From my very first summer in Greece at 8-years-old, Thessaloniki has had my heart, and each summer that I'm not there I feel like a piece of me is missing. I fall in love with a new part or aspect of the city each time I visit and, as I've gotten older, my fondness only grows stronger.

This summer I am studying in Athens, and this weekend I visited relatives in Thessaloniki. It had been five years since I'd been back, and it still continues to amaze me how much of an impact one city has on me. And now that I am much more of an adult, I even can see Thessaloniki as a potential home for me in the years to come in my 20s, if that's where my path will take me. Although Athens will always be the number one mainland tourist attraction of Greece, Thessaloniki, which is also referred to as the co-capital of Greece, comes as a close second and here are my ten reasons as to why.

1. It's the perfect size.

With a little over 1 million people, Thessaloniki provides a big city feeling without it being too overwhelming and crowded. Although there are tourists and some hustle and bustle, it is not nearly to the extent of Athens or the major cities in the United States, such as New York City. You can take a walk in the center and be surrounded by people enjoying their day walking by the water, but you can also walk through beautiful streets and neighborhoods that are significantly more peaceful.

2. It's a port city.

One of my favorite parts of Thessaloniki is that it's right by the water since it's also a port city. The water is alongside the center of the city; so as you walk and shop around, or enjoy a refreshing frappé, or eat food at a taverna, you'll have the sea right in front of you and can watch the boats and the relaxing waves.

3. The beautiful weather.

Since Thessaloniki is in Northern Greece and by the water, the weather is a bit more mild than Athens. Summers are still super hot and sunny, but the nice breeze by the water is always incredible when the sun gets to be a bit too much.

4. There are pieces of history wherever you go.

Greece is a beautiful country with so much history to it, and Thessaloniki is no exception to that. While even walking around the center, you can pass by ancient ruins and old historic buildings. There even have been delays in building a metro throughout Thessaloniki because as they keep digging into the ground, more ruins are continuously being discovered.

5. There's always something to do.

In Thessaloniki you'll never have a dull moment. The center has a bunch of shops, parks, cafés, bars, and restaurants to choose from. There also boat rides around the harbor, that both tourists and locals go on, which give you a full view of Thessaloniki. Thessaloniki doesn't have much of a beach to go to since it's a port city, however, nice beaches are only a short bus ride away. Also, I personally can spend days just leisurely walking around the city and neighborhoods, taking in all that's around me and exploring.

6. The amazing nightlife.

Greeks definitely know how to have a good time. Greeks have their main meal around 1 2 p.m., take a short siesta, drink some more coffee, and then their night begins. After 8 p.m., business starts to pick up at the tavernas, and by the time it's 10 p.m. you'll be incredibly lucky to find an open table. Greeks will order a variety of “mezedes,” or appetizers, for the table and they'll enjoy the great food in good company. Afterwards, there are plenty of lively bars and clubs to go to for drinks, dancing, loud music, and mingling.

7. The delicious bougatsa.

The Greek cuisine is excellent and anywhere you travel to in Greece will have amazing food. However, there are some foods that are more common in certain regions, and northern Greece (which is where Thessaloniki is) has bougatsa. Originating in Thessaloniki, bougatsa is a Greek breakfast pastry that either has custard, cheese, spinach, or minced meat filling between layers of phyllo dough. The more common filling is the custard, and each bite you take is truly a taste of heaven.

8. Aristotelian Square.

The most central point, as well as one of the most recognizable aspects of the city, is Aristotelian Square. The Square is right in front of the water and is surrounded by small shops and food places, as well as cafés with plenty of seating. At night the area is well lit and it nicely illuminates the beautiful architecture. There are always many people in Aristotelian Square, both tourists and locals, during the day and night since it's huge, central, and a great open space to hang out around by the water.

9. The White Tower.

Both a monument and museum, The White Tower is the symbol of Thessaloniki. Dating from back to the 12th century, this landmark has been used for fortification purposes and then as a prison. Originally called The Red Tower because of the bloodshed that occurred there during Ottoman rule, in 1912 it was renamed The White Tower after it was whitewashed, which represented its new found purity. Today, there is a museum inside and you are able to go all the way to the top to get a gorgeous view of the water.

10. The breathtaking views.

As I have already mentioned throughout my many reasons as to why Thessaloniki is so incredible, there are plenty of opportunities to experience some truly magnificent views of both the city and water. There are neighborhoods at the very top of the city, that without a doubt give you the best panorama of the city. But regardless of where you go in Thessaloniki and for how long your stay is, you surely will see for yourself the city's rich beauty and character.