Port of Thessaloniki

Port overview

The Port of Thessaloniki (Greek: Λιμάνι της Θεσσαλονίκης) is the main maritime gateway to Southeast, Central and Eastern Europe, strategically located in Northern Greece close to the major Trans-European motorway (inter alia Via Carpathia) and railway networks with direct access to the Southeastern European countries. ThPA S.A., listed on the Athens Stock Exchange since 2001, handles containers, conventional cargo, operates the free zone of the Port in accordance with tax and customs legislation currently in force authorized with AEO License, offers intermodal rail services and serves passenger traffic through cruise and ferry. Following the privatization process, 67% of the Company’s (ThPA S.A.) share capital was transferred to South Europe Gateway Thessaloniki (SEGT) Ltd on March 23, 2018. SEGT Ltd. consisted then of "Deutsche Invest Equity Partners GmbH" (owning directly 47%), "Terminal Link SAS" (owning directly 33%) and "Belterra Investments Ltd." (owning directly 20%). The Greek State, via HRADF, retains since privatization a stake of 7.27% of ThPA S.A. and the remaining 25.73% is free float. On June 4, 2021, the shareholding structure of SEGT Ltd. was changed since shareholder “Belterra Investments Ltd.” purchased the entire share of "Deutsche Invest Equity Partners GmbH", therefore owning directly 67% and consequently becoming the controlling shareholder of SEGT Ltd. On 7 December 2021 Belterra, with beneficial owner Mr. Niko Savvidi, purchased a 299,855 shares of ThPA S.A. Before this acquisition, Belterra had already purchased 189,447 shares that accounted for 1.88% of the total paid-up share capital of the Company. Following the above acquisition, the total number of shares and equal voting rights of the Company directly owned by Belterra is 489,302 and corresponds to 4.85% of its share capital. Therefore, the total number of shares and the equivalent voting rights of Belterra, both directly and indirectly to the Company - through its direct participation in SEGT (which holds 67% of the shares and voting rights of the Company) - amounts to 7,242,902 which accounts for 71.85% of its share capital.

Cruise visitors arriving at Port of Thessaloniki disembark into a port that has been progressively expanded to handle larger ships and quicker turnaround. From the pier you can typically expect covered passenger processing, a clearly signed ground-transport area, and a transfer of just a few minutes to the principal in-town attractions. The exact walking distance from gangway to historic centre depends on the day's berth assignment, so checking the daily port map at guest services is worthwhile before you leave the ship.

Shore excursions in Port of Thessaloniki break down into three useful brackets. Short half-day options keep you within the immediate city or coast, a manageable choice if you want a guaranteed early return to the ship. Full-day tours reach inland or up the coast (the usual mix of viewpoints, vineyards, archaeological sites or beach clubs) and are best when the ship is in port for at least nine hours. A growing number of independent travellers also book private guides through reputable local operators, which gives faster transitions and more flexibility than the ship-organised tour buses.

Independent travellers often combine a self-guided walk through the historic core of Port of Thessaloniki with a short transit ride or taxi hop to a viewpoint. Local food markets, neighbourhood cafés and small museums consistently provide the most memorable stops between the headline sights. If you have a strong walker in your group, plotting a 90-minute morning loop on the way out and saving the harbour-side promenade for the end of the day works well.

Within walking distance of the cruise berth, Port of Thessaloniki typically offers a compact historic core of two or three landmark buildings, a working market, a waterfront promenade and one or two small museums. A pre-call review of the local tourist office's website will surface any temporary exhibitions, festivals or street markets that align with your call day.

Practical considerations for Port of Thessaloniki include the local currency (Euro (EUR)), the working language (Greek) and a tipping convention where 5-10% restaurants, round-up taxis. Confirm shuttle availability if your berth is more than a kilometre from the city centre, plan your re-boarding window with at least a 60-minute buffer before the all-aboard call, and keep your ship card and a printed itinerary copy on you throughout the day.

Beyond the standard cruise itinerary stops, Port of Thessaloniki has a quieter character that rewards passengers who venture even a few blocks beyond the obvious tourist arteries. Residential streets, working fishing quays, secondary plazas and small religious or civic buildings often hold the architectural and cultural details that turn a routine port call into a richer experience. Even a brief detour from the announced excursion path can transform the day.

For navigation reference, Port of Thessaloniki sits at approximately 40.6360° latitude, 22.9220° longitude, useful for cross-checking the port against weather services, ship trackers and itinerary planning tools.

Top shore excursion ideas

Below are the most useful ways to spend a day ashore at Port of Thessaloniki, ordered roughly by how productive they are for a typical cruise call. Costs are USD per person and exclude tips.

Practical info for cruise visitors

Getting back to the ship

Most cruise calls at Port of Thessaloniki end the same way they began: a short transfer (or walk) back to the cruise berth, security re-screening, and a return up the gangway with your ship card. Local buses, taxis (KTEL inter-town). If your excursion is taking you any meaningful distance from the port, take a screenshot of the cruise berth on a map and the ship's name in the local language. It shaves time off the return trip if you have to ask for directions.

Independent travellers should also note the location of the nearest hospital, the local emergency number, and the cruise line's port-agent details (printed on the daily programme). For all but the most polished ports, this small habit avoids one of the few genuinely stressful cruise scenarios: being separated from a tour group with no easy way back to the ship.