Thessaloniki Town is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the Greek district of Macedonia. Thessaloniki is commonly called the co-capital of Greece due to both its long history and its strategic geographic and economic importance. More formally it is known as the "Capital of Cultural Affairs". The Urban Area of Thessaloniki curves round the Thermaic Gulf for approximately 17 km; it comprises 13 municipalities and according to the 2001 census it has a population of 809,457. The total population is 1,099,598 (2005).
Thessaloniki is a busy, vibrant city and it is Greece’s second major economic, industrial, commercial and cultural center as well as a major transportation hub in southeastern Europe. Its commercial port is of a great importance for Greece. The city has two state universities that host a large student population (the largest in Greece); it is renowned for its large number of monuments of Byzantine architecture as well as for some main Ottoman, and Jewish structures. The city is famous for its picturesque restaurants and tavernas as well as for its lively and diverse nightlife, ranging from the traditional designer bars and the prestigious nightclubs located in the area adjacent to Macedonia International Airport. The city is also famed for its “Bougatsa” delicacy that can be found in special stores in just about every corner of the city.