Today it is a vital part of the economic activity in the wider region of Southeastern, Central and Eastern Europe through the major trans-European motorway and railway networks. In addition to its key role in international freight transport, the port is also a pole of attraction for international tourism, as more and more cruise ships choose it for docking or homeporting of cruises.

The Port also has ferry connections with the Northeast Aegean, the Cyclades, and the Sporades Islands. Passenger mobility is particularly easy as the port is only 1 km away from the Passenger Railway Station and 16 km from the “Makedonia” International Airport of Thessaloniki.

Life in the port never stops as there is always something going on in its busy premises. It is a lively and active “state” occupying a total area of 1.5 million m2 and spreading across a length of 3.5 km while some of the major cultural and recreational events of Thessaloniki are hosted in its facilities.

In 2011, Pier 1 was first used as a cultural and recreational area and, over the years, it has become one of the top entertainment areas in the city hosting major event such as Thessaloniki Film Festival, the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, and the Thessaloniki PhotoBiennale exhibition.

Today, Pier 1 is home to the Museum of Photography, the Thessaloniki Cinema Museum, the MOMus-Experimental center for the Arts and other points of interest that attract a large number of visitors all year round.