Words & Pictures by Shaun Troke
I’ve fallen a little in love with Peraia.
I’d only chosen to stay here because its located just 15mins from Thessaloniki Airport (meaning that I could sleep-in for longer on my departure date)…
I truly wasn’t expecting to like this suburb as much as I did!
Peraia bears similarities to Venice Beach in Los Angeles (minus the ‘medical marijuana’ clinics and hench meat-heads along its promenade!)…
And, I’ve always had a fondness for Los Angeles.
Peraia was somewhere I could relax, just sit by the water, or, walk around the streets, with that feeling of ‘belonging’.
It was also the beginning & the end of the peak season during my visits, giving it a quieter vibe…
The first time I visited – March 2018 – it was very quiet, and, the second time I went there – October 2018 – it was a little busier…and, below are some helpful discoveries made during both of those brief visits…
SEEING
The Beach in Peraia jetties a Pier, a favourite for fisherman, it seems.
It’s brilliant to view the pier from land, and, after a walk along the pier, you’ll be given even better views of the Peraia coastline surrounded by crystal clear waters…
You can also sit & dangle your feet from the side of the pier, watching the schools of fish pass by in the shallow water below.
During the peak season (April-September) a ferry service runs from the end of the pier, that will take you to Thessaloniki.
This is a MAJOR addition to the town as, when there’s no ferry service to Thessaloniki, the only options for reaching the co-capital is a 1-2hr bus journey, or to drive yourself there (until the Thessaloniki Metro service hopefully opens in 2020).
The Promenade branches off either side of the pier, featuring bars and café’s and restaurants, all of which still appeared very popular during the low-season.
The town of Peraia is great to walk around, too.
It has a genuinely friendly, modern beach-town neighbourhood feel about it, which I adapted to immediately.
And, I was able to find my way around without a problem.
EATING
One place I return to during my visits is the Thessaloniki chain, Estia Bakery.
Not only do they have free WiFi, but the staff were great, and, the outdoor seating (covered & uncovered) makes this a fantastic place to spend time at (well, ‘Estia’ is Greek for ‘home’, after all)…
Plus, I do believe they’re open from 6am to 2am everyday!
Their food products were delicious, and, they offer deals for purchases of coffee & a pastry together…
One product of theirs I became very hooked on is this Paste Noir.
In October 2018, the Pasta Noir – a sponge cocoa cake with mousse butter chocolate – costs €3: a little expensive, but my God, the taste is worth every cent!
Opposite Estia – as you’ll see in the background of the first picture in this Eating section – is a Μασούτης supermarket, which is helpful if you’re staying in self-catering accommodation, like I was (read more about my stay at Peraia Rooms soon).
In the building adjacent to Peraia Rooms, perched on the main waterfront square, is the aptly named restaurant: Square.
During my first visit to Peraia, I didn’t make the effort to visit this establishment…
Yet, it was during my second visit when I frequented this restaurant each day during my stay.
It’s popular with locals; the staff are friendly; their prices are reasonable; and, their menu is compact, offering most diner-type foods, from gyros to salads, to cheese nuggets and burgers.
And, the dining area inside (& outside) is a great place to watch a Peraia day go by.
DRINKING
On the waterfront is a cafe called Melrose, who provide outdoor seating, and this was my go-to Coffee Spot when I needed a break from Nescafe DIY sachets!
Alcohol-wise, I only went to one bar.
As always – and this is something I recently discussed with a single friend, too – when I’m travelling-solo, I’m OK with doing my own thing during the day, but it’s the evening times when company would be nice.
I walked around Peraia for a while, looking for bars that didn’t look too romantic or too full of couples and groups…
And then, I stumbled across Guest Bar: Through the window, I could see a table of three females, and, another female behind the DJ decks…this looked promising!
While there was a language barrier between myself & the females, there was another off-duty barman who was around, and he asked me to join his group (himself & those four females), which led to an evening of shots & beer…
So, being absolutely biased, I recommend Guest Bar!
EPILOGUE
Depending on what you look for in a vacation, Peraia can be a place to break away to for a couple of weeks or so, or, a place to wind down at after an adventurous trip…either way, your time will mostly involve relaxation and eating well.
From a personal perspective, I feel Peraia is the place I will always return to when flying into Thessaloniki – falling asleep & waking up to those calm waters has been forever imprinted onto my memory, and every time I look at pictures from my time there, I’m left excited about being back there again…
For now, though, I’ll just await that return.
See more pictures on our Facebook & Instagram feeds!
You can find out more about Peraia in our series GOING SOLO, available to watch here on YouTube!