Central Macedonia
The region has 114 official bathing-water sites; of the 112 with a classification in the 2024 season, 111 were Excellent (EEA). At most of these beaches the average sea temperature is 22 °C or higher from May to August (NOAA, 1991–2020). In the seat of the region the weather is most comfortable for walking and sightseeing in May, June and September.
- Regional units
- 7OpenStreetMap, 6 Oct 2026
- Municipalities
- 38OpenStreetMap, 6 Oct 2026
- Official bathing-water sites
- 114YPEN register, EEA
- Excellent in 2024
- 111 of 11299% of classified sites (EEA)
- Sea at 22 °C or more
- May–Augat most beaches, NOAA average 1991–2020
- Airports
- 1list of commercial airports
- Ferry ports
- 10ports with ferry terminals (OpenStreetMap)
- Natura 2000
- 56 sitesoverlap the area (YPEN)
- Wildfires 2016–2026
- 76 firesabout 10,998 hectares burnt (EFFIS)
- Zone prices 2021, per m²
- 300–2,450 €1,235 zones, a tax value and not a market price
When to go
This section is about Thessaloniki, the seat of the region not the whole region.
- Jan5°13°
- Feb6°13°
- Mar9°15°
- Apr13°19°
- May19°23°comfortable weather, warm sea
- Jun24°26°comfortable weather, warm sea
- Jul27°27°warm sea
- Aug27°25°warm sea
- Sep22°21°comfortable weather
- Oct16°18°
- Nov11°15°
- Dec6°14°
- Top figure: air, bottom: sea
- Comfortable weather for walking
- Sea 22 °C or warmer
The weather is most comfortable for walking and sightseeing in May, June and September (average temperature around 21.5 °C, little rain).
The sea is 22 °C or warmer from May to August (up to 26.5 °C).
The average temperature is 10 °C or lower from December to March.
Day length is 9 h 16 min at the winter solstice (07:48 to 17:03) and 15 h 5 min at the summer solstice (05:56 to 21:02), Greek time.
- Mean temperature °C
- Rain (mm, right axis)
- Sea °C
- Sea 22 °C or warmer
| Month | Mean temp. °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | Daylight h |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4.5 | 47 | 12.8 | 9.6 |
| Feb | 6.1 | 38 | 13.1 | 10.6 |
| Mar | 9.2 | 48 | 14.9 | 11.9 |
| Apr | 13.0 | 40 | 18.8 | 13.3 |
| May (sea 22 °C or warmer) | 18.7 | 46 | 23.0 | 14.4 |
| Jun (sea 22 °C or warmer) | 23.9 | 38 | 25.5 | 15.1 |
| Jul (sea 22 °C or warmer) | 27.0 | 29 | 26.5 | 14.8 |
| Aug (sea 22 °C or warmer) | 27.0 | 24 | 24.5 | 13.8 |
| Sep | 21.8 | 47 | 21.2 | 12.5 |
| Oct | 16.0 | 51 | 18.0 | 11.2 |
| Nov | 10.9 | 44 | 15.2 | 10.0 |
| Dec | 5.9 | 64 | 13.5 | 9.3 |
Temperature and rain: NASA POWER (MERRA-2), period 2001–2020, model cell about 22 km away. The temperatures are monthly averages from a regional model. Sea: NOAA OISST v2.1, period 1991–2020, nearest cell about 30 km away (0.25 degree grid). Daylight: calculated for the 15th of each month. These are regional model values and typical conditions, not a forecast.
Regional units
Central Macedonia is divided into 7 regional units. Each has a page with its municipalities, beaches and sights.
