Thessaloniki, Greece

Approaching storied Thessaloniki by sea, it’s impossible to miss the striking White Tower, a perfectly round fortification built in the 15th century that has become the city’s symbol. Also found seaside, breezy Aristotelous Square is flanked by graceful buildings that give way to a pedestrianized promenade, an optimal location to amble and people-watch. Ancient history beckons at the 4th-century Arch and Rotunda of Galerius, extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage sites that evoke the lofty ambitions of their namesake Roman emperor.

Journeying south along the coast, you’ll discover the jagged peak of fabled Mount Olympus, its commanding presence a worthy home for the gods of antiquity. Nestled at the foot of the mountain, the serene village of Litochoro brims with quaint shops and cafés. In Pella, birthplace of Alexander the Great, see remains of a city laid out in a precise grid, and at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Vergina stand in awe before the 4th-century BC tomb of Philip II, father of Alexander. In enthralling Thessaloniki, allow yourself to be enveloped by millennia of incredible Greek history.