Survival Guide for Thessaloniki
-
Upload
helmsic-hellenic-medical-students-international-committee -
Category
Documents
-
view
233 -
download
6
description
Transcript of Survival Guide for Thessaloniki
Survival Guide
Welcome to Thessaloniki !
Thessaloniki, the beautiful port of the north, whose white tower dominates the night, awaits you to discover her, in the heart of Thermaikos gulf
Thessaloniki (Salonika)
Thessaloniki Survival Guide
Table of contents Thessaloniki, Nymph of Thermaikos Gulf
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
How to get to Thessaloniki
Map of the city
Hospitals and Labs
Boarding and lodging
Transportation
Exploring the City
Around the area
Events
3
5
7
8
9
11
12
14
1 19
23
Thessaloniki
Nymph of Thermaikos Gulf
Thessaloniki is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of
Greek Macedonia. It is literally “the co-capital” of Greece, a reference
to its historical status as the Συμβασιλεύουσα (Symvasilévousa) or
“co-reigning” city of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire,
alongside Constantinople. Thessaloniki is Greece’s second major
economic, industrial, commercial and political center, and a major
transportation hub for the rest of southeastern Europe; its
commercial port is also of great importance for Greece and the
southeastern European hinterland. Built near the sea (at the back of
the Thermaïkos Gulf), it is a modern metropolis, bearing the marks of
its stormy history and its cosmopolitan character, making it one of
the most vibrant and multicultural cities in Greece.
During your exchange in Thessaloniki you will have the time to
discover all of it’s beauties, because even if it is your first time in the
city you will easily learn how to navigate yourself in the blink of an
eye – just look out for the sea and it will guide you!
The city is renowned for its festivals, events and vibrant cultural life in
general, and is considered to be Greece’s cultural capital. Events
such as Thessaloniki International Trade Fair and Thessaloniki
International Film Festival are held annually, while the city also hosts
the largest bi-annual meeting of the Greek diaspora. In 2013,
National Geographic Magazine included Thessaloniki in its top tourist
destinations worldwide, while in 2014 Financial Times FDI magazine
(Foreign Direct Investments) declared Thessaloniki as the best mid-
sized European city of the future for human capital and lifestyle as
well as the European Youth Capital. Last but not least, The New York
Times have included Thessaloniki in the top 52 destinations of 2016
and one of the top destinations for gastronomy extraordinary tours.
Bonus fact: Thessaloniki has more bars and cafes per-capita than any
other city in Europe, and also the best nightlife in Greece thanks to its
large young populations and its multicultural feel.
Aristotle University Of
Thessaloniki
The Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki is the second largest
university in Greece. It is the sixth oldest and among the most highly
ranked tertiary education institutions in Greece. It is named after the
philosopher Aristotle, who was born in Stageira, about 55 km east
of Thessaloniki. It is the largest university in Greece and
the Balkans. Its campus covers 230,000 square metres in the center
of Thessaloniki, with additional educational and administrative
facilities elsewhere. About 74,000 students study at the Aristotle
University (65,000 in undergraduate programmes and 9,000 in
postgraduate programmes, of which 4,000 at Doctoral level
and there are more than 2,000 faculty members. Being located near
the city center, makes it easily approachable from any part of the
city.
School of Medicine
Τhe School of Medicine is one of the four schools of the Faculty of
Health Sciences of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. It is one of the
most important and well established schools in Greece, both
quantitativevely and qualitatively. It consists of 52 departments and
laboratories and its main educational goal is to transmit the proper
ethical values and to help the students acquire scientific knowledge in
order to be able to manage medical conditions effectively.
For more info visit here
How to get to Thessaloniki
The best way is to arrive at Thessaloniki is by plane. The “Macedonia
Airport” (SKG) is located half an hour from the city center and it has
direct connection to many international airports (mostly from
Europe). There is frequent connection to and from the city center
with the bus 78, that costs 2 euros.
Another option in case there is not a suitable flight to Thessaloniki, is
to fly to the Athens airport “Eleftherios Venizelos’’, and then switch
flights to your final destination, Thessaloniki.
Υou can also travel by bus or train, from Athens to Thessaloniki or
even from other destinations. For more information on bus routes
and fares to and from Thessaloniki, check here. For trains, check
here.
Map of the city
How lost would you be if it weren’t for us?
This map is a valuable tool that lists many things of interest about the
city itself. We will keep it updated throughout your exchange with
things that we think are worth sightseeing, places to shop and dine,
nightlife areas and above all places that will be useful for your
exchange! Click on the map below to see more information. If you
notice something that you’d like to see as well, tell us and we’ll add
it!
Start exploring Thessaloniki by taking a bus tour with line 50 – it
costs 2 euros and you take a first glimpse into the most important
sights in the city center, along with some historical facts .
There are also some free walking tours organised, so you can explore
the city and learn some of the history through a local guide .
Hospitals and Labs
Thessaloniki has four major university hospitals. You will be placed in
one of these four during your exchange.
