November and March in Thessaloniki
Every November, the Olympion cinema on Aristotelous Square becomes the centrepiece of Greece's most important film festival. Every March, it returns for the Documentary Festival.
By Christos Petkakis. Updated June 2026.
Thessaloniki International Film Festival (November) and Documentary Festival (March): the Olympion on Aristotelous, the programme, and the city for the culture traveller.
The Thessaloniki International Film Festival (TIFF) takes place every November and is the most significant film festival in Greece, with a history going back to 1960. The main venue is the historic Olympion cinema on Aristotelous Square — one of the most beautiful buildings in the city — with parallel screenings at the Makedonikon and other venues around town. The Thessaloniki Documentary Festival (TDF) returns each March to the same locations.
During festival days, Aristotelous Square and the lanes around the Olympion come alive: cafés and bars fill after screenings, and the quarter between Nikis Avenue and Ladadika runs at its most energised. For coffee between screenings, the cafés-and-sweets guide covers the curated spots around Aristotelous and the lanes behind it. For dinner, Ladadika is nine minutes on foot from Aristotelous — the food guide shows the best tables across every register.
From Loena in Ladadika, the Olympion on Aristotelous is a nine-minute walk. November rates are lower than summer — this is an ideal window for a city break with a cultural focus. Book from mid-autumn if you want guaranteed availability.
TIFF runs every November, usually in the second or third week of the month, for around ten days. The Thessaloniki Documentary Festival takes place each March. Exact dates are announced by TIFF and TDF respectively.
The main venue is the Olympion on Aristotelous Square. Parallel screenings take place at the Makedonikon and other city venues. Much of the programme is free or low-cost.
Yes — especially if you are interested in European and independent cinema. The festival shows hundreds of films, Greek premieres, and masterclasses. November is also one of the quietest and most atmospheric months in the city.
