Booking a Hotel in Thessaloniki: What You Need to Know Before You Confirm
You have decided to visit Thessaloniki. Now comes the part that matters most before you arrive: choosing where to stay and booking it in a way that gives you the best rate, the most flexibility, and no unexpected conditions when you check in.
This article covers two central Thessaloniki hotels operated by Imperial Hospitality, explains what each offers, walks you through the direct booking advantage, and gives you the practical information to make the right choice for your trip.
The two properties are Imperial Plus | Urban Smart Hotel and Imperial Palace | Classical Hotel. Both are in the historic centre of Thessaloniki, within walking distance of Aristotelous Square, Ladadika, the White Tower, and the city’s waterfront. Both are operated by the same team and share the same standards of cleanliness and service. The difference between them is a question of style, space, and the type of stay they are designed for.
The Two Hotels: What You Are Choosing Between
Imperial Plus | Urban Smart Hotel
Imperial Plus is a modern, smart-designed urban hotel on Egnatia Street, the main artery of central Thessaloniki. It is built for guests who want a well-located, efficiently run room with city views, reliable technology, and no friction between arrival and getting on with the trip.
The room offering at Imperial Plus covers three categories designed to serve different needs within the same central address:
The Executive King Bed with City View and Balcony is the most requested room at the property. A king bed, a private balcony, and views over the rooftops of central Thessaloniki toward the Thermaic Gulf. For a couple on a city break or a solo guest who wants the room to feel like a reward rather than a necessity, this is the right booking.
The Executive Junior Suite with City View and Balcony adds a separate seating area and a larger balcony. For a special occasion trip, an extended stay, or guests who want the hotel experience to feel considered rather than functional, this is the category to book.
The Deluxe King Bed with City View provides the Egnatia address and the city view without the balcony premium. A well-proportioned, properly equipped room for guests who want central location and quality at the most accessible price point within Imperial Plus.
Beyond the rooms, Imperial Plus offers the Eleagnos Rooftop Garden: a panoramic rooftop bar above Egnatia Street, included for hotel guests, with views over the city centre and the Thermaic Gulf. For a guest staying at Imperial Plus, the rooftop is where the day ends well.
The Imperial Plus breakfast buffet is a daily hot and cold spread designed to get guests out into the city efficiently. Wide selection, fast format, under 30 minutes. On a short stay in Thessaloniki, this matters.
Imperial Plus is the right booking for: solo travellers, couples on a city break, business guests on short stays, and anyone who wants a modern central room with rooftop access and city views.
Imperial Palace | Classical Hotel
Imperial Palace is the classical property in the Imperial Hospitality portfolio. Spacious, elegantly designed rooms and suites, a full sit-down breakfast, and a warm, unhurried atmosphere suited to leisure stays of two or three nights.
The rooms and suites at Imperial Palace are generously proportioned, with classical interiors, proper furniture dimensions, and the kind of room quality that makes a multi-night stay feel worth booking. For families, the suite options provide the space and flexibility that a compact urban room cannot. For couples celebrating a special occasion, the classical design creates a sense of occasion that a modern hotel room, however well-designed, approaches differently.
The Imperial Palace breakfast is a full sit-down service with a wide spread: Greek dairy, fresh fruit, eggs, pastries, savoury options, and the kind of relaxed format that rewards taking your time. For a leisure stay where the morning is part of the experience, this is the breakfast worth booking.
Imperial Palace is the right booking for: families, couples on longer or special occasion stays, guests who prioritise space and a proper breakfast, and anyone who wants the hotel itself to be part of what makes the trip good.
Why Book Direct with Imperial Hospitality
This section matters. When you search for hotels in Thessaloniki, third-party booking platforms will appear prominently and will list both Imperial Plus and Imperial Palace. They are convenient and familiar. They are also, in almost every case, not the best way to book.
Here is why direct booking is the stronger choice:
Best Available Rate
The current offers page at Imperial Hospitality lists rates and packages that are not always replicated on third-party platforms. Early-bird rates, extended-stay discounts, weekend packages, and breakfast-inclusive deals are available directly and are calibrated to reflect what the hotel can offer guests who book through its own channels.
Third-party platforms charge hotels a commission, typically 15 to 25 percent of the room rate. That commission is factored into the rates those platforms display. When you book direct, the hotel recovers that margin and can apply it to a better rate, a better package, or both.