AHEPA University Hospital
One of the biggest hospitals in northern Greece. Associated closely
with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA is located within
the extended area of the University. Here you can find more
information.
Ippokratio Hospital
One of the biggest hospitals in the Balkans. Created from the merge of
two smaller general hospitals to satisfy the needs for tertiary health
care.
Here you may find a list of our research exchange projects and clinical
departments.
During the first day of your exchange your Contact Person will guide
you to your appointed clinic or laboratory, in order to greet you to
your professor.
Gennimata Hospital
Created in 1915 due to the ever growing needs of the city’s
population, which was then ravaged by war, and the many refugees
that had taken shelter in Thessaloniki. Today it offers some university
clinics among other general clinics.
Papageorgiou Hospital
It started functioning in 1999 and is now considered one of the best
University Hospitals in Europe. It’s magnetic resonance imaging
equipment places it in one of the top 20 hospitals in the world. You
can find more information about it here.
Lodging and Boarding
Lodging
During your stay here in Thessaloniki you will be housed in
apartments. We have a deal with a local real-estate agency that will
provide you with keys to your apartment. Your contact person (or, in
some cases, a representative of that office) will pick you up from the
airport and will take you to their office to give you your keys. You can
check its location on the map.
Your apartments are located next to your hospital except for those
that are in Papageorgiou hospital, where you’ll have to use the city’s
bus system to get there. The other three hospitals are located near
the city’s center so everything will be at reach.
Boarding
We will provide you with one meal per day during workdays (Monday
to Friday), most probably in your university hospital’s restaurant. You
will get more information about it once you arrive here.
Transportation
It’s pretty easy to get around the city, here are the most useful routes:
How to get from the airport to the city center
Just in case we won’t be able to pick you up, or you decide to come on
your own, you can use bus No.78 or 78N (during the night). The bus stop
is located right outside the airport, you take it and then you get of at the
stop called XANTH (ΧΑΝΘ in greek) which is right in the center. Here you
can check the time table for bus 78 and here for bus 78N. The full price
ticket costs 2 euros, while the student price is 1 euro (for this route only).
How to get to the hospitals
As we mentioned earlier, your apartments are located very close to the
hospitals so you can always walk to get there. As for Papageorgiou
hospital, which is far from the center, you can get bus number 28B from
egnatia stop and you’ll be there in about half an hour.
Where can I buy bus tickets?
The ticket costs 1 euro (full fare), while the discounted ticket costs 0.5
euros (students’ discount), valid for one route. There is also another ticket
that costs 1.2 euros and 0.6 euros respectively, that is valid for two routes
for 1.5 hours (in case you need to switch routes it is very useful). If you
have the International Student Identity Card (ISIC), you will be able to buy
tickets with 50% discount but you will have to carry the ISIC with you.
When you are in the city, you can buy tickets from kiosks called
“periptera” or from automated vendors near bus stops. Here you can find
more information on general bus routes around the city.
Exploring the City
Ladadika
Named after the historic oil-product shops in the Ottoman market,
Ladadika remains today a hotspot in Thessaloniki center. The location,
especially formed only for pedestrians, hosts numerous shops,
restaurants, bars and coffee stores, which attract the youth, but at
the same time, preserves a cosy, colourful atmosphere.
Valaoritou Street
If you want to feel the vibes of Thessaloniki’s nightlife, spend a night
in Valaoritou Str. and you will be totally redeemed. This whole area is
sunk into music clubs and bars, so there is a vast number of options
in entertainment. Jazz clubs, rock and roll halls or alternative stages
sound all night long to satisfy even the most eccentric.
Bit Pazar
Extremely popular destination for youth and students’ most favourite
hangout by far; hidden behind huge buildings; it is worth a try to find,
as small, picturesque taverns serving savoury wine and delicious food
await you.
Iktinou-Zefxidos streets
These former school sidewalks represent today a must-see
entertainment spot with stylish places with a more relaxed spirit. Coffee
stores, cocktail-bars, bistrots etc. have replaced the old, schooling
buildings and become unexpectedly popular among the youth!
Navarino
The definition of an alternative/bohemian style neighbourhood that is
simply perfect for bringing a different breath of air to the city.
New seafront
It has always been one of the most often frequented places, both by
tourists and locals. On a clear day, its magnificent view of the sea and
the mountain of Gods, Olympus, will absolutely enchant you. Here you
can find a very beautiful long walk perfect for afternoon strolls with
many famous sculptures of modern art adorning it and also
Thessaloniki’s famous boat-bars where you can have a drink on a boat
on a mini-cruise in the Τhermaic gulf.
The White Tower of Thessaloniki
A monument & museum on the waterfront of the city. The White Tower
was substantially remodelled and its exterior was whitewashed after
Greece gained control of the city in 1912. It has been adopted as the
city’s symbol.