- Thessaloniki14 municipalities, 13 beaches
- Imathia3 municipalities
- Kilkis2 municipalities
- Pella4 municipalities
- Pieria3 municipalities, 12 beaches
- Serres7 municipalities, 2 beaches
- Chalkidiki5 municipalities, 87 beaches
Best beaches
The 10 official sites with the most seasons of Excellent water since 2011; ties are settled by the latest classification (2024 season). It is the EU's classification by season, not a reading on the day.
| Beach | Latest class | History |
|---|---|---|
| Agia Paraskevi | Excellent | Excellent in 14 of 14 seasons |
| Agia Triada 2 | Excellent | Excellent in 14 of 14 seasons |
| Agia Triada 3 | Excellent | Excellent in 14 of 14 seasons |
| Saint George | Excellent | Excellent in 14 of 14 seasons |
| Agios Mamas | Excellent | Excellent in 14 of 14 seasons |
| Azapiko | Excellent | Excellent in 14 of 14 seasons |
| Ai Giannis | Excellent | Excellent in 14 of 14 seasons |
| Akti Elaion | Excellent | Excellent in 14 of 14 seasons |
| Akti Kallitheas | Excellent | Excellent in 14 of 14 seasons |
| Alikes Beach | Excellent | Excellent in 14 of 14 seasons |
Towns to know
Cities and towns of the region that have a page of their own (24 of 103), larger ones first. Population only sets the order and is never shown.
- Thessalonikicity, Thessaloniki
- Katerinicity, Katerini
- Serrescity, Serres
- Veriacity, Veria
- Giannitsacity, Pella
- Naoussacity, Naousa
- Pereacity, Thermaikos
- Edessacity, Edessa
- Kilkiscity, Kilkis
- Alexandreiacity, Alexandria
- Nea Moudaniacity, Nea Propontida
- Diavatacity, Delta
- Oraiokastrocity, Oreokastro
- Panoramacity, Pylaia - Chortiatis
- Thermicity, Thermi
- Koufaliatown, Chalkidona
- Langadastown, Lagadas
- Epanomitown, Thermaikos
- Nea Michanionatown, Thermaikos
- Chalastratown, Delta
- Asvestochoritown, Pylaia - Chortiatis
- Litochorotown, Dion - Olympos
- Krya Vrysitown, Pella
- Polykastrotown, Paionia
Islands
The inhabited islands of the region that have a page of their own, largest first. Areas come from OpenStreetMap outlines.
- Ammouliani7.0 km²
Sights
A short selection from Wikidata, not a ranking of importance: only entries that have a Wikidata item, those with a page of their own on this site first, then those with an English label, then the oldest item. Up to 3 per kind. Coverage is uneven.
Castles
- Platamon CastleDion - Olympos
- Rentina CastleVolvi
- Castle of MoglenaAlmopia
Archaeological sites
- CassandreiaNea Propontida
- MiezaNaousa
- AcanthusAristotle
Museums
- MOMus–Museum of Modern Art–Costakis CollectionPavlos Melas
- White Tower of ThessalonikiThessaloniki
- Jewish Museum of ThessalonikiThessaloniki
Monasteries
- Vlatadon MonasteryThessaloniki
- Monastery of ZygosAristotle
- Chortaiton MonasteryPylaia - Chortiatis
Caves
- Petralona CaveNea Propontida
- Cave of EftamiliSerres
Canyons
- Enipeas GorgeDion - Olympos
- Çingene DerbentPaionia
- Apsalos GorgeSkydra
Waterfalls
- Waterfalls Park, EdessaEdessa
Lighthouses
- Angelochori LighthouseThermaikos
Natura 2000 protected areas
56 Natura 2000 sites with a page of their own in the region, the 10 largest. Each page says what the site protects, from the European Environment Agency's Natura 2000 database.
- Limnes Koroneias - Volvis, Stena Rentinas Kai Evryteri PeriochiSPA, 160,629 ha
- Oros Paiko, Stena Apsalou Kai MoglenitsasSPA, 90,954 ha
- Oros VorasSPA, 79,178 ha
- Limni Kerkini - Krousia - Koryfes Orous Beles, Angistro - CharopoSCI, 77,958 ha
- Koryfes Orous VoraSCI, 41,834 ha
- Delta Axiou - Loudia - Aliakmona - Evryteri Periochi - AxioupoliSCI, 41,496 ha
- Oros PaikoSCI, 35,181 ha
- Chersonisos AthosSCI, 33,426 ha
- Koilada Timiou Prodromou-MenoikionSPA, 29,189 ha
- Delta Axiou - Loudia - Aliakmona - Alyki KitrousSPA, 28,855 ha
Getting there
The airports and ferry ports of the area as our sources record them. We do not copy timetables or fares, because they would go stale; where an official source exists it is linked below.
