Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2025/Guide

Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2025

City

Going around.

Thessaloniki (/ˌθɛsələˈniːki/; Greek: Θεσσαλονίκη [θesaloˈnici]), is the second-largest city in Greece, with slightly under one million inhabitants in its metropolitan area, and the capital of the geographic region of Macedonia, the administrative region of Central Macedonia and the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace. Thessaloniki is also referred to in Greek as i Symprotévousa (Η Συμπρωτεύουσα), which literally means "the co-capital."

Transport

Arriving in Thessaloniki

By air: Shuttles will be available for all participants. The timetable will be posted closer to the event date. If the shuttle schedule does not meet your needs, you can use bus or a taxi to reach the hotel/venue. There is a taxi rank at the airport (fixed fare: €35 between the airport and any location within Thessaloniki).

By bus: Final destination will be either:

the Intercity Bus Station 'Makedonia' which is 750m from the hotel/venue. A 11 minutes walk, or 6-7 minutes by bus (lines 01X.02K,09B,12,19,51,52,54, get off at second bus stop 'ORIZOMYLOI'), or take a taxi from the taxi rank (it will be the minimum fare €4)
the New Railway Station which is 2km from the hotel/venue. Take a taxi from the rank, or get on a bus (lines 01X.02K,09B,12,19,51,52,54, get off at bus stop 'OMOSPONDIA')

By car: The hotel/venue is at Monastiriou 305, 54628, Thessaloniki, Greece. Coordinates: 40.653591°, 22.908107°

Public transport

Thessaloniki offers three types of public transport:

Bus

Buses are another convenient way to get around Thessaloniki. You can check bus timetables here: https://telematics.oasth.gr/en/#main

Tickets can be purchased at:

TheTA ticket booths
Automatic ticket vending machines
Onboard vending machines (for reloading tickets with a credit card (no issuing))

More information about issuing and reloading tickets is available here: https://oseth.com.gr/en/means-issuing-and-reloading-bus-tickets

Both a ticket booth and a vending machine are available at the airport bus stop.

The direct bus line between the airport and the hotel/venue is 01X (return trip - direction to K.T.E.L.) Get off at the OMOSPONDIA (13059) stop, which is just 160 meters from the hotel—a two-minute walk across the road (easy to spot).

To reach the city center and the promenade from the hotel, the best option is bus 12, which runs frequently, passes through the entire center, and goes by landmarks like the White Tower—no transfers needed.

Taxis

Apps such as Taxi 18300, TaxiLife, Freenow, and Uber can be used to book taxis in Thessaloniki. There are a lot of taxi ranks around the city, those will save you from the call-out fee. All responding vehicles are licensed taxis, and all are required to have a POS terminal, allowing payment by cash or credit/debit card.

Key info:

Fixed fare: €35 between the airport and any location within Thessaloniki.
All other rides are metered.
Minimum fare: €4, plus a call-out fee of €2.
Night fares (12:00 AM – 5:00 AM) are slightly higher.
Registered taxis are easily recognizable by their two-tone color: blue bottom and white top.

Metro

Thessaloniki boasts one of the newest and most fully automated metro systems in the world. Operating hours are 5:30 AM – 12:30 AM on Monday to Thursday and Sunday, and 5:30 AM – 2:00 AM on Friday and Saturday. Metro stations are marked with the symbol. The Thessaloniki Metro is a fast and efficient way to navigate the city center and its eastern districts. However, there is no metro station near the hotel/venue; you will need to take a bus and transfer at the Railway/Metro Station.

Safety

Thessaloniki is generally a safe city, with no major safety concerns if you follow basic precautions. Your hotel is on a main avenue with heavy traffic throughout the day; however, we advise avoiding the streets behind it at night, as they will be deserted and offer nothing of interest. It’s also best to steer clear of the area between the university and the Rotonda after 2:00 AM due to occasional drug activity. Beyond these spots, the city is considered safe. We recommend not wearing clothing that displays sports club logos, as this can sometimes trigger incidents of fan-related violence. LGBTQ+ people should avoid the north end of Aristotelous road. On the opposite, Navarino square, Dimitriou Gounari, and neigbouring roads are completely LGBTQ+ welcoming. If you ever feel unsafe, note that there are frequent motorcycle patrols throughout Thessaloniki.

