Luxury Hotel Bookings | Travel Advisor

The Met Hotel is one of the finest luxury hotel in Thessaloniki — Greece’s second city, a Byzantine and Ottoman crossroads that remains one of the most underrated destinations in Europe. Reviewed by Steve Michailidis, a London-based luxury travel advisor of Greek heritage who visits the country several times a year and knows Thessaloniki personally, this Design Hotels affiliated property offers the most complete luxury experience in the city: one of only three hotels in Thessaloniki with a full-size pool (22 metres, rooftop, with port views), an Apivita spa, the Chandris family art collection throughout every corridor, and Design Hotels perks that make it the most rewarding way to book. For travellers combining Thessaloniki with wider Greek itineraries, it is the address Steve recommends without hesitation.

The Met Hotel Thessaloniki — At a Glance

• Location: Western Thessaloniki near the port — 5–10 minutes to city centre by shuttle or taxi; 30 minutes from SKG Airport
• Category: Five-star luxury hotel, Design Hotels member
• Owned by: Chandris Hotels — with extensive original art collection throughout
• Best for: Business travellers, cruise passengers, relaxation stays, couples seeking pool access in Thessaloniki, celebrity spotting
• Pool: 22-metre rooftop pool (one of only 3 decent-sized hotel pools in Thessaloniki) — open May to early October; heated indoor pool and jacuzzi year-round
• Spa: Apivita product-based treatments — Greek natural skincare brand
• Perks: Design Hotels: breakfast for two, premium wine and snack (bottle + 20-min massage for suites), room upgrade, VIP welcome, early/late checkout, free Wi-Fi
• Shuttle: Regular service to/from Aristotelous Square
• Booking fees: None
• Reviewed by: Steve Michailidis, Greek-heritage luxury travel advisor, July 2023
• A practical note that matters more in Thessaloniki than in most Greek cities: full-size hotel pools are genuinely rare here. The Met Hotel’s 22-metre rooftop pool — with views across the port and the city — is one of only three pools of any decent scale in a city of over a million people. In July and August, when temperatures reach 35–38°C regularly, this is not a minor amenity. It is the reason to choose this hotel.

A note on perspective: Greece is where my family is, where I return several times a year, and where I have been eating, navigating, and forming opinions about hotels since childhood. When I review a Thessaloniki hotel, I am not writing as a visitor discovering the city. I am writing as someone who knows it — its rhythms, its neighbourhoods, the difference between what locals value and what tourists expect. That context shapes every observation in this review.

This hotel, which is proudly affiliated with Design Hotels, truly exceeded my expectations. The staff were incredibly friendly and accommodating, and the property extremely comfortable.

During my stay, I was fortunate enough to explore the various amenities and get a firsthand look at the different types of rooms available.

Thessaloniki is the natural gateway to some of Greece’s finest coastal and mountain destinations. If your Greek itinerary extends beyond the city, get in touch — Greece is one of my most-booked destinations and I visit several times a year.

The Met Hotel Thessaloniki: Design, Art and the Chandris Vision

“The Met Hotel, an exquisite combination of unique location, modern architecture, high-end luxury, launches an avant-garde hospitality concept in the city of Thessaloniki”

The Met Hotel is owned by the Chandris Hotels group, one of Greece’s great hospitality families, who are also serious art collectors. Throughout the hotel — in corridors, in public spaces, in the rooms themselves — original artworks are displayed with QR codes that connect you to information about the piece and the artist. It is a detail that reflects genuine cultural investment rather than decoration, and it changes how you move through the hotel. You find yourself pausing in corridors. You look at the art in the lobby differently when you know the story behind it. For a business hotel that could easily have treated its walls as afterthoughts, this is something worth recognising.

The Met Hotel Location: Port Side, Shuttle Access and Getting There

The Met Hotel Thessaloniki is situated on the western part of Thessaloniki, close to the bustling port. This location offers great convenience to cruise passengers who are looking to spend 1-2 days relaxing and immersing themselves in close proximity to the vibrant city centre, which is a short 5-10 minute car ride. To make transportation easier, the hotel provides a regular shuttle service to/from Aristotelous square.

For those arriving or departing from Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG), which is located on the eastern part of the city, it only takes approximately 30 minutes by car or taxi (EUR 30 each way). Hotel reception can arrange this. On departure, the taxi arrived to pick me up and take me to the airport within 1 min of reception putting in the request! (I guess it was waiting right outside).

