The Best Outdoor Pools in Thessaloniki

If you’re in Thessaloniki on a hot summer day and don’t feel like hopping on a bus to the beach, head straight to the the rooftop pool of the Met Hotel, an urban oasis near the port. Equipped with luxurious loungers and offering views over the port, the sea and the city, this pool is a great place to relax with a drink in hand and enjoy a refreshing dip. After your plunge, why not pop to one of the on-site restaurants to end the day on a high note and refuel for the journey home?

Located in the heart of Thessaloniki, Capsis Hotel is a popular accommodation choice in Greece’s second city. But besides the convenient location, elegant rooms and suites and stellar services, Capsis Hotel features the highest rooftop pool in town, giving swimmers fantastic views over the city. This urban oasis has a bar where you can enjoy light snacks and hearty meals, as well as soft drinks, coffee, warm beverages and cocktails. There is no official entrance charge but there is a minimum consumption fee of €8 (€10 at the weekends). Furthermore, the rooftop garden often hosts special events and parties during the summer, making it one of the hottest spots in the city.

Located right on Aristotelous Square, a major meeting point in the heart of the city, the Electra Palace rooftop pool is the ideal spot to cool off during the summer months. With views over Thessaloniki’s trademark square, this pool is open all summer long from 10am until 7pm, and is serviced by Orizontes restaurant and bar so you can enjoy drinks and food all day long. This city haven is undeniably a top choice if you are looking for a place to relax and get a break from the heat.

Located in the western part of the city, near the beautiful Moni Lazariston (Lazarists Monastery), the Lazart Hotel is a peaceful paradise surrounded by nature. You will fall in love with its outdoor pool, serviced by a pool bar where you can enjoy a selection of delicious snacks and drinks after your dip. The pool entrance fee is €10 and includes use of a sunbed, a towel and access to a changing room. Get ready for hours of relaxation in this little green oasis.

While the majority of locals head east to find a cool spot at the beach, on a sunny day in Thessaloniki it’s worth making your way west to Ocean Club, a multipurpose complex comprising an outdoor pool, a bar and a restaurant. Located in Sykies, a western suburb, this facility offers a complete change of scene in a green environment. The pool is open from 11am until 7pm with a fee of €7 (which includes the use of a sunbed and umbrella, towels and a complimentary bottle of water). Stay into the evening and watch the place transform into an open-air club where you can enjoy refreshing cocktails by the pool.

A historic hotel in Thessaloniki, Makedonia Palace, right by the Nea Paralia (which means ‘new waterfront’), has seduced guests from around the world with its five-star premises and outdoor swimming pool. Open all day until 8pm for just a €15 fee from Monday to Thursday (€25 on Fridays and at the weekend), this pool is the place to be during the summer months. As the most iconic hotel in town and thanks to its convenient location, the pool does get crowded at weekends.

If “dream big” is your motto, put it into practice by visiting the Hotel Nikopolis, located outside of the city centre, on the way to the airport. Here you will find the largest outdoor pool in the city. With its relaxed atmosphere, the swimming pool is perfect for sipping on a tasty cocktail after taking a dip in the water. Open from 10am until 8pm every day during the hot months of summer, this is the perfect spot to fight the rising temperatures.

Less than five minutes from the airport and 30 minutes from the city centre, the Hyatt Regency is an upscale hotel with, among other high-end amenities, a stunning and very large outdoor swimming pool. For €15 per person you get access to the pool and its bar, where you can enjoy light meals and snacks as well as drinks. With its tropic plants and elegant decor, you’ll feel as if you’re in a high-end resort on a Caribbean island rather than just outside Thessaloniki.