More Flexibility on Amendments
Travel plans change. A booking made directly with Imperial Hospitality gives you access to the hotel’s own amendment and cancellation terms, which are consistently more flexible than the conditions applied by most third-party platforms. If your arrival date shifts, or your plans change and you need to cancel, a direct booking is the one that accommodates that most cleanly.
Specific Room Requests Are Honoured
When you book through a third-party platform, your room request is mediated by that platform’s systems and communication layers. When you book direct, you speak to the people who manage the rooms. A specific floor preference, a room away from the street, an early check-in request, a late check-out need: all of these are more effectively addressed through a direct booking.
No Booking Fees
Third-party platforms occasionally apply service fees or processing charges at checkout, particularly for non-refundable rates or bookings made under promotional conditions. Direct booking carries no such additions. The rate you see is the rate you pay.
Direct Communication with the Hotel Team
For any question that arises before your stay, whether it is about parking guidance, airport pickup options, accessibility requirements, or a specific question about the property, the fastest and most direct route is always through the Imperial Hospitality contact page. A direct booking establishes that relationship from the start.
What to Check Before You Book
Location and Walking Distances
Both Imperial Plus and Imperial Palace are in the centre of Thessaloniki. Full location details for both properties are available here.
From either hotel, the key walking distances are:
- Aristotelous Square: under 5 minutes
- Ladadika: 8 minutes
- Seafront promenade: 7 minutes
- Modiano and Kapani Markets: 6 minutes
- White Tower: 12 minutes
- Rotunda and Kamara: 9 minutes
- Church of Agios Dimitrios: 10 minutes
- Thessaloniki Port: 13 minutes
For a stay of any length in Thessaloniki, this location means no daily taxis. That is a saving of €10 to €20 per day in transport that does not appear in the room rate but is real.
Which Room Type Fits Your Trip
Before confirming a booking, it is worth spending a minute on the room categories at each property. The right room type at Imperial Plus or Imperial Palace is not just a comfort upgrade. It determines the texture of the stay.
At Imperial Plus: if the city view and outdoor space matter, book the Executive King with Balcony or the Executive Junior Suite. If central location and quality at the most accessible rate is the priority, the Deluxe King is the right choice.
At Imperial Palace: the suite categories are the booking that makes the most difference for families or special occasion stays. For a couple wanting space and a classical atmosphere, the standard room categories at Imperial Palace already offer more than a compact urban hotel.
Breakfast: Include It or Not?
For stays of two or more nights, including breakfast at the time of booking is consistently better value. Check the current offers for packages that bundle the room and breakfast at a combined rate. On a multi-night stay, the saving versus paying breakfast separately each morning, or eating out every day, is meaningful.
For one-night stays or guests with early departures, the calculation is different. Ask the hotel team when you book.
Dates and Seasonality
Thessaloniki is a year-round destination, but rates and availability change across the calendar. Key periods of higher demand include the Thessaloniki International Fair (typically September), major HelExpo events, Easter, and the summer months. For stays during these periods, booking earlier and booking direct is particularly important for securing the best rate and preferred room type.
How to Book
The most direct route is through the Imperial Hospitality offers page for current promotions and packages, or directly through the hotel’s own booking system on the property pages:
For group bookings, specific requirements, extended stays, or any questions about the booking process, contact the team directly. The team responds promptly and can confirm availability, room specifics, and any applicable offers not visible on the main booking pages.
Practical Information for Your Booking
Getting to the Hotels
From Thessaloniki Airport (SKG): 15 km from the city centre. Taxi: 20 to 25 minutes, approximately €18 to €22. Bus Line 78A: approximately 45 minutes, under €1. For evening arrivals or guests with luggage, taxi is the practical choice. Mention the hotel name to the driver and you will be taken directly.
From Thessaloniki Railway Station (OSE): Approximately 2 km west of the hotels. Taxi: 5 to 8 minutes. On foot along flat central streets: 25 to 30 minutes.
By Car: Paid car parks are available within 2 to 3 minutes on foot of both properties. Mention this when booking or contact the team for current parking recommendations near the Egnatia Street address.
Accessibility
Both properties are accessible to guests with mobility requirements. The central location on flat city-centre streets supports this. Contact the team in advance to discuss specific accessibility needs before confirming your booking.
