Event venue
Location: Hotel Porto Palace, Thessaloniki
Address: 65, 26th Octovriou Avenue, 54628 Thessaloniki - Greece
Website: https://www.portopalace.gr/index.php?lang=2
Porto Palace Hotel & Conference Center constitutes a unique hospitality choice in Thessaloniki. Housed in a historical building of 1913 and preserving its industrial architecture, Porto Palace Hotel stands out among other hotels in town. Porto Palace Hotel Thessaloniki hosts the largest business events, local or international congresses as well as social events. Its historical Grand Pietra Hall is the biggest conference hall in Northern Greece.
Recommended accommodation
Apart from the the Porto Palace hotel, the following hotels are located within walkable distance (about 20 min) from Porto Palace, or can be reached by taxi at a reasonable price. 4-5 euros from the city center to the hotel, if called from the hotel reception it will cost 2 euros more.
Astoria https://paphotels.gr/home-astoria
City Hotel https://www.cityhotel.gr/
No15 Ermou Hotel https://no15ermouhotel.gr/en/new-landing/
Colors Urban Hotel https://colorshotel.gr/colors-urban-hotel-thessaloniki/
Mediterranean Hotel https://www.mediterranean-palace.gr/
Sea and the City https://sea-city.gr/
Imperial Plus Urban Smart Hotel https://imperialplus.reserve-online.net/
Colors Central https://colorscentral.gr/
Superior One Boutique Hotel https://www.superiorone.gr/
Magnifique Luxury Suites https://magnifiqueluxurysuites.gr/
Vanoro Hotel https://www.vanorohotel.com/
Travel information
The easiest way to reach Thessaloniki is by flying into its international airport (Airport Code SKG). It is also possible to reach the city by car, bus, or train.
The city's airport (16 km outside Thessaloniki) is international and served by many of the major airlines. For flights to Thessaloniki try www.greeceflights.com
Taxi
The taxi fare from the airport to the city center (Porto Palace Hotel) is fixed at 25 euros.
Call a taxi:
Taxi way: +30 2310 866866
Macedonia: +30 2310 550500
Mercedes Club: +30 2310 525777
Bus services
From the airport to the hotel: https://oasth.gr/en
- Bus Line 01X Airport KTEL (Αεροδρόμιο -ΚΤΕΛ) from Airport to Bus Station: Aristotelous Square (Πλατεία Αριστοτέλους).
- Bus Line 31 Voulgari – KTEL (Βούλγαρη – ΚΤΕΛ) from Bus Station: Aristotelous Square (Πλατεία Αριστοτέλους) to Bus Station: Sfageia (Σφαγεία). Duration: approximately 100’ -120’
Price bus ticket: €1,80
Ticket machines are located on all buses but they do not give out change. A cheaper alternative (€1,20/€0,60) is to purchase your ticket from the ticket booths at the public bus central stations or at some of the kiosks located across the main streets.
Visiting Thessaloniki
With a population of over 1 million, the city of Thessaloniki is one of the largest cities in southeastern Europe and the second major economic, industrial, and commercial center in Greece. The local gastronomy has evolved over the centuries since the area has always been a crossroad of different cultures. The authentic flavors take off thanks to the fresh ingredients from the fertile land and rich sea, all locally sourced and in season, blessed by a Mediterranean climate. Thessaloniki acknowledges that gastronomy plays a crucial role in valorizing cultural and creative assets, supporting innovation, strengthening the identity of the city, opening export markets, and expanding professional networks, among others. Thessaloniki is a culinary paradise! In fact, Greece’s second-largest city has always been referred to as the country’s gastronomic capital but it also proudly became, in 2021, the first Greek city to join UNESCO’s Network of Gastronomy. This distinction is adding to the dynamic presence of Thessaloniki, a city that features 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
History
Thessaloniki was founded in 315 BC by King Cassander of Macedonia. It rapidly became a very important center and one of the major cities of the kingdom during the Hellenistic Era with limited political autonomy.
A vibrant metropolis throughout the centuries
After the fall of the Kingdom of Macedon in 168 BC it became part of the Roman republic and was further developed into an important trade center actually connecting Europe with Asia through the Roman Via Egnatia.
Many of the most imposing and well decorated structures were built during the Roman Era of its history as Thessaloniki was one of the capitals during the Tetrarchy period, while it also served as capital of all the Greek provinces for a period of time.
During the first century AD and afterwards, the city became one of the first early Christian centers after Paul the Apostle preached here and laid the foundations for a new religion.
During the Byzantine era the city was further developed and became even bigger, being the second most important city of the empire after Constantinople itself. Wonderful churches and other buildings were built in several areas while extended defensive constructions took place.
In 1204 AD during the fourth crusade the city fell into the hands of the Crusaders and thus the “Kingdom Of Thessalonica” was created. In 1246 though, the Byzantines managed to recover the entire area.
The Ottoman period
After 1430 the ottomans conquered Thessaloniki, under the commands of Mourad II. During the Ottoman occupation period the city once again became the most important commercial and trade center of the area and was considered of great strategic importance due to the trade routes established. It became the new home for many ethnic communities (Sepharadites) that significantly promoted art, culture and architecture.
During the 19th century while the Ottoman empire was making extensive reorganization and modernisation efforts (Tanzimat), several wonderful new buildings were built all over the city. The gradually expanding use of steam and the wide spread of the railways tranfsormed Thessaloniki into the largest industrial center in the Balkans.
Huge industrial units were constructed along with a new port. All these led to what the historians called “California of the East”. The city’s population tripled in a time period from 1840 to 1912.
Thessaloniki’s liberation – The dawn of the modern era…
In October 27, 1912 during the first Balkan War the Greek army liberated the city, while in 1917 the city faced what was perhaps its greatest disaster ever, as a huge fire destroyed almost three quarters of the center something that had various side effects in the following years. Serious efforts and proposals were made by famous architects like Ernest Hebrard in order for the city center to be rebuilt like a modern European capital.
During the 50’s and the 60’s the city experienced an unprecedented construction growth that transformed the city center to its present form. (Click here to view some rare photos dated back to these decades.)
Today Thessaloniki is a modern European city, as always an important trade and transportation center connected to all the Balkan Countries, while it was nominated as the Cultural Capital of Europe in 1997.
It is one of the largest student centers in South-Eastern Europe while many of its monuments are included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In 2004 during the Athens Olympics, the city hosted a number of athletic events while being one of the Greek Olympic Cities.
The city was selected in 2011 as the European Youth Capital of 2014.
