Thessaloniki is located on the Thermaic Gulf , at the northwest corner of the Aegean Sea . It is bounded on the west by the delta of the Axios/Vardar . The municipality of Thessaloniki , the historical center , had a population of 325,182 in 2011 , while the Thessaloniki Urban Area had a population of 824,676 and the Thessaloniki Metropolitan Area had 1,030,338 inhabitants in 2011 . It is Greece 's second major economic , industrial , commercial and political centre ; it is a major transportation hub for Greece and southeastern Europe , notably through the Port of Thessaloniki . The city is renowned for its festivals , events and vibrant cultural life in general , and is considered to be Greece 's cultural capital . Events such as the Thessaloniki International Fair and the Thessaloniki International Film Festival are held annually , while the city also hosts the largest bi-annual meeting of the Greek diaspora . Thessaloniki was the 2014 European Youth Capital
Thessaloniki International Film Festival
Thessaloniki International Film Festival
Thessaloniki