Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Kalamaria, Greece

South of Thessaloniki, Kalamaria is a suburb established in the 1920s with the influx of Anatolian and Georgian refugees from the Greco-Turkish War.

In Greece, Kalamaria is renowned for Palataki, a Neoclassical mansion situated on a headland, which was once favored as a residence by the Greek Royal Family and several Greek Prime Ministers, though it now requires renovation.

At the northernmost edge of the municipality, the Nea Paralia begins—a long promenade completed in 2013 that extends all the way to Thessaloniki’s White Tower through a series of themed parks.

Nearby Kalamaria are beaches, natural scenic spots, and the largest shopping mall in southeastern Europe.

The center of Thessaloniki, along with its ancient monuments and museums, is easily accessible from Kalamaria.

Let us delve into the top attractions in Kalamaria:

1. Walls of Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki was fortified by walls shortly after its founding in the 4th century BC.

The standing defenses today have their origins in the Byzantine era towards the end of the 4th century AD. Initially, the walls stretched eight kilometers long, reaching heights of ten meters, with a thickness of five meters at certain locations.

In the city’s eastern corner stands a robust remnant.

The Tower of Trigonion is a more recent addition, constructed in the latter half of the 1600s by the Ottomans, positioned strategically for withstanding artillery fire.

From here, one can embark on a walk through parkland beneath the wall, examining masonry that dates back 1,600 years.

2. Thessaloniki Science Centre and Technology Museum

Adjacent to the Mediterranean Cosmos mall, only a few minutes from Kalamaria, lies a science museum that underwent significant renovations in 1998. In a new building crafted by French architect Denis Laming, the facilities include the Cosmotheatre, featuring 300 seats and the largest flat screen in Greece.

Additionally, there exists a Digital Planetarium with a 25-meter diameter dome and a motion simulator theater featuring three platforms.

The primary exhibition focuses on subjects such as mechanics, optics, magnetism, and electricity, while also highlighting the technological advances made by Ancient Greeks in engineering, shipbuilding, and construction.

3. Nea Paralia

Commencing at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall along the waterfront in Kalamaria, one can embark on a picturesque seafront walk leading to the White Tower.

The remarkable aspect is that throughout the entire walk, one will not need to cross a single road.

Nea Paralia is the culmination of a long-term initiative to rejuvenate Thessaloniki’s waterfront, completed in 2013, interlinking 12 seafront parks, each with its unique theme.

The parks feature names such as the Music Garden, Water Garden, Garden of Ross, Garden of Sand, and Garden of Shade.

The entire route is bordered by a spacious boardwalk (frequented by anglers), alongside a concrete pathway designed to facilitate safe cycling.

Facing westward, the sunsets at Nea Paralia are enchanting, and several bars provide perfect spots to witness the dusk.

4. Hagios Demetrios

Hagios Demetrios, situated over the precise location where the city’s patron saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki was martyred, dates back to the 7th century.

From this period, six exquisite mosaic panels depict Demetrius with children and those responsible for the church’s reconstruction.

One particular image includes an inscription expressing gratitude to heaven for protecting Thessaloniki’s citizens from a Slavic invasion in 612. The crypt beneath the church remained undiscovered for 400 years during Hagios Demetrios’ time as a mosque, but excavations in the 1930s and 40s uncovered the Roman baths where the saint was imprisoned and killed, as well as a Roman well and ancient sculptures reflecting the church’s 4th and 5th-century origins.

All these treasures can be viewed in seven subterranean rooms, thoughtfully arranged as a museum.

5. White Tower

At the conclusion of Nea Paralia, one will encounter Thessaloniki’s foremost landmark, a six-story circular tower erected by the Ottomans subsequent to their conquest of the city in the 15th century.

For the subsequent 400 years, it earned notoriety as a prison where mass executions occurred, consequently earning the grim moniker “Tower of Blood.” The tower houses a branch of the Museum of Byzantine Culture, which details Thessaloniki’s history through timelines and various artifacts.

Visitors may ascend the spiral staircase for a view of the Thermaic Gulf and Mount Chortiatis to the southeast.

6. Thessaloniki Archaeological Museum

Among Greece’s exceptional archaeological museums, Thessaloniki’s stands out, displaying artifacts recovered from around the city and the Macedonia region.

The collection spans prehistoric to Roman times, encompassing the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, and Roman periods.

For those with limited time, certain highlights are unmissable.

One such piece is the Derveni Krater, discovered in 1962 within a tomb in Derveni.

This sizable vessel weighs 40 kg, is constructed from a tin and bronze alloy, and adorned with images of satyrs, wildlife, and representations of Ariadne and Dionysus.

Additionally, the same excavation unearthed the Derveni Papyrus, composed at the close of the 5th century, containing a philosophical treatise from the circle of the pre-Socratic philosopher Anaxagoras.

