Thessaloniki is the economic, academic and cultural centre of Northern Greece, home to more than one million people and a large community of students, professionals and businesses. Its economy combines services, tourism, logistics, trade, education and a growing innovation ecosystem. Remote work is not yet widespread across the region, but it is gradually becoming part of Thessaloniki’s working landscape.

How remote work is changing Thessaloniki

One of the most visible changes is the growing demand for more flexible ways of working. Co-working spaces and remote-work-friendly cafés are becoming increasingly popular across the metropolitan area, particularly in the city centre. At the same time, traditional office demand is expected to remain concentrated in central, accessible areas, while the need for New Working Spaces (NWSs) is expected to grow in suburban areas. This shift is also reshaping the conventional office market, as smaller offices are gradually giving way to more flexible workspace solutions and companies are reconsider the size and location of their offices.

Housing pressures are also reshaping residential choices across the region. Rising property prices and rents, alongside the rapid expansion of short- and mid-term rentals, are encouraging some residents who can work remotely to look towards suburban and peri-urban areas for more affordable housing and a better quality of life. However, this shift is constrained by uneven transport and digital infrastructure. While connectivity in the city is generally adequate, access to reliable high-speed internet becomes more challenging further from the urban centre, while limited public transport connections can make occasional commuting difficult.

What is driving these changes?

Several factors shape Thessaloniki’s remote work landscape:

• Infrastructure and digital readiness are fundamental. Reliable high-speed internet, adequate transport connections and access to suitable workspaces remain uneven across the region, limiting the wider benefits of remote work.
• Work culture and skills influence adoption. Traditional views linking productivity to physical presence persist, while hybrid work is more widely accepted. Differences in digital skills, equipment and technical readiness also remain a challenge.
• Policy support remains fragmented. Although Greece has a national framework for remote work, local initiatives remain limited, while existing digital nomad policies have had limited impact on Thessaloniki.
• Tourism and housing pressures are reshaping the context. Thessaloniki’s growing tourism economy and the rapid expansion of short- and mid-term rentals are putting increasing pressure on housing affordability. At the same time, the city’s quality of life, international connections and relatively affordable living costs create opportunities to attract remote professionals and support the return of skilled workers employed by companies abroad.

Looking ahead

Thessaloniki is still at an early stage of its remote work journey, but the foundations for change are emerging. The growth of flexible workspaces, the rise of cross-border employment and the potential to attract skilled professionals create new opportunities for the region. Turning these opportunities into lasting benefits will depend on improving connectivity, supporting local communities and ensuring that the transition works for both the city and its surrounding areas.

The findings presented here are based on research conducted within the R-Map project, including desk research, expert interviews and a regional citizen survey.