Check-in and Check-out
Standard check-in is from 14:00. Standard check-out is at 12:00. For early check-in or late check-out requests, contact the hotel directly at the time of booking. Requests made through third-party platforms are less reliably accommodated.
“Best For…” — Choosing the Right Booking
Best booking for: A couple on a two-night city break who want a private balcony with city views, rooftop access, and efficient service: Executive King at Imperial Plus.
Best booking for: A special occasion stay where the room should feel like a deliberate choice: Executive Junior Suite at Imperial Plus or a suite at Imperial Palace.
Best booking for: A family of three or four who need space and a relaxed breakfast: a suite at Imperial Palace.
Best booking for: A solo business traveller on a one or two-night stay who wants central location, desk space, reliable Wi-Fi, and rooftop access: any room at Imperial Plus.
Best booking for: A couple who want the hotel to feel like part of the trip, with a sit-down breakfast and generous room dimensions: Imperial Palace.
Best booking for: Any guest who wants the best available rate, most flexibility, and direct communication with the hotel team: direct booking via the Imperial Hospitality offers page.
FAQ: Hotels Thessaloniki Booking
Is it better to book Imperial Plus or Imperial Palace directly or through a booking platform?
Direct booking is better in almost every case. The Imperial Hospitality offers page provides access to the best available rates, including packages not available on third-party platforms. Direct booking also gives more flexibility on amendments, allows specific room requests to be communicated directly to the hotel team, and carries no booking fees or third-party service charges.
What is the best room to book at Imperial Plus for a couple?
For a couple, the Executive King Bed with City View and Balcony is the most popular choice. It provides a king bed, a private balcony with city views, and access to the Eleagnos Rooftop Garden as a guest amenity. For a special occasion, the Executive Junior Suite adds a separate seating area and a larger balcony.
How far in advance should I book a hotel in Thessaloniki?
For general leisure travel, booking two to four weeks in advance is sufficient for most periods. For stays during high-demand periods, specifically the Thessaloniki International Fair in September, Easter, and July and August, booking six to eight weeks or more in advance is recommended to secure preferred room types at the best available rates. For last-minute stays, contacting the hotel directly is the fastest way to confirm availability.
What is included in the room rate when booking at Imperial Hospitality?
All room rates include the room itself, high-speed Wi-Fi, and climate control. At Imperial Plus, hotel guests also have access to the Eleagnos Rooftop Garden. Breakfast is available as an add-on or included depending on the rate selected. The current offers page lists packages that include breakfast at a bundled rate.
Can I request a specific room or floor when booking?
Yes. Room and floor preferences are best communicated at the time of booking by contacting the hotel team directly via the contact page. Requests made through third-party platforms are subject to platform communication systems and are less reliably fulfilled. Direct bookings allow for direct conversation about preferences before the booking is confirmed.
What is the cancellation policy for direct bookings at Imperial Hospitality?
Cancellation terms vary by rate type and season. Direct bookings consistently offer more flexible cancellation conditions than third-party platform bookings. The specific terms applicable to your booking are confirmed at the time of reservation. For clarity on cancellation conditions before booking, contact the team directly.
Is parking available at Imperial Plus and Imperial Palace?
On-street parking in central Thessaloniki is limited. Paid multi-storey car parks are available within a 2 to 3 minute walk of both properties. The hotel team can advise on the most convenient options. Contact Imperial Hospitality before arrival for current parking guidance near the Egnatia Street address.
How do I get from Thessaloniki Airport to the hotel after booking?
Thessaloniki Makedonia International Airport (SKG) is 15 km from central Thessaloniki. A taxi takes 20 to 25 minutes and costs approximately €18 to €22. Mention the hotel name to the driver. Bus Line 78A runs to the city centre in approximately 45 minutes for under €1. For evening arrivals with luggage, the taxi is the most practical option.
The Bottom Line
Booking a hotel in Thessaloniki is a straightforward decision when you know what you are looking for. Both Imperial Plus and Imperial Palace are centrally located, well-run properties in the heart of a city that rewards being in the right place. The choice between them is about the type of stay you want. The method of booking is simpler: direct is better.
Browse the current offers and promotions, check the full room and suite options across both properties, and contact the team with any questions before confirming. The best rate, the most flexibility, and the most direct line to the people running your stay are all available in one place.