The digital planetarium
A hemispherical screen turning overhead.
NOESIS — CC BY 2.5 · Aaskiat — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Aaskiat — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gerakishow — CC BY-SA 4.0
The largest science centre in northern Greece, outside the city on the Thermi road, and by a clear margin **the best thing to do in Thessaloniki with children**. It combines several things under one roof. First a **digital planetarium**: a hall with a vast hemispherical screen showing astronomical and science films — sitting beneath it while the galaxy turns overhead is something children remember. Second a **giant-screen cinema** with documentaries. Third, the **interactive exhibition halls**: physics, mechanics and energy stations the visitor works by hand — levers, pulleys, generators, optical illusions and sound experiments — designed to be operated rather than watched. Fourth, a **technology museum** with a collection of cars, motorcycles and historic machinery. ⚠ Note that it is about **ten kilometres** from central Thessaloniki and needs a car or a bus — not somewhere you pass by chance. ⚠ Planetarium shows run to **fixed times** — book or check them before going.
A hemispherical screen turning overhead.
Physics and mechanics operated, not observed.
Historic cars, motorcycles and machinery.
6th km Thessaloniki-Thermi road, 57001 Thermi
**Not all of them** — the most important thing to establish before booking. Many planetarium and giant-screen shows are presented **in Greek**, with some available with translation or headsets at particular times. **Call or check the website before going** and ask about a show in a language you understand on the day you intend to visit. The **interactive halls**, by contrast, are largely hands-on and need no language — children work the stations and understand them by operating them, and that part works for everyone.
If travelling ten kilometres is awkward, Thessaloniki itself has good options: the **Nea Paralia waterfront** with its themed gardens, cycle paths and sculptures — free, open and ideal for running; the **White Tower** with its floors and viewing platform; the **War Museum's** outdoor yard; and a **boat trip** on the gulf leaving from the waterfront and circling for about half an hour at token cost (some charge only for a drink). ⚠ NOESIS remains the best if you have half a day and a car.