The Thessaloniki Urban Area is the contiguous densely built-up urban area

Urban area

An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...

 around the municipality of Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...

, Greece

Greece

Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....

, which is the second largest municipality by population in the country behind Athens

Athens

Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...

. The contiguous built-up area consists of 13 municipalities and forms the urban core of the Thessaloniki Metropolitan Area

Thessaloniki Metropolitan Area

The Thessaloniki Metropolitan Area or Larger Urban Zone is the complete area covered and directly influenced by Greece's second-largest city, Thessaloniki. The metropolitan area traditionally consisted of the municipality of Thessaloniki and its immediate surroundings, what is today referred to as...

. This urban area is referred to as the "City of Thessaloniki", as there is no clear visual distinction or geographic barrier between the municipality of Thessaloniki and the other municipalities of the area. The largest of the municipalities, in terms of population is the municipality of Thessaloniki and is commonly called and referred to as the Kentro, meaning 'center' or 'downtown'. In the 2001 Greek census, the municipalities of the urban area had a combined population of 786,212 inhabitants, while their combined land area was 111.703 km².

Following the Kallikratis reform, as of 1 January 2011, the 13 municipalities that made up the urban area are now reduced to six self-governing municipalities  and one municipal unit .

Municipalities

The table below lists the municipalities of the Thessaloniki Urban Area prior to the Kallikratis reform, with population and area data from the Greek 2001 Census.

Municipality	Population	Area (km²)
Thessaloniki Thessaloniki Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...	363,987	17.832
Kalamaria Kalamaria Kalamariá is a municipality of the Thessaloniki Urban Area, located about 7 km southeast of downtown Thessaloniki. It is the second largest municipality of the Thessaloniki Urban Area as well as one of the largest in Greece, with a population increase of 8% since the 1991...	87,255	6.401
Evosmos Evosmos Evosmos is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kordelio-Evosmos, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It has a land area of 9.927 km²...	52,624	9.927
Sykies Sykies Sykies is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Neapoli-Sykies, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. The municipal unit population is 41,726...	41,726	9.782
Stavroupoli Stavroupoli Stavroupoli is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pavlos Melas, of which it is the seat of it and is a municipal unit...	41,653	3.175
Ampelokipoi Ampelokipoi, Thessaloniki Ampelokipoi is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality of the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality of Ampelokipoi-Menemeni, of which it is a municipal unit. The population is 40,959, as of 2001,...	40,959	1.803
Polichni Polichni Polichni is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pavlos Melas, of which it is a municipal unit. The population is 36,146 , and it has a land area of...	36,146	7.325
Neapoli Neapoli, Thessaloniki Neapoli is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Neapoli-Sykies, of which it is a municipal unit...	30,279	1.168
Pylaia Pylaia Pylaia is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pylaia-Chortiatis, of which it is a municipal unit...	22,744	24.379
Eleftherio-Kordelio Eleftherio-Kordelio Eleftherio-Kordelio is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality of the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kordelio-Evosmos, of which it is a municipal unit. It gained its present form in 1982,...	21,630	3.431
Menemeni Menemeni Menemeni is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and a former municipality of the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Ampelokipoi-Menemeni, of which it is a municipal unit. It neighbors Evosmos, Ampelokipoi, Thessaloniki...	14,910	7.989
Triandria Triandria Triandria is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Thessaloniki, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located east of Thessaloniki's city centre at...	11,289	1.475
Agios Pavlos Agios Pavlos Agios Pavlos is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality of Neapoli-Sykies, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 7,978 ....	7,978	1.953
Nea Efkarpia Efkarpia Efkarpia is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pavlos Melas, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 6,598 ....	6,598	13.263
Pefka Pefka Pefka is a suburb and a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Neapoli-Sykies, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 6,434 . It has a land area of 1.800 km² and a population density of 3,574...	6,434	1.8
Total	786,212	111.703