The Complete Guide to a Kosher Trip to Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki was once called the "Jerusalem of the Balkans" — until World War II, Jews formed the majority of the city's population for centuries, thanks to a large wave of immigration by Jews expelled from Spain in 1492. Nearly the entire community perished in the Holocaust, but the Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki and the small remaining community continue to tell the story. Here's a short guide to planning your visit.

The Jewish Museum and synagogues

The Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki on Agiou Mina Street documents over 2,000 years of Jewish presence in the city, including the era when Jews were the majority. Monastirioton Synagogue and Yad Lezikaron Synagogue are the two active synagogues remaining out of the dozens that operated before the war.

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Chabad House and HaShalom Restaurant

Chabad of Thessaloniki and HaShalom Restaurant both operate inside the Astoria Hotel in the city center — one convenient address for both prayers and kosher meals. A kosher butcher also operates in the historic Nea Agora market.

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The White Tower — the city's symbol along the waterfront

The 15th-century White Tower, which once stood at the edge of the city walls by the sea, is Thessaloniki's most recognizable symbol today. Practical tip: combine the visit with a walk along Nikis Avenue promenade around the bay — especially beautiful toward sunset, when the tower is lit against the sky.

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Between the moving Jewish Museum telling the story of the "Jerusalem of the Balkans" and the White Tower on the waterfront, Thessaloniki offers a deep encounter with a rich Jewish past alongside a lively Greek coastal city.