Aristotelous Square

Located near the city's waterfront along Nikis Avenue, Aristotelous Square forms the main city quadrangle and the heart of Thessaloniki. The square is abuzz with numerous bars, restaurants, and coffee shops. Several of them offer a view of the Thessaloniki harbour. You will also find jewellery and curio shops to pick up souvenirs.

There are a number of spas and massage centres as well where you can spend an hour pampering yourself. Attractions like the Statue of Aristotle, the Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki, Yahudi Hammam, and Modiano Market are a few minutes away from Aristotelous Square.

French architect Ernest Hebrard designed the square in 1918 to address the lack of European touch in the fabric of Thessaloniki, which was ruled largely by the Ottoman Empire. He envisioned a colossal axis for the square, stretching to the Dikastirion Square and the Roman Forum. He also intended to name the plaza after Alexander the Great, with a statue of the emperor in the middle of the square. However, when the square was later developed in the 1950s after the end of World War II, most of Hebrard’s designs were simplified for financial constraints. Aristotelous Square plays a major role in the current cultural and sociopolitical life of Thessaloniki. The plaza has hosted many important rallies, Christmas, and other festivals over the years. It is the location of the city’s iconic movie hall, the Olympian Theatre, where the Thessaloniki International Film Festival takes place every year.