The capital of Macedonia, Thessaloniki is a vibrant metropolis located right on the Aegean, full of history yet very much a modern city too. It has a large student population and a walk along the seafront in the evening takes you past rows of bars and cafes, all filled with animated young Greeks.

Close by is the city’s most famous landmark, the White Tower, which you will see on many posters and postcards. It was previously known as the Bloody Tower because it had served as a prison and a place of execution. Today it houses a fascinatingly eclectic Byzantine Museum, which extends over five floors and brings together many Byzantine objects, including mosaics and jewellery as well as icons.

Several smaller museums are also worth visiting. The Folklife and Ethnological Museum is housed in a nineteenth century mansion east of downtown. It has a good collection of traditional costumes and a large photographic archive, among many other fascinating items.