7. Rotunda and Arch of Galerius

Early in the 4th century, Emperor Galerius commissioned two notable monuments within a new imperial precinct linked to his palace.

The Arch of Galerius, dating to 303 AD, commemorates his defeat of the Sassanid Persians at the Battle of Satala.

While only three of the original eight pillars remain, the reliefs depicting Galerius on horseback attacking the Sassanid Shah Narseh are still visible.

Nearby stands the Rotunda, completed in 306 and originally intended as Galerius’ mausoleum.

This structure boasts a diameter of 25 meters and walls six meters thick, contributing to its resilience against earthquakes over the centuries.

It transitioned into a church in 326 and later a mosque from 1590 until 1912, while remnants of 4th-century early-Christian mosaics can still be found within.

8. Thessaloniki Concert Hall

The northern waterfront of Kalamaria underwent a significant transformation at the beginning of the 2000s with the establishment of Thessaloniki’s Concert Hall, consisting of two distinct buildings.

The brick-constructed M1 features the primary auditorium with 1,400 seats and is a monolithic structure, drawing inspiration from Thessaloniki’s Byzantine heritage.

Adjacent to this is M2, a glass cube designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, hosting two smaller performance halls.

At the time of this writing in January 2018, an exhibition focused on Greek-Jewish Holocaust survivors was on display alongside a performance of Puccini’s Tosca.

9. Folk and Ethnological Museum of Macedonia and Thrace

Facing the Sculpture Garden at Nea Paralia is the Art Nouveau Villa Modiano, built in 1906, featuring a loggia that overlooks the sea and contrasting sharply with the adjacent high-rise structures.

This establishment serves as a museum dedicated to the pre-industrial culture of Macedonia and Thrace, hosting short-term exhibitions on various specific themes.

The museum boasts a collection of 15,000 items, encompassing a range of artifacts from musical instruments to metalworking and woodcraft tools, weaponry, practical household items, textiles, and folk costumes.

10. Museum of Photography

This engaging local museum has an archive dating back to 1838, at photography’s inception.

The collection predominantly features works by photographers active in Greece during the 19th and early 20th centuries, including Philippos Margaritis, recognized as Greece’s first photographer, alongside Dimitros Konstantinou and Petros Moraitis, both renowned for their images of ancient monuments.

In addition to capturing Greece and Anatolia’s ancient heritage, the museum also preserves photographs documenting pivotal moments in Greek history, including railway construction, the Balkan Wars, and both World Wars.

11. Fragma Thermis (Thermis Dam)

Just minutes east of Kalamaria lies a reservoir situated along the Vathilakos stream, formed when a dam was constructed in 1993. This large body of water consists of two sections, both adorned with pine and cypress-covered shores and illuminated pathways along their banks.

These water features create a cooler microclimate than the surrounding hills, and during a walk, one might spot waterfowl such as cormorants, herons, and ducks, as well as turtles, frogs, and non-venomous snakes.

In summer, when temperatures are moderate, this can serve as the starting point for a 10-kilometer hike along the stream bed, while adjacent to the lakes, there are also a café/tavern and a playground for children.

12. Mediterranean Cosmos Shopping Centre

This shopping center opened on the outskirts of Kalamaria in 2005, claiming the title of the largest mall in southeastern Europe.

The Mediterranean Cosmos Centre features all typical brands found in a city center, including Mango, H&M, Sephora, Lacoste, Foot Locker, Bershka, and Oysho.

Culinary options abound, including the Greek favorite Goody’s and a variety of cafés, pizza establishments, and international fast-food chains.

The mall also houses an 11-screen cinema, and it is worth noting that most films are shown in their original language with Greek subtitles.

13. Waterland WaterPark

Situated on the opposite side of Thessaloniki Airport from Kalamaria, Waterland is a classic water park that is likely to be well-received by younger children and teenagers.

Spanning 150,000 square meters, this venue offers a wide array of attractions for several hours of entertainment, including a wave pool, a “Pirates’ Island,” the “Crazy River” tube ride, multi-lane slides for racing friends, and twisting flumes.

Parents may choose to unwind in the “Zen Pool,” while the park’s green surroundings include a new zoo featuring llamas, roe deer, ostriches, and various farm animals such as donkeys, sheep, and goats.

14. Peraia Beach

The nearest beach to Thessaloniki is located 10 kilometers along the coast from Kalamaria, just beyond the airport.

Peraia has recently undergone modernization and is consistently awarded the Blue Flag, the gold standard for beaches.

At the eastern end, the beach narrows to just a few meters wide, but becomes substantially wider as you head west toward the neighboring Neoi Epivates.

The water along the shoreline is shallow, clear, and calm.

Along the coast, there is a lengthy strip of cafés, restaurants, and bars that contribute to a lively atmosphere on summer evenings.