A brief Guide to Thessaloniki - Greece's Second City....

One of the requirements when maintaining Gold status in the Aegean frequent flyer scheme is to take 4 flights on Aegean. This creates a beautiful "problem" in that you need to pick a destination within Greece to connect on to from Athens to meet this requirement... Previously I've been to Larnaca and Rhodes, but on this occasion I picked Thessaloniki. Greece's second city, which allows me to finally start a long-promised series on Europe's second cities...

I spent 36 hours there and really enjoyed it!

⭐ #fcityreview #Thessaloniki #MattsPlanet ⭐

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⏰ Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
1.33 - The City and its History
6:09 - My Hotel
7:20 - Getting there

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[steve-marsh]

Really interesting. And your quote about it not existing for tourists but still welcoming them, I think that's the kind of destination we're all looking for! I think I'd need a big bag though, my souvenirs would be all the cats and dogs :)

[vintageadventures]

It’s criminal your destination videos aren’t doing well, I certainly enjoy them.

[philiphalanen]

I'd certainly enjoy more 2nd city reviews from you Matt as your content is always very down to earth and informative - thanks!

[timtony]

YES!!!!
Well done Matt, you know I am a big fan of your destination videos. You have a most entertaining way of telling your audience. Yes, Youtube is numbers, entertainment, but once in a blue moon, being informative about a destination is great in my view!!!
Thank you,
Stay well

[davidstuart]

Kalamata has a very similar vibe, with lots of pavement cafes and restaurants fronting the harbour and sea. Plus it has more pleasant winters as Thessaloniki can get pretty cold. I would also recommend Napflion out of season too.

[LeonidasC]

Wonderful review Matt! Next time, try to go to Ladadika area downtown in Thessaloniki for some excellent tavernas and restaurants with live music after 7pm or so and try to get a bus and travel towards the airport area to a seaside area called Perea for fantastic food if you are a fan
And by the way, end of the month the city will have finally in operation its 1st metro line! So public transportation wil be more friendly and convenient

[phillramsay]

Its a great gateway to the Halkidiki peninsular. City break in Thessaloniki before beach breaking/more exploring somewhere in Halkidiki.

[JO-pzuf]

Please do some more destination videos, this was excellent. Well done 👍

[derekbryce]

Glad you enjoyed Thessaloniki, Matt. I visited around 6 years ago around this time for a weekend break and my experience mirrored yours. As it happens, I'm heading there this week for work this time. I'll give it your best.

[rogerbird]

I do appreciate your destination videos, Matt, so would be happy to see some more, as and when you feel like it 👍🏻 I have been to the airport - but only to head south to a beach hotel on one of the peninsulas, so it's nice to see what I missed 😂

[davidlilley]

Would definitely enjoy more of these videos Matt.

[alexanderkatz]

I found your channel because I was looking for travel videos about Seville. I loved that video and really found it useful for my trip. Seville is now one of my favorite cities.

I’m American and barely an aviation geek, so maybe I’m not the core audience. It seems like social media really rewards you for finding a core audience and giving them exactly what they’re interested in and nothing else. Travel is such an individual thing I guess, you’re extremely interested in videos like this if you’re planning a trip to Greece and you don’t care otherwise. Maybe that’s it.

Anyhow, hope you keep making them. This is some of the best travel content I’ve seen on YouTube.

[jeremywall]

Always find these destination videos really interesting - vaulable anchors for when I visit and reasons to do so. More!

[vanessaroughsedge]

I would love to see a second city series Matt. Potentially less crowds! This is a great video, thank you. Also agree with you re BA, although Brum is the second city! 😂 Once upon a time BA had Euro hub (purpose built too)at BHX with a daily flight to JFK amongst many others, what a shocker! I still miss it… every time I drive down M40!

[Immi_croissant]

I love the destination videos, and I'd never known about Thesa.... if you hadn't shown it, so, thank you.

[markuskuhl]

Very well done, Matt! If you had stayed longer you might have visited Sythonia and Athos. The monastries there and the unspoiled nature is an unforgettable adventure.

[ukdavepianoman]

I love all your videos - visiting places, the travel itself and the status stuff. I think 2nd cities would be an interesting theme; a lot of 2nd cities I find to be much more interesting and preferable than 1st cities. Thessaloniki looks to be a great place.

[SotiriosAligiannis]

Glad you enjoyed. I hope my tips helped a bit. I wish my plans would have allowed to fly there and meet you in person, but I was travelling elsewhere. It's a great city with good vibes.

Thessaloniki is ideal for 2-3 days before or after a nice vacation in the Halkidiki area, a couple hours south-east, the one with the 3 "fingers" as you see the map, it's a great place.

Also, in the summer schedule there are direct British Airways flights from/to Gatwick, which can often be found very cheap. Last July I had to travel to London, the flights from Athens were insanely expensive, and I found a dirt cheap late evening SKG-LGW on BA for around £100 if I recall correctly. Then I flew the same morning ATH-SKG on Aegean, met with a friend, had lunch, then back at the airport, and saved a ton of money and had a great time.

[MarkHodnett-sk]

Enjoyed the video Matt, I spent a few days there after a cruise last year, it's a lovely city. I enjoy the destination content-more please. Second city reviews would be interesting, I look forward to the Birmingham edition!! (Sorry)!

[peetbothma]

Great destination video Matt👌👏, and history on top of it. You don"t get a lot Greater than Old Alexander😊. Like the prices you mentioned🍻🍻. will certainly include a few days there next year when visiting Greece. More of these destination videos will be most welcome. Thank you for putting in the hard yards👍😎🇿🇦