Ladadika

Ladadika is a historic marketplace district five minutes from Aristotle Square, right opposite the central gate of the Port of Thessaloniki. A quick walk around the district will introduce you to numerous cosy, charming, eclectic shops. The squat two-story houses that line the street on two sides also exude the charm of old Thessaloniki with their colourful exteriors and rectangular glass windows.

The street gets its name from the Greek word that means ‘the shop that sells oil and similar products’. There were likely dozens of vendors selling olive oil in this area during the Byzantine and Ottoman eras. The marketplace was abandoned for decades after the Great Fire of 1917 and even temporarily turned into an entertainment red-light district before World War 1. It reopened in 1985 with renovated buildings and modern-day shops. However, the local stores, cafes, bars, nightclubs, and tavernas have kept the cheerful spirit of the yesteryears alive.