Experience in Thessaloniki, Greece by Elisavet

What is it like to live in Thessaloniki? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Living in Thessaloniki is like drinking coffee for long long hours and preparing for the night out. It is the best students city in Greece in everyone's opinion and a perfect experience for Erasmus students (guarantee). I would totally recommend it, because in six moths or one year of the Erasmus you can learn all the spots of the city, but not get bored of them and miss it when you leave.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Thessaloniki?

You can find any kind of student in Thessaloniki. There are places for all the tastes, from hard-rock and metal bars to clubs, so the lifestyle is a little mixed. The sure thing is that anywhere you go, you will always meet a friend or someone you know, because people tend to go to few different places just in one night!

How much does it cost to live in Thessaloniki?

Now with the crisis, life is much more affordable than it was 5 and 6 years ago. You can find a rented house in the center with less than 200 euros, eat out with 1 and 2 euros and have a big beer with just 2 euros. There are a lot of student spots, which make our lives more easy because they have offers all the time. So pretty much 300-350 including accommodation and food are enough for a month.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Thessaloniki? Is there any advice you can give?

I don't have experience in looking for accommodation in Thessaloniki as I am from here, but I think that on Internet and at the Erasmus office, you will find all your answers.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The food is the typical Greek food, so you should go and taste it. Eat the famous Gyros (you will find it everywhere! ), pastitsio (in the city center- rotonda, there are few different shops which sell this home made food), drink ouzo and tsipouro and of course the students' favourite Retsina (cheap white wine) which you can find in any bar. Go to a Taverna and eat tzatziki and octopus. Thessaloniki's favourite- Mpougatsa, the traditional sweet pie which you can find it in bakeries.

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What places would you recommend visiting in Thessaloniki?

Firstly go to the highest part of town, the castles, watch the view of the sea and drink a beer. Visit Rotonda place on a Friday night and see how people "struggle" to find somewhere to sit and drink wine. Walk from the White Tower to Kalamaria by feet and see the new parks and beach (but don't swim). And explore the rest of the city center by feet to find small nice cafes and bars.

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Is it good to eat out in Thessaloniki? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Food is pretty cheap here, you can find big slices of pizza costing 1 euro in Rotonda (for example Chris, Avanti and Espanol). You can find Gyros everywhere around the city, eat in a different place every time, so you start making your favourite restaurant's list. Around the center you can also find taverns (places to eat and drink local food) and most of them are pretty good.

Is the nightlife good in Thessaloniki? Where is good to go?

Thessaloniki is famous all over Greece for being the best student city. This, of course, means that it should have memorable nightlife.

Spots like Rotonda (something like bars with cheap wine), Valawritou (a place with a lot of bars for every kind of music and style), Limani (for the more formal appearances), Parties In the university (no comments, just go and see -beer from 1 euro and drinks from 3), and finally every month, there are plenty of music or any other kind of festivals -free or not - to go.

What advice would you give future students heading to Thessaloniki?

Have fun, don't be lazy and stay home, meet local people to teach you the best places!