Our next stop on our journey through Eastern and Southern Europe was the vibrant northern Greek city of Thessaloniki. Although our final destination was Kavala, border crossings and multiple bus changes meant we had the pleasure of spending a few days here — and I’m so glad we did.

We left Skopje on a mid-afternoon bus, but had to vacate our apartment by 10 AM. We spent the morning in a shopping centre food court and then at a Japanese restaurant before catching a cab to the bus station.

The four-hour journey (including the one-hour time difference) went smoothly, though the border crossing was lengthy. We were surprised to see both Macedonian and German border guards on the Macedonian side. At the Greek border, we were questioned about our time in the Schengen zone, but our French residency cards resolved the issue quickly.

We arrived in Thessaloniki around 8 PM and took a cab to our Airbnb. It was small but perfectly located. By 9 PM we were tired, hot, and hungry. We found a little restaurant just up the street with tables spilling out under fig trees strung with fairy lights and checkered tablecloths. We enjoyed a delicious meal and local wine among the locals — this is the kind of moment that makes travel truly special.

Our two full days in Thessaloniki were relaxed. We got a Greek SIM card, sorted onward tickets, and wandered along the beautiful waterfront promenade. Each evening we returned to “our” little restaurant, soaking up the atmosphere, great food, and cool evening air.

Thessaloniki has a wonderful energy — a perfect mix of history, modernity, and warm Greek hospitality. We loved every moment of our short stay.