OTE Tower, Thessaloniki

The OTE Tower stands in the International Fair grounds in the middle of Thessaloniki, a thin concrete shaft from the 1960s with a disc near the top, built when that shape meant the future. The disc holds a cafe that revolves slowly enough that you notice the view has changed rather than the movement itself, working through the city, the fair grounds, the university and the gulf over the course of a sitting. On a clear day Mount Olympus shows across the water to the southwest, which is the view people come for. There is no separate observation deck: you go up as a cafe customer, order something and stay as long as that lasts. The interior is unreconstructed in a way that has aged into character.

What you actually see

• The revolving cafe floor - a full circuit of the city without leaving your seat.
• The gulf view - the waterfront, the bay and Mount Olympus across the water in clear weather.
• The fair grounds below - the exhibition halls and the archaeological museum from directly above.
• The tower itself - a piece of 1960s concrete optimism, best seen from the park at its foot.

When to go

Clear winter and spring days give the sharpest views toward Olympus; summer haze often erases it. Late afternoon into sunset is the popular slot and the cafe fills, so arrive early for a window table. The tower closes during some fair periods and for private events, so it is worth checking before making the trip across town.

Honest expectations

It is a cafe, not an observation deck, so you pay by ordering and the prices reflect the location. The windows are tinted and reflective, which frustrates photographers. Some seats face the inner ring rather than the glass. When it is booked out for an event there is no alternative access, and nothing on the ground tells you in advance.

Nearby

The Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, the waterfront promenade and the White Tower.