Thessaloniki Mosaic Workshop

A Thessaloniki mosaic workshop is a hands-on class where guests cut and set small pieces of glass into their own mosaic, in a studio in the old upper town. The craft follows the Byzantine mosaics of the city’s churches. Tours across the rest of the country are listed on Greece Tours.

The sections below cover the workshops, the studio, the Byzantine mosaics behind them, the steps and what you make. They also cover the UNESCO walk option, who it suits, durations, timing and booking, with links into the Thessaloniki pages. The workshops shown are checked on GetYourGuide and Viator.

What is a Thessaloniki mosaic workshop?

A Thessaloniki mosaic workshop is a hands-on class where you build your own mosaic with a local artist. You stick small pieces of glass, ceramic or marble onto a base. You leave the Thessaloniki mosaic workshop with a finished piece to take home.

Tesserae are the small pieces a mosaic is made of. Grout is the paste that fills the gaps between them. Your teacher shows you how to handle both.

Mosaic making has deep roots in this city. From the 4th to the 7th century, Thessaloniki was a centre of art. Large teams of mosaic makers worked here.

A modern Thessaloniki mosaic workshop links you to that old craft. The basic method has stayed the same since ancient times: stick pieces down, then grout.

Which Thessaloniki mosaic workshops can you book?

Six Thessaloniki mosaic workshop listings appear on GetYourGuide, and one on Viator. Dimitra’s Art Glass Studio runs the glass mosaic class, the magnet class and the UNESCO walk. Each Thessaloniki mosaic workshop lasts between 60 minutes and 4.5 hours.

• Create Your Own Glass Mosaic Hands-on Art: a 3.5-hour studio class in a small group.
• Create Your Own Mosaic Souvenir Magnet: a 60-minute express class, also listed on Viator.
• UNESCO Walk and Byzantine Glass Mosaic Workshop: a 4.5-hour guided walk plus studio session.
• Ceramic Mosaic Coaster workshop: a 2.5-hour class that ends with coasters.
• Greek Mosaic Chessboard Workshop: a 2.5-hour class in a small group.
• Mosaic Saturdays: a 2.5-hour small-group session sold as Create, Enjoy, Relax.

The magnet class keeps each group to a maximum of 6 people. The glass mosaic class and the UNESCO walk run as small groups too.

Away from these listings, mosaic artist Kalliopi Kalaitzidou runs a 1.5-hour Thessaloniki mosaic workshop by appointment. You compose a design with marble tesserae, in classical or geometric styles. Classes take 2 to 8 people.

Where is the studio of a Thessaloniki mosaic workshop?

The glass Thessaloniki mosaic workshop meets at Dimitra’s Art Glass Studio, Chrisostomou 1. The studio is in Ano Poli, the Upper Town. It sits on the corner of Chrisostomou Street and Vas. Romfei Square, known as Koule Kafe.

Ano Poli is the old quarter on the hill above the city centre. Koule Kafe Square was once the busy heart of Byzantine life here.

The Byzantine Bath stands steps from the studio. It is the only Byzantine bathhouse of its kind preserved in Greece. The Upper Town Library sits right next to it.

Each Thessaloniki mosaic workshop from this studio uses the same bright corner room. Its large windows look out over the square. To find the door, walk past the Chrisostomou 1 entrance.

Which Byzantine mosaics inspire a Thessaloniki mosaic workshop?

UNESCO calls the mosaics of the Rotunda, Hagios Demetrios and Hosios David great early Christian masterpieces. Thessaloniki holds Byzantine mosaics from late antiquity right up to the 14th century. In the glass Thessaloniki mosaic workshop, you pick a pattern inspired by these old Byzantine pictures.

