Greece’s vibrant city of Thessaloniki is giving its old waterfront a fresh new look, offering locals and visitors a more pleasant experience.
Plans are underway to reconstruct the wooden deck, turning it into a spacious and inviting promenade. The new design will stretch 40 feet (12 meters) out into the sea and span roughly 0.7 miles (1 km), linking the First Pier of the Port to the iconic White Tower.
Once complete, the deck will offer pedestrians, cyclists, and visitors a wider, more comfortable space to enjoy leisurely walks, stunning sunsets, and breathtaking views of the Thermaic Gulf—making Thessaloniki’s waterfront an even more attractive destination for both locals and tourists.
Environmental review, timeline of Thessaloniki, Greece waterfront reconstruction plan
Thessaloniki’s municipal council has already approved the Environmental Impact Study for the “Construction of Wooden Deck on Piles (Deck) at the Old Waterfront.” The Municipality of Thessaloniki is one of twelve agencies and ministries required to issue an opinion before the project can proceed.
The deadline for all authorities to submit their feedback is October 24. Once the Greek Ministry of Environment approves the Environmental Impact Study, the municipal administration under Mayor Stelios Aggeloudis will be able to proceed with the project’s tender process.
“We estimate that the project will be tendered by early 2026. The contractor should be selected by late spring, and if no appeals or objections are filed, construction will begin in autumn next year, with an expected duration of one year,” Deputy Mayor for Technical Works, Prodromos Nikiforidis, told the Athens–Macedonian News Agency.
#Θεσσαλονίκη: Ετσι θα γίνει η νέα παραλία -Σαν ξύλινο κατάστρωμα πλοίου, από το λιμάνι ως τον Λευκό #Πύργο [εικόνα]https://t.co/o6O7w2R9To
— iefimerida (@iefimerida) September 17, 2025
Design and features
The choice of materials emphasizes both the suitability of wood in a coastal environment and the reversibility of the intervention. This consideration follows past controversies over expansion plans that involved land reclamation along the waterfront.
The project builds on an architectural design competition held in 2022, and also includes improvements to the existing promenade and quay. The enlarged deck will accommodate a new cycling path—replacing the one previously deemed unsafe along the main seafront road—as well as a dedicated lane for visually impaired pedestrians.
“The look and feel will be like a ship moored at the port, with people walking on its deck. Once completed, it will be the city’s finest promenade, and even those who have doubts today will appreciate its value and the unique views it will offer,” Nikiforidis added.
Maintenance and robotic cleaning
Beyond construction, the municipality is also planning for maintenance. Since waste will accumulate beneath the extended structure, innovative cleaning solutions will be required.
The city is considering the use of remote-controlled robotic equipment to collect debris from under the deck.
“Maintenance is a concern from the very beginning. When you design a project, you must also think about every parameter, including its upkeep,” Nikiforidis said.
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