This short itinerary combines the Byzantine and Ottoman layers of Thessaloniki, Greece's vibrant second city, with a journey into the heart of ancient Macedon. At Vergina you will stand before the golden treasures of the Macedonian royal dynasty that gave the world Philip II and Alexander the Great, while in nearby Naoussa the same land that once fed an empire now yields some of Greece's most celebrated wines.
Between a walk through Thessaloniki's old town and a wine tasting on the slopes of Mount Vermio, this program offers a compact but rich introduction to Greek Macedonia, its history and its flavors.
INCLUDED:
● BB in DBL/TWIN
● Bus 2 days FD
● Guide 2 days FD
● Whispers for 2 days
● 1 lunch
● Wine tasting of three labels
NOT INCLUDED:
● Entrance fees
● Stay taxes
● Drinks at lunch
● Flight tickets
ACCOMMODATION:
3 nights at the Metropolitan Hotel 4*, Thessaloniki – 65 Vasilissis Olgas Avenue, 546 42 Thessaloniki, Greece / www.metropolitan.gr
DAY 1: SATURDAY 05/12/2026 – ARRIVAL THESSALONIKI (SKG)
Arrival at Thessaloniki International Airport "Macedonia" (SKG) and free transfer to the hotel. Check-in and time at leisure to start discovering Thessaloniki, a city built on layers of Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman history along the shores of the Thermaic Gulf.
DAY 2: SUNDAY 06/12/2026 – THESSALONIKI – VERGINA – NAOUSSA – THESSALONIKI
Departure for Vergina, identified with ancient Aigai, the first capital of the Macedonian kingdom. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site and its underground museum, built over the royal tumulus where archaeologist Manolis Andronikos discovered, in 1977, the unlooted tomb of King Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, together with the golden larnax bearing the sixteen-rayed "Sun of Vergina" and a wealth of royal grave goods. Continue to Naoussa, on the eastern slopes of Mount Vermio, for a wine tasting at Ktima Kir-Yianni, one of Greece's most respected wineries. Founded in 1997 by Yiannis Boutaris and today run by the fifth generation of the family, the estate is known for its Xinomavro wines grown on vineyards planted since 1970. The tasting includes 3 labels from the estate's production. Return to Thessaloniki in the evening.
DAY 3: MONDAY 07/12/2026 – THESSALONIKI
Begin with an exterior guided commentary at the White Tower, the city's most iconic landmark. Continue by coach to the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, where you will enjoy a one-hour guided visit exploring treasures from Macedonia's ancient past. Re-board the coach for a city tour leading to the Upper Town (Ano Poli). Stop at the Trigoniou Tower for an exterior visit and admire the sweeping views, then walk to the Monastery of Vlatadon for a guided tour. Return to the coach and head to the Church of Saint Demetrios, the city's patron saint, for an interior visit.
Lunch reserved at a restaurant in the Ladadika district, Thessaloniki's historic warehouse quarter by the old port, today known for its lively taverns and restaurants.
The tour concludes with a panoramic drive through Thessaloniki's modern and historical avenues: passing by the Turkish Consulate, viewing the monuments of the Galerian Complex, the landmarks along Egnatia Street, and finally Aristotelous Square, before exiting the city.
DAY 4: TUESDAY 08/12/2026 – THESSALONIKI
Free time until the free transfer to Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) for your departure flight.