• The Rotunda: a 4th-century round building with the oldest surviving mosaics in the East.
• Hagios Demetrios: the church of the city’s patron saint, with mosaics of the saint and children.
• Hosios David: a late 5th-century church with a rare mosaic of a young, beardless Christ.
• The Acheiropoietos: built between 450 and 475 AD, with gold-leaf glass showing birds and fountains.
• Hagia Sophia: an 8th-century domed church, listed by UNESCO for its Byzantine art.

All five stand within the UNESCO site of Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessaloniki. You can visit each of these Byzantine churches in the city centre or Upper Town.

In the Acheiropoietos mosaics, birds, fountains and flowers were symbols of paradise. Motifs like these give a Thessaloniki mosaic workshop its Byzantine look. Geometric borders appear in the old floor mosaics too.

What happens step by step in a Thessaloniki mosaic workshop?

A Thessaloniki mosaic workshop follows a clear order. You start with a drink and a short intro. Then you choose a design, shape the glass, glue each piece and fill the gaps with grout. No earlier experience is needed.

• Design: pick a pattern, a colour for the wooden base and your glass pieces.
• Cut: snap the glass into smaller tesserae with nippers, pliers with two small wheels.
• Glue: place each piece on the base and fix it down with glue.
• Grout: spread grout, a muddy paste, into the gaps between the pieces.
• Clean: wipe off the extra grout so the colours shine again.

In the glass Thessaloniki mosaic workshop, the teacher helps each person one to one at every stage. Coffee, tea or a cold drink comes with a local snack before you begin.

Mosaic guides tell makers to wear eye protection while cutting glass. They also advise a gap of about 3 millimetres between pieces. That gap holds the grout.

What do you make in a Thessaloniki mosaic workshop?

What you make depends on the class. A Thessaloniki mosaic workshop can end with a fridge magnet, a glass mosaic panel on a wooden base, ceramic coasters or a mosaic chessboard. Every piece is handmade and yours to keep.

In the 60-minute class, you pick coloured tiles and build a small magnet. The base, tiles and glue are all supplied. The finished magnet fits easily in your luggage.

The 3.5-hour Thessaloniki mosaic workshop ends with a larger glass panel. It sits on a wooden base in the colour you choose. The studio packs it ready for the trip home.

The walk-and-studio option ends with a glass piece based on a Byzantine pattern. The coaster class turns out ceramic mosaic coasters. The chessboard class builds a mosaic chessboard.

What does the UNESCO walk add to a Thessaloniki mosaic workshop?

The UNESCO walk turns a Thessaloniki mosaic workshop into a 4.5-hour outing. You first see real Byzantine mosaics at three World Heritage sites. Then you make your own glass piece in the studio at Koule Kafe Square.

The walk starts at the Church of St Demetrios. You see its rare mosaics and the crypt, an underground room beneath the church. Next comes an uphill walk into Ano Poli, the Upper Town.

There you visit Hosios David, also called the Latomou Monastery. Its 5th-century mosaic shows Christ without a beard. The last stop is the Byzantine Bath, the only preserved bathhouse of its kind in Greece.

The Thessaloniki mosaic workshop then starts just steps away. For history without the craft, a guided Thessaloniki walking tour covers the wider city.

• Glass art instructors as your guides
• Greek coffee, salty snacks and traditional sweets
• A homemade dessert called Politiko
• All tools and glass for your mosaic
• A small group with a maximum of six people

Who suits a Thessaloniki mosaic workshop?

A Thessaloniki mosaic workshop suits complete beginners, because no earlier experience is needed. The magnet class is listed as kid-friendly. The 3.5-hour glass class and the UNESCO walk are not suitable for children under 12 years.

Dimitra and Kamila teach the studio’s Thessaloniki mosaic workshop formats. Lessons run in English, Greek and Polish. The teachers guide you through every step.

Cut glass has sharp edges, so small hands need care. Younger children suit the short magnet class, which the studio calls stress-free.

The studio is wheelchair accessible. The UNESCO walk is not suitable for wheelchair users, as it climbs cobbled, uphill lanes. Families can find more ideas on the Thessaloniki with kids page.

