Is Thessaloniki worth a 4 hour drive?
Posted by Observe_Report_@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 25 comments
We will be in Ohrid (on Lake Ohrid) for 3 days in July, part of a 15 day Albania trip. We were contemplating visiting Thessaloniki during one of those days. However, it is a 4 hour drive - 8 hour round-trip, and I’m wondering whether it is worth that amount of driving. Obviously, we would leave Ohrid in the early morning, and are from the USA so we are used to long drives. Is exploring Thessaloniki for one day worth that amount of driving? I’m assuming the roads are solid.
Lonely-Ad8869@reddit
Well, Thesaloniki is quite nice, has some byzantine stuff, but in the summer its a bit more empty feeling. Also If you do end up going, at least have a night there, there are some nice traditional thessaloniki style restaurants. Along the road and past it there are some nice wineries, if you are in that kind of things, could be fun.
An alternative idea, Meteori is quite nice if you havent been, it is a complex of byzantine and ottoman era monasteries, some really nice scenery, and the travel time is about the same, check it out.
CypriotGreek@reddit
No, I refuse to accept this. I cannot possibly have just heard someone from North Macedonia say that Thessaloniki feels “empty” in the summer. Empty how? You guys literally fill it 😭
Half the time it feels like there are more North Macedonians there than Greeks.
Lonely-Ad8869@reddit
Tis why I know brother, spring autumn and winter ftw.
CypriotGreek@reddit
With all due respect, me calling you “North Macedonian” is already me compromising as far as I’m willing to go on this topic.
Lonely-Ad8869@reddit
Uncivilized it is then.
CypriotGreek@reddit
Every rat calls the cat unfair.
Ada_Kaleh22@reddit
Hey! Don't forget about the Spanish girls! They take up space too!
CypriotGreek@reddit
I won’t ever catch me complaining about them.
Milksteak_please@reddit
No, spend the three full days in Ohrid.
Justanotherbastard2@reddit
Absolutely not.
mrsimud@reddit
Balkan is not USA,. There are country borders, if you are lucky you will cross border check in 30 minutes, if not you can wait for hours. Also traffic can be issue on two way roads, like trucks can slow you down for miles.
I would say Ohrid is too far away from Thessaloniki for one day return trip. It is a big city, there is o lot of traffic to enter Thessaloniki, you will lose a lot of time. From Ohrid maybe you can visit north Greece, like Edessa, as one day trip. For Thessaloniki it would be better to book hotel for one night, with parking.
Ada_Kaleh22@reddit
the border there isn't bad because it doesn't have any volume. go over to Florina. but usually you are right the border will add a lot of time.
anyway I agree it's a bit of a long trip, traffic won't be nice, the car will immediately become inconvenient in the city.
if you went over the border to Florina and had lunch, you'd be getting 80% of Thess with only 1 hour of driving. Thess is nice of course, they do have some ruins and stuff but there are other options that are basically as good
Observe_Report_@reddit (OP)
I like the sound of that! Sometimes that’s all you need, a small taste of a different place. I’m the driver, so I’m not keen on the 4 hour drive, to spend maximum 7 hours there.
Ada_Kaleh22@reddit
it's like you'd be driving past other places to get there. Thess is great, don't get me wrong.
Florina is a small town, there is nothing more Greek than to have a nice long lunch or early dinner lol
Also there are peacocks at the border, just hanging out
Another possibility is to do a circle around the lake, into Albania and back. St Naum's church is down there, to the south, and there's a town in Albania right over the border. Maybe just come back the same way rather than a full circle
leafsland132@reddit
You are only staying in Ohrid for three days, it will take 8 hours round trip to travel to Thessaloniki and back… what do you even expect to do in the limited time you are there except buy a coffee? Your time is much better spent staying in Ohrid, there is more than enough to see and do in Ohrid that you would at least stay there for a week. Likewise, Thessaloniki should need 4-7 days as well.
RR1991@reddit
A drive along lake Prespa and a visit to Bitola (and read into its history) is an absolute lovely day trip from Ohrid.
leafsland132@reddit
absolutely! And this travellers time would be much better spent doing that!
Mminas@reddit
There are some interesting stuff to see in the Thessaloniki city center like the St Dimitrios church, the Rotonda and the White Tower. You can also visit popular places like the Aristotelous square and the seaside promenade.
You'll also enjoy your drive and get a feel of the countryside.
I think it is worth it and Thessaloniki is an interesting place.
Observe_Report_@reddit (OP)
The drive is scenic? That’s always good, long drives in the US are often NOT scenic.
Mminas@reddit
Balkan nature is nice and if you go from Ohrid to Bitola and then Florina, Edessa, Giannitsa there are some nice spots.
Early-Show2886@reddit
It is surprising that Americans have increasingly chosen the Balkans as a vacation destination. Interesting, in a way.
I believe that if our island, Ada Kaleh—once located in the Danube River in Romania (which was unfortunately submerged in 1970)—still existed today, it would also be an attraction for Americans.
How did you in the U.S. become aware of the Balkan countries? Does it have anything to do with the spread of evangelical Christianity?
Wild_cmpt6406@reddit
Of course.
Strygwyr333@reddit
No
freddo_expresso@reddit
Thessaloniki is the 6th largest city in the Balkans, and one of the culturally richest as well. It's a metropolis, there are simply way too many things to see and half a day will simply make it no justice.
Instead you could visit Kastoria, one of the most beautiful lake-cities in the Balkans, or Nymfaio, one of the most beautiful towns in Greece. It's also home to Arktouros, the most important bear sanctuary in the Balkans.
TheArdeleanul@reddit
Better go to the mountains, Vikos Gorge or Olympis