Confirmed dates and how the weekend works
The organiser confirms the 15th edition for 21 and 22 November 2026, with a parallel programme of talks, tours and events starting on 14 November. Entry is free and no reservation is needed; volunteers lead the visits, and the organiser asks visitors to create a free digital visitor ID before they arrive.
The 2026 building list is published by the organiser closer to the weekend. Do not plan around a previous year’s list: save the current programme when it appears and check opening hours per building, because each one opens on its own schedule.
Choose a base for a walking weekend
Open House works by walking between buildings, so a central base wins. Aristotelous, the waterfront and the streets up to Egnatia keep most of the historic and modern landmarks within a short walk, and let you queue for one building while a companion checks the next.
Ladadika and the port edge suit a plan built around the western centre; the eastern centre near the White Tower suits the museum quarter. Ano Poli rewards the climb with its own listed houses, but a base there adds hills between every visit.
Arrival, queues and the November weather
Use the airport and car-free guides for arrival; a car helps little on a weekend spent walking, and central parking stays scarce. Popular buildings draw queues, so start early on Saturday and keep Sunday for the second half of your list.
Late November in Thessaloniki can be wet and windy. Dress for outdoor queues, and choose accommodation with an easy midday return so you can dry off between clusters.
Build a realistic Open House stay
Pick five or six buildings you truly want, plot them on a map, and let the base follow that cluster. The parallel week from 14 November overlaps the last days of the Film Festival, so compare both programmes before fixing your dates.
Choose buildings first, a base second and accommodation terms third. Reopen the organiser’s programme before departure; this guide does not promise a final building list, opening hours or room prices.