Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF)

TIF

Thessaloniki International Fair was, is and hopefully will be one of the trademark events of Thessaloniki, in the centre of the city.  It is an annual event that takes place the second week of September, bringing people from every part of the world in our city !  It is a general interest fair and since over the years many specialised fairs have emerged, it has lost its former glory.  This year is its 78th anniversary so as you can imagine there is great history behind it.

Some interesting facts that every local knows about the fair are :

  • In 1926 the first greek radio station started broadcasting here.
  • In 1957 the first frape was made here.
  • In 1959 the Thessaloniki Song Festival started here. Unfortunately this popular event was organised for the last time on 2008.
  • In 1961 the first greek TV station started broadcasting here.
  • During the 80’s the fair also housed an amusement park.  For young school kids like me, a visit there before schools started was the ideal goodbye to summer.
  • During the 60’s a new event started – the public appearance of the Prime minister making big announcements about the future.

And this is what brings us to today.  The last few years the opening weekend of TIF is a nightmare. The city centre is blocked by police forces and people have difficulty approaching even by foot !! The area is cleared to avoid demonstrations and attacks towards the politicians.

There are 3 things a local can do today :  Go out and protest despite all, stay home, or stay out of the city centre and go to the nearest beach.

Over the last few years I have done all of the above, depending on the situation and how I felt at that time.  This year I am staying inside and working on lovethessaloniki.com hoping I can offer something to this city !

The last few years TIF offers everyday live concerts with popular artists with your TIF entrance ticket. Concerts start at 21.30.

VENUE
THESSALLONIKI INTERNATIONAL
EXHIBITION CENTRE
OPENING DAY: 7/9/2013
CLOSING DAY: 15/9/2013
OPENING HOURS
WEEKDAYS: 16:00-22:00
WEEKENDS: 10:00-22:00
ADMISSION
SATURDAY 7/9: 3,00€
SUNDAY 8/9: 5,00€
MONDAY 9/9-FRIDAY 13/9: 3,00€
SATURDAY 14/9-SUNDAY 15/9: 5,00€

Fragma Thermis by Night – Live Concerts

FragmaThermi is one of the city suburbs, located 15 km southeast of Thessaloniki.  It is a residential as well as industrial area. It is very close to the airport and the The Science Center and Technology Museum “NOESIS”.  In the area you will also find many shopping malls, big stores, schools, and the Technological Park of Thessaloniki.

One of the most interesting and beautiful places in Thermi is Fragma. Fragma means barrier and it refers to the water barrier that is built there allowing a lake to form.  The surrounding area is a natural park with ducks on the lake.  It is ideal for a relaxing weekend coffee or walk in the park.  There is a nice coffee restaurant overlooking the lake, so you can sit there, or have your own picnic anywhere you like.

What is really special about Fragma is the concerts and special events that take place there, throughout the year, weather permitting.

FragmaSeptember is the month of the big concerts, when people are back to the city from their vacations, and cannot stay inside their homes. So, what better excuse to go back in nature than to enjoy an open air concert by the lake.

Last night was the first concert of the season and it was really big !  Miltos Pashalidis, Christos Thivaios, Vassilis Papakonstantinou. 3 big names of the Greek music scene appeared in one single night, offering 4 hours of non stop live music and creating a unique atmosphere for all of us who were there !

Keep an eye on ipolistonkosmo.gr for the latest event listings and when you see an event at Fragma,  don’t miss it!

Tip: Always have a  jacket with you because the temperature there is much cooler than in the city !

Efimerida

EfimeridaEfimerida means newspaper.  This is the name of a new all day cafe bar that opened recently in the city of Thessaloniki, in the White Tower area.  It is an urban city style coffee bar with a double entrance between two streets.

If is ideal for a coffee break, relaxed drink and also a quick bite. Nice crowd, good prices, friendly service.

If you sit outside, like I did today, this is the street view in front of you.

Haven’t been there late at night but if you do, rumours say you might have some water thrown on you from the balconies above !! So better sit inside at night !

Efimerida

Café
Filikis Eterias 7

White Tower

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Ano Poli

City View from Seih Sou

City View from Seih Sou

Ano Poli which actually means Upper Town is in fact the old part of the city.   It is the district north of Thessaloniki’s city center that was not ruined by the great fire of 1917 and was declared a UNESCO heritage site during the 1980s. It is Thessaloniki’s most traditional part of the city, still featuring small stone paved streets, old squares and homes featuring old Greek and Ottoman architecture.

Ano Poli also, is the highest point in Thessaloniki and as such, is the location of the city’s acropolis, its Byzantine fort, the Heptapyrgion and the city’s remaining walls, with many of its additional Ottoman and Byzantine structures still standing.  There are many things to see and do here so I recomend to spend a whole day.  Start early with the bus or on foot to explore the small streets, old churches, and great views of the city.

The area provides access to the Seih Sou Forest National Park and City Zoo.  It features amphitheatric views of the whole city and the Thermaic Gulf. On clear days Mount Olympus, at about 100 km away across the gulf, can also be seen on the horizon, as you can see on the photo.  If you are here in the summer and there is a concert or theatre performance on Theatro Dasous which is close by, don’t miss it !

Buses  to choose :

# 50 is the cultural route with live guide on board !

# 22 is the small bus that goes inside all the little steers

# 24 takes you up to Seih Sou forest, the City Zoo and Theatro Dasous

Pizza Poselli

Pizza Poselli

Pizza Poselli

I had a surprise visit from a friend today at work, and I wanted to take her somewhere new for lunch.  She hadn’t been to Pizza Poselli yet, so I found the excuse I needed to go there one more time and take a photo for the blog !

