Experience in Thessaloniki, Greece by Filippos

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

It is a busy and noisy town with intensive life. People are friendly and they spend a lot of their time out, walking along the miles of the seafront, or sitting in coffee shops, pubs and bars, as the weather is sunny many days of the year. It is the city of coffee: chilled instant "frappé" coffee was first invented in Thessaloniki.

What is the student lifestyle like in Thessaloniki?

Thessaloniki has the greatest university complex of the Balkanian Countries, with nearly 30. 000 students of all faculties. The students' community forms, therefore, a quite big city in the city, consisting a large and vivid part of it, with its own life. Happy companies with a lot of entertainment and nightlife. Many people have declared that their study years in Thessaloniki were the most happy time of their life.

How much does it cost to live in Thessaloniki?

An average cost might be arround 1. 000 euros, all included (with careful management).

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

A comparatively low percentage of students can stay in public student residences, most of them rent private appartments. There is a huge offer in classified ads internet sites, in reasonable prices and at satisfactory comfort standards. For an empty 1 bedroom appartment you may count 200-250 euros/month, for a 2 bedroom appartment 250-300 and for a 3 bedroom appartment 300-350. Full furnished appartments may increase above amounts by 50% max.

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

Thessaloniki is famous for its kitchen. There are all types of food places and categories of kitchen: Fast food, bakery and pies, crepes and toasts, traditional restaurants, taverns, french and gourmets, italian pizzerias, turkish, chineese, fish restaurants, ouzo (traditional anise-flavoured drink) and appetizers places (ouzerie) etc. Don't miss:

• Fast food: gyros (pork and chicken), souvlaki.
• Tavern: cocoretsi, chebab, soutzoukakia.
• Restaurant: mousaka, papoutsaki, pastitsio, dolmadakia.
• Fish or ouzerie: fava, mythopilafo, gavros tigani or saganaki, fried sardines, grilled octopus and kalamari.

What places would you recommend visiting in Thessaloniki?

Take the touring bus line.

Ancient Wall and Fortress, Roman agora, Navarino Galerious complex, Rotonda temple and Galerius Arc, White Tower, Byzantine baths and churches.

Suburban forest "Seich Sou"-nice panorama of the city.

Long walk along the seafront, through nice green places.

Ladadika-old port entertainment district, Athonos place and Valaoritou str. (especially in the night).

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

Good and not expensive, compared with most of European cities I know. Some other time I would point some eating places out.

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

Thessaloniki lives all night, especially for students. Almost the entire city center is opened till late, many places till early in the morning. Students usually prefer live music in bars, most of them in the above mentioned districts, many of them renovated ancient trade or artisan places.

I'm personally a drummer in a rock and blues band.

What advice would you give future students heading to Thessaloniki?

Enjoy your life during your stay!