Vardaris

Vardaris is where Thessaloniki has always received its travellers: the railway station and the intercity bus terminals for western Macedonia are here.

Character & history

The area around Dimokratias Square was one of the fortified city's most important entrances, the site of the western gate in the walls. In modern times it grew into a commercial and working-class hub with a strongly multicultural character.

What to see

• The surviving traces of the city's western walls.
• The everyday, commercial face of a neighbourhood that hasn't been polished for visitors.
• Small shops and markets serving communities from around the world.

What to know

Vardaris isn't a tourist district and can feel quieter and rougher at night, but it's worth it for its authenticity and its practical importance if you're travelling by train or bus.

Getting around

A rail and intercity bus hub; the centre is a few minutes on foot or one metro stop away.

Best for: train and bus travel, the history of the walls, an unvarnished view of the city.