Thessaloniki, Greece
One-way bus: ~$32 (5-6 hours)
Accommodation: Little Big House hostel was one of the most hospitable hostels I’ve been to yet. The staff were so gracious and accommodating, that when Tommy and I arrived at 2 am, a full 3 hours after reception closed, the owner woke and got us registered. As we were there over the Orthodox Easter holiday, when so much of Greece was closed, the staff held Easter events in the cozy hostel courtyard, including Easter feasts with homemade Greek food, dancing the horo, decorating candles and all walking to church together at midnight.
Good for: seafood, nightlife, orthodox holidays
You should: Take the city bus out of town to go to the beach.
Notes: Thessaloniki is close to a number of other destinations in northern Greece, like Meteora (churches in the sky), Chalkidiki (great beaches), and Mount Olympus that can be done as overnight excursions or daytrips. We spent the night outside of Litochoro on the beach (at Summit Zero Hostel) at the base of Mount Olympus National Park and did some hiking, though the trail was quite strenuous for me and the top of the mountain was unreachable because of snowpack.
- The beach in Litochoro
The Unintentional Explorer 