• Beginners trying an ancient craft for the first time
• Families with children on the magnet class
• Couples, since the glass class appears among activities for couples
• Solo travellers who want a handmade souvenir
• Craft fans who also enjoy a Thessaloniki painting class

How long does a Thessaloniki mosaic workshop last, and what is included?

A Thessaloniki mosaic workshop lasts between 45 minutes and 4.5 hours. The short end is the magnet class, and the long end adds the UNESCO walk. Each format at Dimitra’s Art Glass Studio includes tools, materials, an artist’s guidance and your finished piece.

• Mosaic souvenir magnet: 45 or 60 minutes
• Ceramic mosaic coaster: 2.5 hours
• Greek mosaic chessboard: 2.5 hours
• Mosaic Saturdays: 2.5 hours
• Glass mosaic hands-on art: 3.5 hours
• UNESCO walk and glass mosaic workshop: 4.5 hours

The 3.5-hour glass class includes glass pieces, glue and grout. You also choose a wooden base in your colour. Coffee, tea or water and a local snack come with it.

The magnet class serves water with fresh mint and citrus. A piece of loukoumi, a soft Greek sweet, comes alongside. Finished pieces are packed safely to travel home. Private transport is not included in the glass class.

When does a Thessaloniki mosaic workshop run?

A Thessaloniki mosaic workshop runs in set time slots that you choose when booking. Listed starts include 10:00 for the UNESCO walk and 11:00 for the glass class. The 2.5-hour Mosaic Saturdays session runs only on Saturdays.

Mosaic Saturdays is a relaxed weekend Thessaloniki mosaic workshop. You make a glass mosaic of 13 by 13 centimetres. You pick a studio design, bring your own idea or draw a new one.

The chessboard workshop lists a 09:00 start. The UNESCO walk shows open dates on weekdays and at weekends.

The studio classes take place indoors. GetYourGuide lists the magnet, coaster and Saturday classes among its rainy-day activities in Thessaloniki.

How do you book and cancel a Thessaloniki mosaic workshop?

You book a Thessaloniki mosaic workshop online through GetYourGuide or Viator. Groups are small, with a limit of six places per session. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start gives a full refund on the studio’s GetYourGuide listings.

On Viator, the magnet session appears as a one-hour Thessaloniki mosaic workshop with free cancellation. Booking gives instant confirmation and a mobile voucher on your phone.

On one listing of the glass class, the person booking must be 18 or older. The full-day tour lets you reserve now and pay later.

• Pick a format, from the magnet class to the UNESCO walk
• Choose a date and a time slot
• Book up to six places in one session
• Tell the studio about allergies before the day
• Keep your voucher ready on arrival

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a full-day Thessaloniki mosaic workshop tour?

Yes. Dimitra’s Art Glass Studio lists a 10-hour tour that includes a hands-on workshop. It adds Hagia Sophia, the Acheiropoietos, the Rotunda and the archaeological finds at Venizelou metro station. Entry to the Museum of Byzantine Culture, metro tickets, a taxi ride and a traditional Greek dinner are included.

Where does the UNESCO walk start and finish?

The group meets at Agiou Dimitriou 96, and the first stop is the church itself. The walk finishes at the studio at Chrisostomou 1 in Ano Poli. Walking time adds up to about 30 to 45 minutes. Wear comfortable shoes for the cobbled lanes.

Does the studio teach other glass crafts?

Yes. The studio works in stained glass, glass mosaic and fusing. Fusing means melting glass pieces together with heat. Its Tiffany stained glass workshop lasts 4 hours and produces a piece of 20 by 20 centimetres. That class is not suitable for children under 15.

Can you keep making mosaics after a Thessaloniki mosaic workshop?

Yes. The studio sells glass mosaic supplies, from ready kits to loose materials and tools. With these, you repeat the same steps at home on your own table. If your trip continues south, an Athens mosaic workshop offers another round of practice in the capital.