Both of the Greek metropolises are located on the Greek mainland. Thessaloniki lies in the north of the country in Macedonia. The city has around 1.5 million inhabitants. Athens is situated in the very south of Attika. The greater Athens area is home to about 3.5 million people.

Both cities have their own airport. You will find numerous flight connections from all the major European cities, many international airports, and the Greek islands.

Athens Eleftherios Venizelos Airport (ATH) is located about 30 km / 19 mi. from the centre of Athens. You can reach the city center by metro, bus, and taxi.

Makedonia Airport Thessaloniki (SKG) is 10 km / 6mi. from the city centre and can be reached by bus or taxi.

Athens and Thessaloniki are worthwhile travel destinations all year round. The months of March to May and mid-September to November are particularly good times for your visit. Then the weather is pleasantly warm. During these months there is also no mass tourism allowing you to experience the cities almost like a local.

In the summer months of June, July, and August it can get very hot and crowded. Therefore, we find these months less suitable for a relaxing holiday.

In Athens you can look forward to a mild Mediterranean climate. The average annual temperature is 18.2 °C / 64.8 °F. The coldest month is January with averages of 10 °C / 50 °F. The warmest month is July with an average of 28 °C / 82 °F. The sea around Athens reaches an average temperature of 24 °C / 75 °F during the summer months.

Thessaloniki offers you a pleasant Mediterranean climate too with hot summers and relatively mild winters. The average annual temperature is 15.4 °C / 59.7 °F. The coldest month is January with an average of 9 °C / 48 °F. On the other hand, the warmest month is July with an average of 28 °C / 82 °F. During the summer months, the sea around Thessaloniki warms up to about 24 °C / 75 °F.

As both cities are quite lively, bustling metropolises, we would not recommend them for families with small children. However, for parents travelling with children over the age of 10 years, both Athens and Thessaloniki promise plenty of variety and fun!

In both cities, you can look forward to numerous guided tours on foot and by bike. Often these are focused on specific themes allowing you to get to know the various corners of the city from an insider perspective.

As both cities are located near the mountains, there are great hiking and MTB excursion opportunities. In Athens,you will also find a wide range of water sports on offer such as kayaking at Cape Sounion or sailing on the Athens Riviera.

These are just two examples of how the Greek capital and the surrounding sea can be easily combined into a fantastic weekend trip.