9 Jan 2016 - Thessaloniki as Greece’s second largest city, makes an enticing year-round city break destination or add-on to a beach holiday in Northern Greece's Halkidiki.

Be Captivated by Thessaloniki in 2016
City breaks from £399 or beach/city breaks from £895

Lonely Planet[i] says “Thessaloniki is fuelled by optimism and hedonism” having grown its appeal as a youthful city with and intriguing history and arty culture. As Greece’s second largest city it makes an enticing year-round city break destination or add-on to a beach holiday in Northern Greece.

The city has a plethora of historic sights and is a wonderful mix of old and new. Highlights include the 4th-century Arch of Galerius, the White Tower, a 34-metre high tower at the waterfront, the ancient forum, dated to the late 2nd or the early 3rd century AD and the 16th-century Yeni Hammam that was once a Turkish bath but is now home to a restaurant.

By day the city is easily explored on foot which is the perfect way to see the city that is often described as an open-air museum of Byzantine art[ii]. By night the city is alive with music and people enjoying the waterfront cocktail bars, vibrant nightlife and bustling restaurants.

AITO luxury Greece and Cyprus specialist, Planet Holidays (www.planet-holidays.co.uk) has expanded its collection of hotels in Thessaloniki for 2016 and now features nine 5-star, 4-star and 3-star city centre hotels with holidays available year round. One of the best is the 5-star The Excelsior, a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World and located in the centre next to Aristotelous Square.

This hotel features 34 rooms and was fully renovated a few years ago that transformed the interior of this historical building into a contemporary luxury boutique hotel with facilities and services to match. Three night city breaks with flights from Gatwick start from £475 per person including scheduled British Airways flights and transfers plus bed and breakfast accommodation at the 5-star The Excelsior in a classic double room – perfect for Valentine’s weekend or a romantic escape any time of the year.

A great value 3-star also located by Aristotelous Square is the Hotel Luxembourg which is housed in a majestic building and has all the facilities and décor one would expect from a modern day hotel. Three night city breaks with flights start from £399 per person including flights and transfers.

Additional hotels introduced by Planet Holidays for their new Thessaloniki programme include the 5 star Makedonia Palace, plus the ultra luxurious 5 star Daios Luxury Living, the 5-star Electra Palace Hotel, the two 4-star City and Anatolia, plus two 3-star hotels Olympia and Park.

Combine city and beach with a stay on the coast in Halkidiki. Planet Holidays feature nine 5-star resorts in Halkidiki including the Danai Beach Resort & Villas, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World. This sumptuous resort offers a magnificent variety of suites and villas all featuring exquisite décor and furnishings.

A week’s bed and breakfast stay at the Danai Beach Resort & Villas in Nikiti, Sithonia starts from £1275 per person in April including BA scheduled flights from Gatwick and transfers in resort. Add-on four days in Thessaloniki staying at the The Excelsior, with prices for an 11 night holiday from £1,935 per person.

For an alternative beach plus city stay holiday consider the 5-star Eagles Palace in Ouranoupolis, Athos with a 7 night stay in May 2016 starting from £895 including flights and transfers and 2 nights in Thessaloniki at the Hotel Luxembourg.

Additional hotels featured by Planet Holidays in Halkidiki include the all-inclusive 5-star Ikos Oceania and Ikos Olivia, the Porto Carras Meliton, the Porto Sani Village, Sani Asterias Suites, Sani Beach Club and Sani Beach Hotel & Spa.

Flights offered to Thessaloniki are available from a number of UK airports and include both scheduled, low-cost and charter. Car hire for a week from £175.

For further information contact Planet Holidays on 01438 841 270 or book online at www.planet-holidays.co.uk

ENDS: Media enquiries to Marlen Taffarello on 01780 460145 or 07789533791 and email marlen@fcdcom.co.uk

[i] http://www.lonelyplanet.com/greece/northern-greece/thessaloniki#ixzz3xImI4iJP
[ii] http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/main_cities/thessaloniki

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