Thessaloniki Self Guided Audio Tour Roman to Ottoman with Quiz

Thessaloniki never demolishes its past; it stacks it. This self-guided walking tour follows the city's Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman layers across 10 stops, starting at the White Tower on the waterfront and taking in the Palace and Arch of Galerius, the Rotonda, Hagia Sophia, Aristotelous Square, the Ladadika quarter, the Roman Forum and the basilica of Agios Dimitrios. Everything runs from your own smartphone - no app to download and no physical guide to follow. At each stop you get a short audio story, the same text to read, and an interactive quiz that brings out the details most visitors walk straight past. A smart map shows you where to go next. Start whenever you like, pause for a coffee, and take the route at your own pace - there are no groups and no fixed schedule. Audio and written content are available in 7 languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Chinese.

1. 1

   White Tower of Thessaloniki

   Pass by

   Thessaloniki's most recognisable landmark: a cylindrical stone tower on the seafront, built during the Ottoman period on the line of the old city walls. Your audio story covers its history and the darker chapter that gave it its old nickname, plus a quiz before you move on.

2. 2

   The Palace of Galerius

   Pass by

   The excavated remains of the palace complex built for the Roman emperor Galerius, sunk below today's street level in Navarinou Square. You can see the outline of the halls and courtyards from the railings while the audio guide explains how the whole quarter was laid out.

3. 3

   Arch of Galerius

   Pass by

   A Roman triumphal arch raised for the emperor Galerius, known to locals simply as Kamara. The audio guide walks you around the surviving marble reliefs and explains the campaign they were carved to celebrate, followed by a quiz.

4. 4

   Rotunda

   Pass by

   A huge circular brick building from the Roman period that later served as a Christian church and then as a mosque, with its minaret still standing outside. The audio guide traces those three lives and points out what to look for on the exterior.

5. 5

   Stop 5

   Pass by

   A domed Byzantine church of brick and stone, one of the monuments that earned Thessaloniki its UNESCO World Heritage listing. From the pedestrian street below you get the full sweep of the arches while the audio explains the building and its mosaics.

6. 6

   Statue of Aristotle

   Pass by

   A bronze seated statue of the philosopher Aristotle at the top end of Aristotelous Square. One toe is worn shiny by visitors who rub it for luck, a local custom the audio story explains along with Aristotle's link to the region.

7. 7

   Aristotelous Square

   Pass by

   Thessaloniki's grand main square, framed by arcaded buildings and opening straight onto the seafront. It came out of the redesign of the city after the great fire of 1917, and the audio guide explains how that plan reshaped the whole centre.

8. 8

   Ladadika District

   Pass by

   A small grid of restored warehouses near the port, once the city's olive oil trading quarter and now one of its busiest areas for tavernas and bars. The audio story covers how the district survived and was brought back to life.

9. 9

   The Greek Agora and Roman Forum

   Pass by

   The excavated public square of Roman Thessaloniki, with a paved courtyard, colonnades and a small theatre-shaped odeon visible from the surrounding terrace. The audio guide sets out what happened here when this was the working heart of the city.

10. 10

    Stop 10

    Pass by

    The great basilica dedicated to Agios Dimitrios, patron saint of Thessaloniki, and the final stop on the route. The audio guide covers the church's rebuilding after the 1917 fire and the early mosaics it still preserves, before the tour wraps up.

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.