The ancient forum
It was constructed in the 2nd-3rd century AD. There you can find
squares, porticoes, additional buildings and odeum (293-395 AD), the
palace complex of Galerius Maximianus (4th c. AD), the thermae, the
hippodrome, the temples and other monuments and moveable finds
(among them mosaics of exquisite art) brought to light in excavations
and surveys. In the south square, there is the famous Stoa of the Idols,
which was two-storeyed and lavishly decorated.
Aristotelous Square
The central Aristotelous Square, surrounded by monumental buildings
and open to the waterfront for a width of 100 metres.
The Triumphal Arch of Galerius (Kamara)
Built in 305 AD to commemorate his military successes in the eastern
provinces of the Roman Empire, Kamara is a famous meeting point for
locals – and for us, during your month here! You will be staying in
apartments near Kamara.
The Rotunda
It is an early 4th century building which was used as a church for over
1,200 years until the city fell to the Ottomans. In 1590 it was converted
into a mosque and a minaret was added to the structure. It was used as
a mosque until 1912, when the Greeks captured the city during the
Balkan War. Greek Orthodox officials reconsecrated the structure as a
church, and they left the minaret.
Museums
In Thessaloniki there are often exhibitions and events, hosted in
museums. Most museums are easily accessible on foot, as they are
located in the city center. Some of them include the Archaeological
Museum, the Museum of Byzantine Culture, the Folk and Ethnographic
Museum, the State Museum of Contemporary Art, the Teloglion
Foundation of Art and the Thessaloniki Cinema Museum.
Around the area
Chalkidiki
They say that nowhere in Greece can boast beaches like those of
Chalkidiki. The region has the perfect combination of the distinctive
Greek light, unspoiled landscapes, colours and fragrances. And the
glorious natural setting is complemented by the rich culinary fare of
the region and the living religious traditions of its people, manifested
in a host of feast days and other ceremonies and rituals.
Skiathos
Skiáthos was the first northern Sporade to be developed, back in the
mid-1960s. It’s not hard to see why, with more than 50 beaches
lapped by an almost Caribbean-coloured sea, plus a lushly green
backdrop inland.
Vergina
Some of antiquity's greatest treasures await you at the Royal Tombs of
Vergina, opened to the public in 1993, 16 years after their discovery.
Pella
An ideal destination, the prefecture of Pella combines snowy peaks,
lakes and rivers in an unforgettable beauty of natural ingredients.
Well-known are the famous waterfalls of Edessa, small and big, in
various formations that fascinate and excite.
Edessa
The waterfalls of Edessa are a must see thing. You won’t believe that
there is such a spot just a mile away from main city. It is a great place
to get plenty of photos and have a cup of coffee. You can also shop at
the streets shops on your way back.
Meteora
Immense, breathtaking rock formations, 'sculpted' by the very hand
of God, with high tops conquered by men of strong faith and will,
who sought to find the immortal life. No wonder why Meteora is truly
a place 'out of this world'…
Kavala
Kavala, the capital and main port of the Kavala prefecture is
amphitheatrically built on the slopes of Mt. Symvolo forming one of
the most picturesque cities in Greece. The city’s breeze sweeps
through its historical buildings, which perfectly reflect the city’s
modern character.
Mt. Paggaio
Paggaio mountain is located at the western part of Kavala prefecture
(on the route Kavala – Eleftheroupoli – Nikisiani). It is a lush green
mountain with chestnut, pine, oak and beech trees. You will also find
three mountain lodges: the first one in Kalithea, the second one named
Petalouda or Vlachika Kalyvia and the one of Chatzigeorgiou. At an
altitude of 1,956 m there is a ski resort with a spacious ski slope. At a
lower level of the mountain, visitors will come across the Paggaio
Forest Village, where they can find accommodation and restaurants.
Serres
The city of Serres played the role of the crossroad and staging post on
the main lines of communication in Europe for countless armies and
peoples, yet it was among the few ancient cities of the much afflicted
Greek region that has managed to exist uninterruptedly since the dawn
of history to the present day.
Events
Depending on the month of your stay there are many events
happening in Thessaloniki, that you may be interested to see and
experience first-hand. This site is updated with many events that are
happening in the city!
Wonderful museums, cosy bars, impressive night clubs, and a
shopping paradise in Tsimiski Avenue and Mediterranean Cosmos. This
city is full of surprises for everyone! The more time you will spend
walking around the city centre, the more secrets will be revealed to
you… you’ll get this unique feeling of finding a small treasure in every
step!
Dance like the locals in Valaoritou area. Find out why Ladadika is an
all-time popular destination for everyone! The variety of the historic
bistro’s, bars, restaurants and clubs will make you understand the
reason Thessaloniki is such a beloved destination!
On behalf of
The Local Committee of
Thessaloniki
We’re looking forward to meeting you!
National Exchange Officer (NEO)
National Officer on Research Exchange (NORE)
Publisher Hellenic Medical Students’ International Committee (HelMSIC)
General Secretariat Mikras Asias 75 Athens 11527
Greece Phone: +302107462033 E-mail: [email protected]
www.helmsic.gr
Copyright © 2016 - HelMSIC