Fodor's Expert Review Helexpo International Trade Fair

More than 1,000 participants from Greece and some 30 countries descend on the Helexpo International Trade Fair to promote their wares—from gadgets to tourism products. An important event in Greek politics, the prime minister traditionally makes the annual state-of-the-economy speech from the fair, which is held in mid-September at the Helexpo fairgrounds. Hotel accommodations are very difficult to find during this period (as well as November, when the city hosts the International Thessaloniki Film Festival).