Paris, Rome, Barcelona are, as is fair and to be expected – seeing as they are centers of both history, culture and gastronomy – among Europe’s top tourism destinations. But the continent is full of smaller, less touristy places full of surprises, and well-worth visiting.

According to a recent article from the travel and tourism writers of Condé Nast Traveler, there are 22 cities in particular which are unfairly forgotten about when we’re planning our vacations, and one of them is Greek – that is, the “chill” Thessaloniki.

Describing Thessaloniki, the writer emphasizes that while the city may be losing out to Athens as far as tourists go, Greece’s second city is “well worth a visit.” They continue to underline the city’s world-class food scene, which granted it the title of Greece’s first ‘City of Gastronomy’ by UNESCO in November 2021, as well as the fun, creative vibe which it owns in part to its large student population. “While its historical offering is perhaps a little less grandiose than the Acropolis, it is no less rich: think a well-preserved Roman forum, the frescoes of the Rotunda, and Ottoman hamams,” they added.

It continues to point out Thessaloniki’s rich multicultural heritage, naming as an exmplehow, in the early 20th century, the city had the largest Jewish population in Europe,the traces of which are still traceable, especially when it comes to architecture.

Finally, the article concludes, Thessaloniki manages to comprise all this while still boasting a relaxed feel; “Athens residents will often jokingly use the term ‘halara’ in relation to Thessaloniki, denoting the city’s chilled-out atmosphere and slower pace of life.”

This article was previously published in Greek at moneyreview.gr.