The White Tower is one of Thessaloniki's main and most visited monuments and an indelible symbol of the city.

The majestic circular tower with its distinctive battlements was one of the main components of the Ottoman fortification of the city, thanks to its strategic location right on the sea promenade.

Top 10 best hotels in Thessaloniki

Today, the White Tower is a popular tourist attraction, sightseeing spot and small museum all in one.

Architecture and history

The exact date of the tower's construction has not been preserved, but it is estimated that it was built at the beginning of the Ottoman rule over this part of Europe, probably towards the end of the 15th century.

The tower has an exact circular plan with a radius of more than 22 metres and rises to a height of 33 metres, of which about 6 metres is accounted for by the tapering spire around the battlements.

During the Ottoman rule it served as a prison, execution and torture chamber in addition to its defensive purposes. The tower's bloody history ended after 1912, when the historic region of Macedonia was annexed to Greece.

After 1917 the building was painted white, hence its name. The white paint was meant to symbolically wash away a history full of suffering, as well as the end of Ottoman rule over Greek Macedonia.

Admission and opening hours

Inside the tower you can visit a 6-storey and surprisingly large museum tracing the complete history of Thessaloniki. Also popular is the lookout from the battlements, which gives you a view of the entire coastline.

The museum and the viewpoint are open daily from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, between November and March only until 6:00 pm. On Tuesdays it is open until 13:00.

Admission is as follows:

Museum + lookout - 8 eur in summer, 4 eur from November to March
Viewing only - 6 eur in summer, 3 eur from November to March

Official website: lpth.gr

Accommodation at the White Tower

If you are one of those tourists who like to choose accommodation near the top sights of the city, then you must look for a hotel near the White Tower. You will find mainly private apartments and condos in the nearby area.

Some of the best in all of Thessaloniki with a great location towards the centre and good prices around 59 eur per night include Trilogy Experimental.

The nearest classic hotels are the more luxurious ones about 200 metres away Teight Hotel **** right on the seafront promenade or the cheaper and well rated Abc Hotel *** 250 metres away.

How to get to the White Tower?

The monument stands at the eastern end of the main seafront promenade, which takes about 15-20 minutes to reach from the main Aristotle Square.

The nearest bus stop "Lefkos Pyrgos" for travel in the direction of the centre is right by the tower.

Buses 3K, 5, 5A, 6, 15, 33, 33A, 39 and 39A stop here. The stop for the direction to the centre is located about 200 metres further on Ioanni Tsimiski Street. All lines reach the city centre and most of them continue to the bus/train station.