If you visit Thessaloniki, the promenade by the sea in Thessaloniki is a space where you should spend at least one afternoon. Enjoy a leisurely walk along the New Waterfront of Thessaloniki, with a view of the White Tower and Mount Olympus, and the promenade is an ideal place for sports, recreation, and relaxation in a beautiful natural setting.

The entire promenade in Thessaloniki, the so-called Paralia, is exactly 6km long, with the old and new parts connecting at the White Tower.

The Old Promenade stretches from the port and Ladadika all the way to the famous White Tower, and although it is significantly shorter than the new waterfront, it has its own special story and charm. The New Promenade - Nea Paralia starts from the White Tower and extends to the Concert Hall.

The new promenade is 3.5 kilometers long. In this area of ​​about 250,000 square meters, around 2,500 trees have been planted, along with 12,000 new plants. The green area covers almost 60 acres, while sports and playgrounds occupy 11,500 square meters.

Even much larger European cities cannot boast such a well-organized waterfront.

About the new promenade in Thessaloniki

The length of the new promenade is 3.5 kilometers uninterrupted with a completely open view of the sea. On clear days, you can see Mount Olympus in all its beauty on the horizon.

The first phase of the renovation of the new promenade was completed in 2008, and the second phase was completed in 2013, giving this part of Thessaloniki a completely new look and purpose within the total area of 250,000 square meters.

During the renovation of the promenade, 2,353 trees were planted, along with 118,432 new plants. The green area covers 58.75 acres, while sports and playgrounds occupy 11,557 square meters. From these numbers, you can understand how much space there is for visitors of different profiles and interests, and how much emphasis has been placed on green areas and parks.

All areas are accessible to everyone, and adapted for people with disabilities. The promenade has a special path for blind people.

What to expect on the New Promenade, Nea Paralia?

At Nea Paralia in Thessaloniki, you will find everything you need for relaxation and recreation.
Unlike the concrete and wooden floors right by the sea, this area has many green spaces perfect for lounging and picnicking, sandy parks for children to play, tree-lined avenues with plenty of shade and “soft ground,” sports courts (basketball, tennis), dog parks, and skateboarding areas, as well as spaces for group aerobics and yoga.

  • Children’s parks are equipped with interesting climbing frames, swings, and other toys, enclosed with limited and controlled access for greater child safety. The playgrounds are also adapted for children with special needs, with ramps for people with disabilities, as well as fountains that offer freshness on warm days.
  • Cycle paths, as well as sports courts for basketball and tennis. We recommend renting a bike for €1 per hour or a family bike for 4 or 5 people with 4 wheels and riding along the coast with these unusual and beautiful bicycles. The route is marked, making the ride quite simple. The bikes have a seating area so children can comfortably enjoy the ride.
  • For the romantics, there are carriages for a lovely ride.
  • A must for a memorable selfie are the famous Umbrellas, one of the most famous symbols of Thessaloniki. The umbrella sculpture is probably one of the most photographed details in Thessaloniki, so don’t miss the opportunity to capture a memory of Thessaloniki next to the famous umbrellas and the large fountain right next to them.
  • At the beginning of the promenade, you will find a large monument to Alexander the Great, which, together with the umbrella sculpture, gradually becomes a symbol of the city. Behind the monument, there is an avenue that in the early morning is home to the Thessaloniki parakeets.
  • For pet owners, there are dog parks where they can play in a safe space and meet their furry friends.
  • You will also find fountains and small water features with water lilies, goldfish, and turtles that create a peaceful oasis in the heart of the city.
  • At the end of the promenade, a wooden deck provides an ideal place to enjoy beautiful sunsets and an open view of the sea and the magnificent Mount Olympus in the distance.
  • Nea Paralia is full of life - street musicians, entertainers, and bands enhance the atmosphere, while several cafes and kiosks provide a perfect place to relax.
  • Finally, near the Concert Hall, you can visit the ship museum Velos, which is a symbol of Greek resistance to dictatorship.