This is the BEST PIZZA in town, if you like genuine Italian pizza. The place opened one year ago and became an instant hit. It is located in the Valaoritou nightlife area, surrounded by bars.  What do people need after a few drinks ? Something to eat. Spot on!

This pizza place selected the best spot in the area and together with excellent recipes, cheap prices, friendly atmosphere, and excellent service became a favourite in no time !

I still remember our faces a year ago, when me and 2 friends tasted the first slice !  We could not believe it tasted so good and I went inside to congratulate the chef !  From then on, I find it really difficult to pass and not eat a slice.

Some practical info : Pizzas are sold by slice at around 2,50.  There are many different types and you get what is available in the window in front of you. New pizzas come out all the time from the wood oven in front of your eyes ! There are few tables to sit, so we eat and go, to make room for the next !

Pizza Poselli is named after Poselli Vitaliano, the most famous italian architect who lived and worked in Thessaloniki in the last quarter of the 19th century.  He was the official architect of the Ottoman Administration of Thessaloniki for a period of almost thirty years (1880-1910) and built many of the city’s famous buildings.   The place itself has a unique style but I chose to give you a photo of the pizza !

I really enjoy going there on a lunch break and ordering a Tartuffo Pizza for 2 ! I also love taking new people and see their faces when they eat….

Pizza Poselli
Pizza Place
Vilara 2 & Sigrou

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Ladadika

LadadikaThis is an old style neighbourhood in the centre of Thessaloniki.  Located between the port and the Valaoritou nightlife area, this colourful place is filled with nice restaurants and bars.

The name Ladadika comes from the old market of trading oil that this place was originally known for.   As you walk through the narrow streets and alleys, you will feel like you take a walk in the past!

This is a neighbourhood which is alive 24 hours per day. In the morning you will see the business people walking around, as it is an area next to the port with many banks and business offices around.  My office is also located here so if you are in the neighbourhood send me a message to meet !

LadadikaFrom lunchtime onwards people start filling the places to eat, drink and dance till the next morning.  You will find many famous places to eat here like Zythos, Paparouna, Panelinion, Bakaliarakia tou Aristou, Full tou Meze, Tapas Bar and many more.  Detailed posts on these and more will follow in time…

Have in mind that after 14.00 the restaurants start getting busy, so if you are there on a weekend avoid going around 15.00 as it is the busiest time.  Local musicians appear out of nowhere – don’t be surprised when you see them next to you!

This area is an excellent choice for lunch, dinner, coffee or drink, and is one of the first places to go for a real taste of Thessaloniki.

Omilos

Omilos

Omilos

This is an all day coffee bar restaurant at one of the best locations in town.  It offers spectacular view in a relaxing atmosphere.

It is one of my favourite places all year long so anything I write is really too little for it.  I’ll let the picture speak for itself and move on to some practical info.

At the moment it has some access problems because of the works taking place at the beachfront.  Hopefully they will be over soon and Omilos will be accessible again by foot and bike.

The best time to go is … anytime, but it’s more crowded during the weekends.

Omilos
Bar, Café, and Restaurant
M. Alexandrou 12,

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Summer Movie Theatre

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Natali Summer Movie Theatre

The best way to say goodbye to summer is in a summer movie theatre. There are quite a few in the city, open from the first days of summer till the first rains come along. Whether you are stuck in the city during the whole summer, or just came back from vacations and want to keep this feeling in the city, this is the ideal Saturday night out.

Most of them are like small city oasis, surrounded by tall buildings and green plants. You can enjoy a snack and drink while watching you movie and there is always an intermission half way through the film for extra re-fills !

Before you go check on ipolistonkosmo.gr for movie times and schedules and off you go !

Summer movie theatres is one more reason that summer should never end !

Fragile Bar

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Fragile Bar

This is the first and so far the best, rooftop bar in the Valaoritou nightlife area !

If the weather is good and you stroll around the narrow streets trying to select a bar and all the different music from the speakers comes to your ears as one loud noise, then lift your head up to find the rooftop bar.

It is located in a terrace overlooking the industrial and office building spaces around.  Relaxed drinks and atmosphere, music depends on the dj.  Go early if you want to find a place to sit.

Also good for an afternoon coffee away from the city buzz.

Keep in mind that you have to go up 3 floors with no elevator.

Fragile
Bar
Valaoritou 27

at the rooftop !

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Valaoritou Nightlife Area

Up until a few years ago, this was an area you would never walk at night. It is a business area during the day with many local business, and office spaces. Over the last years, it has developed as the new art and creative district of Thessaloniki, and also a major nightlife spot.

The change is so big now, that if you have not been in Thessaloniki during the last 5 years and you suddenly go to this area at night, you will be shocked !

Also, if you are a new visitor and don’t have exact directions, it might be difficult to find since you will have to walk a bit in deserted – at night – streets until you get to this – full of life – area.

The general style and crowd is for students and young people.  The choices are so many, beer places, alternative bars, mainstream bars.  If the weather is nice and you sit in one of the tables outside, you will feel like you are in a greek island ! The bars and streets get super busy during the weekends and around midnight, so if you want to find a place to sit, go before 22.00.

You will find detailed posts about some of my favourite places here in the future, but I have to tell you something important now. Whatever you do, don’t leave the area without a stop at Pizza Poselli.  This is by far the best pizza in town and can only be compared to genuine italian pizza.  Tartuffo is my personal favourite.  No need to say more.