The Met Hotel Thessaloniki Rooms: Five Categories From Superior to The Met Suite

The hotel has 212 guest rooms and suites available in these categories:

• Superior – This is an entry-level room. Comfortable but cozy. Standard amenities such as a mini bar, safe, TV, and kettle are available
• Deluxe – More spacious than Superior rooms, Deluxe bathrooms also feature both a bathtub and a separate shower
• Business Suite – Even more space and luxury touches, such as dual sinks in the bathroom and Molton Brown toiletries
• Executive Suite – Features a separate sitting area, more space and more open layout. Again, we’re seeing separate bathtub and shower, dual sinks and Molton Brown toiletries in the bathroom
• The Met Suite – At 110m2, this suite is significantly larger than the others and offers a much higher level of luxury. With its expansive size and exquisite features, it provides a truly opulent experience for guests seeking unparalleled comfort and indulgence in this part of the city. If I had to guess, I would expect that this would be the one that most of the celebrities that stay at the hotel would choose.

The rooms come in double or twin bed configuration, port or city view, as well as accessible rooms. Extra beds can be added for children and cots for babies.

I found the rooms to be spacious and extremely functional, I.e. towel hooks in all the right places, international sockets where you would expect them, a reliable wifi connection, powerful shower, and good a/c. A mini bar and a safe big enough to keep standard laptops/tablets in. Just remember to empty it before checking out :-)

Not sure which room category suits your stay? The difference between a Deluxe and an Executive Suite here is significant. Get in touch — I can advise based on your travel style, group size, and what you want to get from the stay, with all Design Hotels perks confirmed.

A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Book

The location is the one thing to set expectations on clearly. The Met Hotel sits on the western edge of the city near the port — convenient for cruise passengers and well-served by the hotel’s shuttle, but not a hotel you walk out of and find yourself immediately immersed in Byzantine churches and the old Ano Poli neighbourhood. The historic centre is a 5–10 minute taxi or shuttle ride. The area around the hotel is functional rather than atmospheric.

This matters more for some trips than others. For a relaxation stay — pool, spa, gym, working through your book with a frappe — the location is entirely irrelevant. For a first-time Thessaloniki visit where you want to explore the Arch of Galerius, the White Tower, and the Ladadika district on foot, I’d be honest: there may be a better-positioned hotel for that specific trip. Get in touch and I’ll advise accordingly.

The shuttle to Aristotelous Square runs regularly and is the easy solution for most guests. The taxi back after dinner takes about 20 minutes on foot if you feel like it — though the route is not the most scenic.

The Met Hotel Thessaloniki Pool: Rooftop, Port Views and Why It Matters

The best time to visit The Met Hotel in Thessaloniki is May to early October for the rooftop pool area. This is a real selling point for the hotel. I only know of 3 hotels in the entire city with decent size pools, with a few others having plunge pools. The rooftop pool measures 22 metres but there is also a heated pool and jacuzzi in the indoor spa area that is open year round.

The spa uses Apivita — the Greek natural beauty brand founded in Athens in 1979, now one of the country’s most internationally respected skincare names. Finding it in a Thessaloniki hotel spa rather than a generic multinational brand is a small but meaningful choice that speaks to the hotel’s commitment to Greek provenance. If you’re visiting Greece and haven’t encountered Apivita products, the spa here is a good introduction.

Service, Art and Why The Met Hotel Works

The Met Hotel is owned by the Chandris Hotels group, one of Greece’s great hospitality families, who are also serious art collectors. Throughout the hotel — in corridors, in public spaces, in the rooms themselves — original artworks are displayed with QR codes that connect you to information about the piece and the artist. It is a detail that reflects genuine cultural investment rather than decoration, and it changes how you move through the hotel. You find yourself pausing in corridors. You look at the art in the lobby differently when you know the story behind it. For a business hotel that could easily have treated its walls as afterthoughts, this is something worth recognising.

The combination of considered design and Greek cultural references is something I’ve encountered at the finest end of the market across Europe — including Hôtel du Couvent in Nice, whose sense of place is equally carefully constructed.

During my stay I found the service to be excellent. Everyone I talked to was friendly and hospitable. (I love Greek hospitality but I’m a little biased ;-) ). The hotel is very popular with Greek celebrities and sports teams that appreciate the professional service and discretion. The gym is also very well equipped and maintained.

This is not an ultralux property nor a resort hotel. The majority of the guests (60%) are here on business. Why did I stay here? After two very social weeks in Greece I needed some “me” time to relax by the pool with a good book and a cold frappe coffee, and to work out in a fully equipped gym, and for these, the hotel was absolutely perfect.

Different people have different preferences and needs and finding the right hotel in Thessaloniki can be a challenge but a Travel Advisor can help take the stress away and ensure a good fit.

