The White Tower is a round Ottoman fortress tower on the seafront of Thessaloniki and the city's best-known landmark. For centuries it was a garrison and a prison, so feared that it was called the Tower of Blood. Today it houses a museum about the history of the city, and its rooftop gives one of the best views along the bay.
The White Tower at a glance
- Where: on Nikis Avenue, the waterfront promenade, at the eastern end of the old city centre.
- Built: by the Ottomans after they took the city in 1430; historians date it either to the later 15th century or to the 1530s.
- What it is today: a museum on the history of Thessaloniki, run by the Museum of Byzantine Culture, with a viewing platform on top.
- Time needed: about an hour inside, including the climb to the roof.
From fortress to symbol
The tower probably replaced an older Byzantine tower at the eastern end of the sea walls. For a long time it was attributed to the Venetians, who held the city briefly from 1423, but it is now known to be Ottoman work. An Ottoman inscription above the door, removed in 1912, dated it to 1535–36 under Sultan Suleiman, although some scholars think it is older and the inscription referred only to an outer wall. Originally the tower had a conical roof and stood inside a low walled enclosure with gun platforms, which was pulled down in 1917. The city walls on either side were demolished in 1866, leaving the tower on its own.
Under Ottoman rule it served as a fortress, a garrison and a prison for condemned men. In 1826, on the orders of Sultan Mahmud II, the Janissaries held here were massacred, and the building became known as the Kanlı Kule, the Tower of Blood. The name White Tower dates from around 1890, when the walls were whitewashed. After Thessaloniki became part of Greece in 1912, the tower was remodelled and adopted as the symbol of the city. The whitewash has long gone and the stone is now a warm buff colour, but the name stayed.
What to look for
- The shape: a cylinder about 34 metres high and 23 metres across, with a smaller round turret on top.
- The spiral ramp inside the outer wall, which you climb past the six floors of the exhibition.
- The gun ports and narrow windows in the thick walls, reminders that this was built for artillery.
- The exhibition on the city's history, with a timeline and a map of its monuments and museums.
- The view from the rooftop terrace over the bay, the waterfront and, on clear days, towards Mount Olympus.
A story worth hearing
The popular story behind the name says that a prisoner whitewashed the whole tower in exchange for his freedom. It is told everywhere in Thessaloniki, but treat it as a legend: what is certain is that the tower was whitewashed around 1890 and has been called the White Tower ever since. Another dark chapter is better documented: in March 1913 King George I of Greece was assassinated in Thessaloniki, not far from the tower.
Tips for your visit
- Go up to the roof in the late afternoon and stay for the sunset over the bay.
- Walk the waterfront promenade east of the tower, with the Umbrellas sculpture, or west towards the port; the tower looks best from a little distance.
- The climb is on a gently sloping ramp rather than steep stairs, but there are some steps near the top, so allow time.
- Combine the visit with the Museum of Byzantine Culture, which runs the exhibition, a short walk inland.
Nearby
- Statue of Alexander the Great: the large bronze equestrian monument on the waterfront, a few minutes east.
- Aristotelous Square: the grand square that opens onto the sea, about fifteen minutes west along the promenade.
- Rotunda and Arch of Galerius: the Roman monuments of Emperor Galerius, a short walk uphill from the waterfront.
- Museum of Byzantine Culture: an award-winning museum of Byzantine art and daily life, a short walk east.
See Thessaloniki with World City Trail
Our Thessaloniki scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 2 hours, with about 53 minutes of walking. It includes the Rotunda and the Church of Agios Dimitrios. You can play in English, German, French, Italian or Greek.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Thessaloniki.
Play the Thessaloniki scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Thessaloniki →
Play the outdoor escape game in Thessaloniki →
Facts checked in October 2026.