Themed Gardens

Within the promenade, 13 themed gardens have been designed one after the other along the entire coast, allowing you to enjoy a leisurely walk. The themes you can expect include: Garden of Sound, Water, Mediterranean Garden, Memory, Shadows, Afternoon Sun, Seasons…

These gardens are smaller areas, each with its own characteristics. For example, the Water Garden has small ponds interspersed with wooden paths for a leisurely stroll. In the water among the water lilies, you can see turtles, frogs, and goldfish, while a wall designed as an artificial waterfall gives the feeling of being somewhere in nature next to flowing water.

The Mediterranean Garden is located opposite the Church of St. Cyril and Methodius and represents an oasis of various aromatic plants and citrus fruits.

The long length of the new promenade features tree-lined avenues that provide shade during the summer months. Here, you can see small groups of students, retirees, or families with children playing board games or enjoying the guitar and bouzouki music, along with some food or drinks.

Cafes, Restaurants, and Famous Coffee

The beginning of the New Waterfront is by the White Tower, and in this part, you can buy coffee or juice to take away, as there are only two more cafes along the promenade.

Near the White Tower, there are street vendors selling cotton candy, loukoumades, seeds, nuts, roasted corn, so it’s a place where you can stock up on snacks because there are no more vendors later on.

Along the entire length of the New Waterfront, excluding the cafes near the White Tower (at the very beginning), there are only two cafes. One is within the Macedonia Palace Hotel, and the other towards the end of the promenade called Omilos, near the Nautical Club. It often happens that all seats in these cafes are taken, especially on weekends. Along the promenade, there are a few kiosks with fast food.

If you want to buy some food, you have several options. One is to visit one of the restaurants along the coast on Leoforos Nikis Street, in the old town, next to the old promenade. Here, there are only a few restaurants, as they are mostly cafes, and the prices are slightly above average. Another option is to buy a gyro across from the White Tower, or at the other end of the promenade, just before the Concert Hall, sit in one of the tavernas with more affordable prices that are also frequented by locals. In that last part of the promenade, we recommend, for example, the fish tavern Volos on Kimonos Voga Street. There are several other tavernas in that area, so you can choose.

On Vasilisis Olgas Street, which runs parallel to the new promenade, there are also tavernas with more affordable prices, as well as kiosks with fast food.

If you want to stroll with coffee or frappe like most Thessalonians, we recommend the famous Mikel (near the White Tower), the most famous coffee shop in Thessaloniki that also offers “to-go” options.

However, if you want to try some of the gastronomic specialties for which Thessaloniki is known, check out our recommendations in these articles:
Five restaurants you must not miss in Thessaloniki
Where to try pastries and ice cream in Thessaloniki - best pastry shops
Where is the best gyro in Thessaloniki

Conclusion

The main goal of redesigning Nea Paralia was to provide the residents of Thessaloniki with a new landscape that would offer them safe, well-planned, interesting, modern, and multifunctional public spaces, which has been fully achieved. Additionally, the aim was to create a public space for everyone, so every part of the new waterfront is accessible to all residents and visitors, whether locals or tourists.

Special attention has been paid to people with disabilities so that they can equally participate and enjoy all the new services provided in such a large, modern, and functional space.

The entire waterfront is illuminated at night, making it pleasant and safe for stay even during the nighttime.

Immediately after opening, people embraced this space wholeheartedly, created new habits, and continue to fully enjoy it to this day. In a time when there were almost no investments in Greece, this paradise was created and gifted to all of us.

What else do you love about Thessaloniki?

If you are going to Thessaloniki, find more information about this city, such as places worth visiting, where to find good food, parking, and how to best move around the city in our Thessaloniki Guide

We are always here to help you explore Greece! Follow us for the latest information, useful tips and authentic experiences to spend an unforgettable vacation in Greece!

We offer over 3,000 accommodations. Choose the right one for you and your family HERE.

Follow us on social networks where we regularly share exclusive offers, discounts and special arrangements for vacations in Greece as well as information, advice and useful news.

Facebook:Nikana.gr
Instagram: @nikana.gr
Tiktok: nikana.gr
Facebook grupa: Live from Greece
YouTube kanal @NikanaTravel
Write to us at e-mail: nikana@nikana.gr
 
Our site nikana.gr is the leading source of information about Greece.