| Airport | IATA | Municipality |
|---|---|---|
| Thessaloniki International Airport "Macedonia" | SKG | Thermi |
| Port, at the nearest settlement | Terminals in OSM | Municipality |
|---|---|---|
| Thessaloniki | 3 | Thessaloniki |
| Ouranoupoli | 2 | Aristotle |
| Agia Triada | 1 | Thermaikos |
| Neoi Epivates | 1 | Thermaikos |
| Perea | 1 | Thermaikos |
| Ormos Panagias | 1 | Sithonia |
Official travel information
- KTEL Macedonia station: departure lines by destination
- KTEL Chalkidikis: search routes and tickets
- KTEL Chalkidikis: stops, arrivals and route planner
Routes and connections can change by season. Confirm times and service directly with the operator before travelling.
How the numbers were counted
Each municipality belongs to the region and regional unit that OpenStreetMap records for it, and the figures on this page add up its municipalities. Beaches, airports, ports and sights belong to the municipality that contains them (up to 3 km outside the boundary for those on the shore).
Ports: a port is a group of ferry terminals mapped in OpenStreetMap within 1 km of each other (a harbour is mapped as many berths). The name is the nearest settlement. The number of terminals shows how closely the harbour is mapped, not how large it is or how many ferries call.
Fires: the count covers EFFIS burnt areas (roughly 30 hectares and above) whose reference point lies in a municipality of the area, with dates from 23 Mar 2016 to 12 Sept 2026. Natura 2000: each site is counted once, even when it overlaps several municipalities.
Zone prices: the lowest and highest value among the 2021 objective-system zones whose reference point lies in the area. They are tax values, not market prices.
See also
- Archaeological sites in Central Macedonia100
- Monasteries in Central Macedonia22
- Museums in Central Macedonia48
- Beaches with excellent water quality in Central Macedonia89
- All regions of Greecelist
- Greece month by monthlist
- Eastern Macedonia and Thraceregion
- Atticaregion
- North Aegeanregion
- Western Greeceregion
- Western Macedoniaregion
- Epirusregion
- Thessalyregion
- Ionian Islandsregion
- Creteregion
- South Aegeanregion
- Peloponneseregion
- Central Greeceregion
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from the sources below, with the date each was updated.
- Designated bathing waters (locations)Ministry for Environment and Energy: YPEN geoportal · Current bathing season register · Date:
- Bathing water quality classificationEuropean Environment Agency: WISE Bathing Water Directive database · Latest assessed season in the EEA database; every season from 2011 is kept as a per-beach history · Date:
- Monthly climate normalsNASA POWER, MERRA-2 meteorological model · 2001–2020 climatology period returned by NASA POWER · Date:
- Sea temperature (NOAA OISST)NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information / Physical Sciences Laboratory · OISST v2.1 monthly long-term mean climatology, 1991-2020 period · Date:
- Burnt areasEFFIS: European Forest Fire Information System (Copernicus EMS) · Rolling archive of mapped burnt areas · Date:
- Natura 2000 protected sitesMinistry for Environment and Energy: YPEN geoportal · Current national Natura 2000 network · Date:
- Objective property value zonesMinistry of National Economy and Finance, via data.gov.gr · 2021 revision of the objective value system · Date:
- AirportsFraport Greece; the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (ΥΠΑ/HCAA); Wikipedia (cross-checked for IATA/ICAO codes and coordinates) · Checked 24 September 2026 · Date:
- Everyday places, tourism, transport and natureOpenStreetMap contributors, via the Overpass API · Live database at the time of the query · Date:
- Wikidata landmarks: castles, monasteries, museums, archaeological sites and natural landmarksWikidata contributors · Live SPARQL query snapshot, taken 25 September 2026 · Date:
- Region, unit and municipal boundaries, settlements, seats and ferry terminalsOpenStreetMap (Geofabrik Greece extract, 24 Sep 2026), ODbL · Date:
Page updated .