Pozar Thermal Baths & Edessa Day Trip from Thessaloniki: Hot Springs
Can you really feel the difference between a regular pool and water heated by the earth?
You soak in naturally heated mineral springs backed by Mount Voras, eat lunch in a village, then visit Edessa's waterfalls and ancient sites with an archaeologist guide. The day includes transport, the guide, and travel insurance, but you pay separately for pool entry and towel rental on arrival. You're back in the city by late afternoon.
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Step-by-step itinerary
Pozar Baths and Edessa Waterfalls
- Depart Thessaloniki to Pozar Baths
- Relax in Pozar hot springs
- Admire Toplitsa river gorge
- Enjoy lunch in nearby village
- Visit local market
- Travel to Edessa city
- Free time at Edessa waterfalls
- Optional walking tour or museum visit
- Return to Thessaloniki
The experience
The water hits you before you expect it. You're standing at the edge of the Pozar thermal baths, 110 kilometers north of Thessaloniki, and the naturally heated springs (warmed to 37 degrees Celsius deep underground and pushed back to the surface through mineral-rich layers) are right there, steaming gently against the gorge. The river Toplitsa flows through it, creating small cascades and shallow spots where you can actually stand and let the heat work into your shoulders. Mount Voras rises behind everything. It's the kind of place where you understand why locals have been coming here for centuries, not because someone told you it was healing, but because your body tells you the moment you step in.
After a couple of hours soaking, you head to a village lunch: traditional Greek food, nothing fancy, but the kind of meal that tastes different when you're relaxed and hungry. Then comes the drive to Edessa, the ancient capital of Macedon, another 90 minutes or so. Your guide is an archaeologist employed by the tour company, which means the history isn't just dates. It's the actual reasoning behind why the city was built where it was, why water mattered so much they named the place "a tower into the water." You get free time to walk to the waterfalls: the cascades that drop from the edge of the city, the ones locals call the "eyebrow" where the park meets the rock face. If you want, you can follow your guide on a walking tour through the old Varosi district or visit the Water Museum or the Sesame Mill of Flavors. Or you can just stand there and watch the water fall.
The day wraps around 3 p.m. when you leave Edessa, and you're back in Thessaloniki by roughly 4:30 or 5. You'll need your swimwear and a towel: lockers are available at the springs if you want to leave your bag behind, and towel rental runs 3 to 4 euros if you didn't bring one. The large thermal pool costs 5 euros per person for two hours and includes chairs and sunbeds. The smaller natural pools are 3 euros for 30 minutes. Everything is included except those entry fees and the towel rental, which you pay on-site. The bus departs Thessaloniki in the morning, so you need to be at your pickup point 10 minutes early.
What’s included
Your day includes air-conditioned transport from Thessaloniki, an English-speaking archaeologist guide, lunch at a traditional village restaurant, entry to Edessa's old district and waterfalls, and basic travel insurance. Pool entry fees (5 euros for the large thermal pool, 3 euros for small natural pools) and towel rental (3–4 euros) are paid separately at the site.
Options for this experience
2 optionsBefore you book
Lasts 10h, runs Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday at 08:00, from € 49.90 per person, with a live guide in English and Greek and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.
Prices and times updated yesterday
Operated by Ammon Express
Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to combine thermal bathing with ancient history and waterfalls in one outing without arranging transport, guides, or lunch yourself: the fixed schedule and archaeologist escort handle all three, leaving you to soak and explore at your own pace.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Greek.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.
How long is the drive from Thessaloniki to Pozar?
Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, covering 110 kilometers.
What temperature is the water at Pozar?
The naturally heated springs reach 37 degrees Celsius.
Do I need to pay extra for the thermal baths?
Yes. The large pool costs 5 euros per person for 2 hours. Small natural pools cost 3 euros for 30 minutes. Towel rental is 3–4 euros. These are paid at the site, not included in the tour price.
What is included in the tour?
Air-conditioned transport, an English-speaking archaeologist guide, lunch at a village, and basic travel insurance. Pool entry and towel rental are separate.
What time do you return to Thessaloniki?
Around 4:30 to 5 p.m., approximately 1 hour 30 minutes after departing Edessa at 3 p.m.
What should I bring?
Swimwear, a towel or bathrobe, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat (especially in summer). Lockers are available to store belongings.
Are there changing rooms?
Yes, there are changing rooms with hairdryer facilities at the thermal springs area.
Pozar Thermal Baths & Edessa Day Trip from Thessaloniki: Hot Springs
10h · EN +1
from € 49.90 per person