Thessaloniki, Greece Travel Community

Is the Rotunda open to the public right now?

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nm1999

nm1999

Active member
Does anyone know if the Rotunda is currently open to the public? I’ll be in Thessaloniki soon and really want to visit it. It’s one of those places that completely captures the city’s layered history. I’ve read that it’s alternated between being used as a Roman mausoleum, a Christian church, and later a mosque, which makes it one of the most fascinating monuments in Greece.

I’ve seen some recent mentions online about restoration work and limited visiting hours, but the information isn’t consistent. I’d love to go inside and see the mosaics up close if it’s possible.

If anyone’s been recently, can you share what the current schedule or entry process is like? Do tickets need to be booked in advance, or can you just show up? And is it still part of the unified archaeological ticket?
 
I visited the Rotunda just last month, and yes, it’s open! You can enter without advance booking, though I recommend going earlier in the day since it closes mid-afternoon (around 3:30 PM). Tuesdays it’s closed entirely.

The mosaics are absolutely worth seeing, they’ve been beautifully preserved and really bring to life the building’s shift from Roman to Byzantine. There was some light restoration work happening when I went, but it didn’t interfere with visiting. You can walk freely inside and even spend time admiring the dome and the layered history in the architecture.

Tickets were about €6 for general admission, and it was still included in the unified archaeological ticket at that time, though that can always change.

If you love early Christian art and ancient structures with atmosphere, it’s a must-see. The Rotunda feels timeless, you can truly sense all its past lives in one place.
 
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