–180 | supermarket + street market |
| Food (eating out) | €80–150 | student restaurants €6–9 / meal |
| Transport | €15–30 | student pass or bicycle |
| Mobile / internet | €15–25 | plans with 20–30 GB data |
| Entertainment / going out | €50–100 | cafés, bars, cinema |
| Total estimated | €500–900 | depending on lifestyle |
Everyday prices
| Item or service | Price |
|---|---|
| Bus ticket | €0.60 (€0.30 with Academic ID) |
| Bottle of water (0.5 L) | €0.50 |
| Milk (1 L) | €1.00–1.80 |
| Soft drink | €1.00–2.00 |
| Espresso at a café | €2.50–3.50 |
| Beer at a bar | €4.00–6.00 |
| Cinema ticket | €7.50 |
| Loaf of fresh white bread | €0.90 |
| Taxi start (normal tariff) | €3.50 |
| Meal at a mid-range restaurant | €15.00 |
| Apples (1 kg) | €0.80–1.40 |
Accommodation.
The most popular areas for students are:
- Ano Poli
- The traditional upper town — close to AUTH, narrow streets, and the Byzantine walls. Views of the city and the bay, slower pace, older housing stock.
- City Centre
- Close to everything, more expensive, well-connected by metro and bus. Walkable to most cultural venues and the waterfront.
- Toumba and Charilaou
- Quieter and more affordable, slightly further from the centre. Established residential neighbourhoods with good local markets and public transport links.
Listings appear on spitogatos.gr and xe.gr — the two main rental portals in Greece. Both carry student listings, and most landlords expect tenants to deal directly through these platforms.
Social life.
Thessaloniki has a vibrant cultural scene and is often described as Greece's unofficial capital of food, music, and nightlife. The waterfront promenade, Aristotelous Square, and the Ladadika district are meeting points for people of all ages — from morning coffee to long evenings.
There are many student clubs, Erasmus communities, sports events, and festivals. The Thessaloniki International Fair, the International Film Festival, and the Book Festival are three of the largest, but the cultural calendar runs year-round with smaller events that are often free or inexpensive.
To meet other Erasmus+ and international students, the ESN Thessaloniki group regularly organises trips, language exchanges, social evenings, and orientation events at the start of each semester.