How to Book The Met Hotel Thessaloniki With Design Hotels Perks

The Met Hotel is a member of Design Hotels and, as such, and when you book with me, you can secure the following additional perks:

• VIP Status with personal welcome note from GM
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Complimentary daily breakfast for two
• Complimentary room upgrade on arrival upon availability at check in
• Complimentary early check-in and/or late check-out upon availability
• Premium bottle of wine and snack in guest room upon arrival, once per stay when booking a room or Premium bottle of wine and snack in guest room upon arrival and a 20 minutes massage, both once per stay when booking a suite.

Prefer to book direct? You’ll miss the breakfast, wine, room upgrade, VIP welcome and potential massage on suite bookings — all confirmed through the Design Hotels programme at no extra cost. Here’s how booking through me works →

FAQ

Q: Is The Met Hotel the best luxury hotel in Thessaloniki? A: It is consistently one of the most recommended luxury hotel in the city — the only Design Hotels affiliated property in Thessaloniki, one of just three hotels in the city with a full-size pool, and the only property with a serious art collection, an Apivita spa, and the full suite of business and leisure facilities in a single address. Steve has Greek heritage and visits Thessaloniki regularly. His recommendation is informed by local knowledge rather than a single visit.

Q: Does The Met Hotel Thessaloniki have a pool? A: Yes — a 22-metre rooftop pool open from May to early October, with views across the port and the city. This is more significant than it might sound: there are only three hotels in Thessaloniki with a decent-sized pool, making The Met’s rooftop pool a genuine rarity in a city where summer temperatures regularly reach 35–38°C. A heated indoor pool and jacuzzi in the spa area are available year-round.

Q: Where is The Met Hotel in Thessaloniki? A: The hotel sits on the western edge of the city near the port — convenient for cruise passengers and with a regular shuttle service to Aristotelous Square in the heart of the city. Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) is approximately 30 minutes by taxi. The location is better suited to relaxation and business stays than to guests whose primary aim is walking to Byzantine monuments and the old neighbourhood of Ano Poli, which require a short taxi or shuttle ride.

Q: What is the Chandris art collection at The Met Hotel? A: The Met Hotel is owned by the Chandris Hotels group, whose family are serious art collectors. Original artworks are displayed throughout the hotel — in corridors, public spaces, and rooms — each with a QR code linking to information about the piece and the artist. It is an unusual and genuinely considered feature for a business-oriented hotel, and one that changes how you experience the building.

Q: What perks do you get booking The Met Hotel Thessaloniki through a Design Hotels advisor? A: Booking through Steve Michailidis as a Design Hotels affiliated travel advisor includes VIP status, complimentary daily breakfast for two, a premium bottle of wine and snack on arrival, a complimentary room upgrade subject to availability, early check-in and late check-out subject to availability, and complimentary Wi-Fi. For suite bookings, the welcome includes a 20-minute massage in addition to the wine and snack. There are no booking fees.

Q: Is Thessaloniki worth visiting? A: Emphatically yes — and as someone of Greek heritage who visits regularly, Steve considers it one of the most underrated cities in Europe. Its Byzantine churches and Roman ruins are extraordinary (the Arch of Galerius, the Rotunda, and the White Tower alone justify the trip), the food scene is outstanding even by Greek standards, and it lacks the tourist saturation of Athens and the islands. The best time to visit for the full experience — including the pool — is May to September.

Q: Is The Met Hotel good for cruise passengers stopping in Thessaloniki? A: It is one of the most practical options for cruise passengers due to its proximity to the port, the shuttle service to the city centre, and the full-service amenities that allow you to make the most of a day or two ashore. The hotel’s 24-hour reception, room service, fitness centre, and pool make it a genuinely complete stop rather than a transit hotel.

Is The Met Hotel Thessaloniki Worth It?

After two weeks reconnecting with family across Greece, what I needed was not another sightseeing itinerary. I needed a pool, a good gym, a quiet room, and a freddo coffee with nowhere to be. The Met Hotel delivered all four without ceremony.

It is not the most glamorous luxury hotel I have reviewed. It is not trying to be — the majority of its guests are business travellers, sports teams, and Greeks who know exactly what they’re coming for. But for a city with limited luxury hotel options and almost no competition in the pool department, it occupies its position with genuine confidence.

The Chandris art collection, the Apivita spa, the rooftop with port views at dusk, and the warmth of the staff — who exemplify the Greek hospitality that is not a cliché but a genuine cultural characteristic — make it more than a functional choice. It is, by some margin, the best hotel in Thessaloniki for the traveller who wants to do the city properly.

Planning a wider Greek itinerary? I’ve stayed at and reviewed the Met Hotel Thessaloniki, and work with properties across Athens, the islands, and northern Greece. Greece is where I’m from — let me help you plan it properly.

Plan My Trip With Perks →