When walking be very careful when crossing streets. Greek drivers are generally not giving priority to pedestrians, will probably not stop but only slow down to pass behind you, or they may not see you at all. Be careful even in zebra crossings.

For emergencies, you can call the police at 100, medical services at 166, or the general European emergency number 112—all calls are free of charge. Emergency hospital care is also provided free of charge.

Things to do

Exploring Thessaloniki

Walking around Thessaloniki, you'll come across countless attractions, dining spots, and places to relax or enjoy the city’s vibrant atmosphere. Places you can visit are the Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments, the Arch of Galerius and Rotunda, the White Tower, Aristotelous Square, the Ano Poli (Upper Town) and the castle, and definitely walk the 4.5 km promenade from the old Port, pass the White Tower and continue past all the parks next of it up to the Concert Hall.

There are a lot of museums but it's a good idea to check opening days and hours in advance. If time allows, don't miss the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Byzantine Culture. The MOMus network of museums also offers excellent exhibitions worth visiting.

Eat and Drink

Thessaloniki offers a rich culinary scene. The Ladadika district is packed with restaurants and bars of all kinds. Just across Tsimiski street, Ano Ladadika is known for its lively cafes and nightlife. Platia Athonos is another area filled with traditional tavernas, while Nikis Avenue—the start of the promenade—is lined with cafes and bars along the waterfront.

For something quick and local, try gyros for lunch or dinner and bougatsa for breakfast or brunch. You’ll also find koulouri (a sesame bread ring) sold by street vendors or in local bakeries.

Important information

🕒Time

During the event Greece will be operating under Eastern European Summer Time (EEST) UTC+03:00.

💱Currency

The official currency of Greece is the Euro (€). You can find many currency exchange offices along Egnatia Street and at the airport. Payment can be made in cash or by credit/debit card (VISA and Mastercard) at all shops, markets, restaurants, and cafés, as Greek law requires all businesses to provide a POS (point-of-sale) terminal.

🗪 Language

The official language of Greece is Greek, spoken by the vast majority of the population. English is widely used as a foreign language, with many local residents able to communicate at various levels of proficiency. In Thessaloniki, you will also encounter immigrant communities where Russian, Georgian, and other languages are spoken.

Almost all public signs are written in both Greek and English, making it easier to navigate the city.

Useful phrases in Greek

English	Greek	Phonetic
Good morning	Καλημέρα	ka-li-me-ra
Good night	Καληνύχτα	ka-li-ni-hta
Yes	Ναι	ne
No	Όχι	o-hi
Thank you	Ευχαριστώ	ef-ha-ri-stoh
Sorry / Excuse me	Συγγνώμη	sig-no-mii
Please / You' re welcome	Παρακαλώ	pa-ra-ka-loh
I don’t understand	Δεν καταλαβαίνω	then ka-ta-la-ve-noh
Water	Νερό	ne-ró
Come	Έλα	é-la
Ok	Εντάξει	En-dá-xi
Pharmacy	Φαρμακείο	far-má-cio
Hospital	Νοσοκομείο	no-so-ko-meío

Note for Slavic Language Speakers:

Please keep in mind that in Greek, "ne" (ναι) means "yes," while in most Slavic languages "ne" means "no."🤪

🔌Electricity

The voltage in Greece is 230 volts with a frequency of 50 Hz. The standard electrical socket is the European CEE 7/7 “Schuko” outlet. If your equipment uses a different plug type, please ensure you bring the appropriate adapters, as these can be difficult to find in stores in Greece.

🌦️Climate

Our conference will take place in late September, which is the end of summer and start of early Mediterranean autumn. Thessaloniki, like much of the region, has a classic Mediterranean climate, characterized by warm, sunny days and cooler nights. Although the average daily maximum temperature in September is around 27.8°C, coastal weather can be unpredictable, with occasional shifts in temperature and conditions. Check the weather forecast a day before coming to see if it'll be in the middle of a heat wave or a strormy weather.

We recommend bringing a variety of clothing—light clothes such as t-shirts 👕for the daytime, and a light jacket 🧥 or sweater for the evenings, when it can get noticeably cooler. We also recommend sunscreen 🧴, hat 👒,and sunglasses 🕶️. Many locals still enjoy swimming at nearby beaches and in Chalkidiki during this period.