Thessaloniki Acclimation Playbook
4 steps to get settled | 0 of 4 complete
🇬🇷Greece GuidePre-Arrival
Schengen 90/180 days, Greece Digital Nomad Visa, eSIM, and packing for the north
Visa and entry for US citizens
US citizens enter Greece and all Schengen Area countries visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day rolling period. Present your valid US passport at entry — no prior visa application needed. For stays longer than 90 days, Greece offers a dedicated Digital Nomad Visa (officially the 'Type D Digital Nomad Visa'): a 12-month residence permit for remote workers and freelancers employed by companies outside Greece. Requirements include proof of minimum monthly income of EUR 3,500, valid health insurance covering Greece, and a clean criminal record. Applications are submitted at the Greek consulate in your home country — processing typically takes 4–8 weeks. The permit is renewable for an additional 12 months. Thessaloniki's immigration office (Αλεξάνδρου Σβώλου 27) handles in-country registration once you arrive with the visa.
Get an eSIM before flying
Buy a Greece eSIM (Airalo, 10 GB, ~USD 9) before departure to have connectivity on landing at Thessaloniki International Airport 'Makedonia' (SKG). Greece's three main carriers are Cosmote (best coverage nationwide, recommended), Vodafone Greece, and Wind Hellas. All sell prepaid tourist SIMs at the airport arrivals hall and throughout the city. A Cosmote prepaid SIM with 30 GB runs EUR 15–20/month — available at Cosmote stores, Germanos electronics shops, and convenience kiosks. For a 90-day stay, the monthly prepaid plan is more economical than a tourist SIM. SIM registration requires your passport. Greece's 4G/5G coverage in Thessaloniki city center, the Thermaikos waterfront, and Ano Poli is excellent.
Airalo
eSIM for 190+ countries
Book accommodation and choose your zone
Thessaloniki is a compact, walkable city where most nomad-friendly neighborhoods are within 3 km of each other. The Ladadika district (old warehouse quarter turned restaurant and bar area, west of the port) is vibrant and central — furnished studios from EUR 400–600/month. The city centre (around Aristotelous Square, the main axis) is the most convenient base — everything within a 15-minute walk; apartments from EUR 450–700/month. Ano Poli (Upper Town): the Ottoman-era neighborhood with panoramic views of the sea and Byzantine walls — more local, slightly less convenient for transport, apartments from EUR 350–500/month. Kalamaria (eastern suburb): more residential and family-oriented, near the sea, quieter for focused work; studios from EUR 380–550/month. Book 1–2 weeks on Booking.com or Airbnb, then find monthly rentals via the 'Thessaloniki Expats & Digital Nomads' Facebook group or Spiti24.gr (Greece's main property portal).
Booking.com
Monthly stays & apartments worldwide
Pack and arrange health insurance
Thessaloniki has a Mediterranean climate with four seasons: summer (June–August, 28–35°C, hot and dry), autumn (September–November, mild and warm, ideal weather), winter (December–February, 5–12°C, rainy, occasional Vardar wind from the north brings sharp cold), and spring (March–May, warming and pleasant). Pack: summer-weight clothing for June–September, a proper winter coat and layers for December–February, and rain-appropriate footwear for autumn and winter. SafetyWing Nomad Insurance (~USD 45/month) is accepted as the health insurance requirement for the Greece Digital Nomad Visa application. Greece's national health system (ESY) is accessible via AMKA (social insurance number, obtainable as a visa holder). Private hospitals in Thessaloniki include Ahepa University Hospital and Papageorgiou Hospital — both well-equipped and with English-speaking staff.
SafetyWing
Travel & medical insurance for nomads