The White Tower (Lefkos Pyrgos) of Thessaloniki is the symbol of the city. Located at the waterfront of the city, it is nowadays a museum, hosting amazing collections about the Byzantine history of Thessaloniki. It was built approximately in 1500 A.D. and formed part of the defense system of the city.
Heading to the center of the city you will sea the monuments built by Galerius, Caesar of the “Eastern part” of Macedonia after defeating the Persians (298 B.C.).
His Arch (Kamara), his Palace, an imposing block of buildings the traces of which can still be seen today at Navarinou Square (Oktagono), as well as the Rotonda, an enormous round building, maybe a temple of Zeus or Kaveiros. The visitors can still admire the exceptional mosaics added two centuries later (395 B.C.) by Emperor Theodosios when he transformed Rotonda to a Christian church.
Several years earlier, the nowadays restored Roman Forum, a commercial, administrative and social center dating back to late 2nd century A.D. was built, as well as several other remarkable buildings and monuments, such as the Stoa of the Idols, the entrance to the Roman Forum, later named "Las Encantadas" (The Enchanted) by the Sephardic Jews. Nowadays, there are no remains of it in Thessaloniki; however, there is a part of it exhibited in the Louver Museum in Paris.
If you are in the city center, it is worthwhile paying a quick visit to the old Turkish baths, Bey Hamam, built during 15th century, by Sultan Murat II. Of course, then you can head to the Upper Town (Ano Poli) and see the castles and the view of the city they offer.
The castles are very well preserved, thus showing their usefulness during the years when Thessaloniki suffered attacks from the sea.
You will see the so-called Trigonio Tower, as well as the Eptapyrgio, the fortress with seven towers located at the internal part of the walls and which was used as a prison for many years.
In the outskirts of Thessaloniki (10 km NW) there is a region called Derveni. It is worth mentioning that about 50 years ago several tombs dating back to 4th century were discovered. They were full of a great variety of valuable funeral gifts, which you can admire in the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki.
Sindos is a similar area near Thessaloniki, remarkable for the same reason. During the recent years valuable findings have been discovered here and they can be seen at the same museum.