Greece
Greece's second city and host of EuroPride 2026. Thessaloniki is a vibrant port city with a compact, walkable centre, outstanding food, and a growing LGBTQI+ scene that will be in the international spotlight when EuroPride arrives.
Thessaloniki is Greece's second-largest city and arguably its most vibrant — a bustling port on the Thermaic Gulf with a compact city centre, outstanding street food, and an arts and nightlife scene that rivals Athens. The city has a younger, more student-oriented energy, shaped by its large university population, and a reputation for being open, cosmopolitan, and welcoming.
The city's LGBTQI+ scene is smaller but growing, centred around the Ladadika district and the waterfront promenade. Thessaloniki's hosting of EuroPride 2026 is a significant moment — the first time a Greek city has hosted EuroPride, and a major statement about the direction of LGBTQI+ rights in the country.
Thessaloniki hosts EuroPride 2026, bringing together LGBTQI+ people from across Europe for a week of Pride events, human rights conferences, cultural programming, and a major parade through the city. EuroPride is one of the largest LGBTQI+ events on the European calendar, and hosting it marks a milestone for Thessaloniki and for Greece's LGBTQI+ movement.
The city's Pride has grown rapidly in recent years. Thessaloniki Pride launched in 2012 and has become one of the larger Pride events in the Balkans, drawing participants from across northern Greece and the wider region.
Ladadika, the former warehouse district near the port, is the nightlife hub — packed with bars, clubs, and restaurants in converted stone buildings. Several LGBTQI+-friendly venues are concentrated here. The Aristotelous Square area and the waterfront are great for evening strolls and cafe culture. Valaoritou Street is known for its bar scene.
The upper town (Ano Poli) is a beautifully preserved Ottoman-era neighbourhood of timber houses and Byzantine churches, worth exploring by day.
Greece legalised civil partnerships for same-sex couples in 2015 and same-sex marriage in 2024 — a significant legal shift. Thessaloniki is generally safe and welcoming for LGBTQI+ travellers, though public displays of affection may draw occasional attention outside the immediate nightlife zones. The city has an active LGBTQI+ community and advocacy organisations.
The climate is Mediterranean: hot dry summers (June–August), mild springs and autumns, and relatively cold winters. EuroPride 2026 will take place in summer. Book accommodation early — the city will be busy during EuroPride.
Thessaloniki is served by Makedonia International Airport (SKG), with direct connections to major European hubs. The city centre is compact and walkable. Buses run throughout the city. Many of the key attractions, beaches, and neighbourhoods are easily navigable on foot or by taxi.
Greece legalised same-sex marriage in 2024, a landmark change. Thessaloniki is generally open and welcoming, particularly in the Ladadika nightlife area, but is less visibly queer than the major western European capitals. LGBTQI+ travellers should exercise some discretion with public displays of affection outside clearly LGBTQI+-friendly spaces — this is more a matter of social norms than safety risk. The city's LGBTQI+ community is active and proud, and EuroPride 2026 will significantly raise visibility.
Greece is generally safe for LGBTQ+ travellers, particularly in tourist areas and cities. Same-sex marriage became legal in 2024. Mykonos is extremely welcoming; Athens has a growing scene. Rural and religiously conservative areas may be less accepting.
