Thermaikos
Thermaikos è un comune costiero della Macedonia Centrale che si affaccia sul Golfo Termaico, subito a sud di Salonicco, di cui è d...
Mis à jour le 17 juillet 2026
Le récit
L'histoire de Thermaikos
The Thermaic Gulf coast south of Thessaloniki
The municipality of Thermaikos occupies a stretch of the Thermaic Gulf coast that starts right at the southern edge of Thessaloniki's urban area and continues towards Epanomi. It is a low, sandy shoreline dotted with settlements that grew because of their closeness to the sea and to the seaside life of the nearby big city. The geography is simple: a long coastline, a flat hinterland, and settlements following one another along the coastal road. There are no great headlands or dramatic cliffs, but it is exactly this continuity that makes Thermaikos easy to cover by bike or on foot, moving from one centre to the next without interruption. It is a coast built for everyday life rather than for hit-and-run tourism: families, retirees and young people from Thessaloniki choose it for a few hours' outing or for an entire weekend.
Perea and Nei Epivates, seafront and beaches
Perea and Nei Epivates are the two best-known centres in the municipality, both organised around a seafront that fills up on summer evenings with people strolling, bars, and families looking for some cool air. The beaches are sandy, sloping gently into the water, and in the warm season they are equipped with umbrellas and sunbeds, alternating with freer stretches for those who prefer simply laying down a towel. Perea has a fairly long seafront, with a pedestrian promenade running alongside the beach for a considerable stretch, ideal for a sunset walk or a morning run. Nei Epivates keeps a more intimate, village-like seaside atmosphere, with lanes running down to the seafront and a local life that continues even outside the summer season. In both centres the sea remains the protagonist: accessible and shallow for a good stretch, suitable also for families with young children.
Fish cuisine and seaside life
Life in Thermaikos revolves largely around the rhythm of the sea: a swim in the morning, shade and rest during the hottest hours, then drinks and dinner in the evening when the seafront comes alive again. Fish tavernas are the distinctive gastronomic feature of the area, often family-run, with a direct view of the water and menus tied to the day's catch: grilled fish, squid, shrimp and starters of local vegetables almost always come with a glass of white wine or ouzo. It is not uncommon to find small kiosks along the seafront with quick snacks for those passing between one swim and the next, as well as cafés open until late evening for watching the lights on the water. This combination of simplicity, good food and closeness to the sea is probably why people from Thessaloniki keep coming back to Thermaikos season after season.
Angelochori and the lagoon: a corner of nature
Angelochori, the third main centre of the municipality, keeps a quieter atmosphere compared to the busier seafronts of Perea and Nei Epivates. Its distinctive feature is the nearby wetland with a lagoon, a natural environment quite different from the rest of the coast, made up of reed beds, shallow pools of water and a sky often crossed by flocks of birds. The area is a birdwatching destination, visited by those who bring binoculars to observe the migratory species stopping along the Thermaic Gulf during their seasonal movements. Walking around the lagoon offers a different perspective: no longer the crowded beach and lively seafront, but a quieter landscape, where the sound of the sea gives way to the calls of birds. It is a good counterpoint for those who, after days of sun and swimming, seek a slower moment without straying too far from the coast.
The view of Mount Olympus and the gulf
One of the most striking features of Thermaikos is the view that opens onto the Thermaic Gulf, with the sea horizon closed off in the distance by the silhouette of Mount Olympus. On clear days, especially in spring and autumn, Greece's highest mountain appears as a sharp dark line beyond the water, a natural backdrop accompanying every walk along the seafront. Sunset is probably the best moment to appreciate this scenery: the sun sets behind the profile of Olympus, the sky turns warm colours, and the sea reflects the light as the tavernas switch on their first evening lights. This combination of open sea, wide sky and mountain in the background gives Thermaikos a precise landscape identity, different from an ordinary coastline: here the gulf and the mountain are in constant dialogue, and it is exactly this dialogue that stays with anyone visiting the area, even just for a day.
How to experience it: connections with Thessaloniki
Thermaikos is best experienced as a natural extension of Thessaloniki, only a few kilometres away along the coast: a convenient destination for a half-day trip, an evening fish dinner, or a full weekend in one of the many tourist accommodations of the coastal centres. Road connections with the city are direct and frequent, helped by the tourist traffic that animates the coastal road between Thessaloniki, Perea, Nei Epivates and the centres further south during summer. For those staying in the city, Thermaikos is an excellent base for getting out of the urban centre without going too far, breathing sea air within about half an hour's drive. For those who instead stay directly within the municipal territory, closeness to Thessaloniki guarantees quick access to museums, nightlife and city services, while keeping evenings in the quiet of a seaside town.
Experiences not to miss
- Walk along the Perea seafront at sunset, with Mount Olympus standing out beyond the Thermaic Gulf
- Swim at the sandy beaches of Nei Epivates, also suitable for families with children
- Have dinner at a seaside fish taverna, choosing from the day's catch freshly landed at the harbour
- Go birdwatching in the wetland and lagoon near Angelochori, among reed beds and migratory birds
- Reach Thermaikos from Thessaloniki for a half-day coastal trip or a full seaside weekend
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