Thessaloniki sits in the heart of northern Greece, roughly 500 km north of Athens by road. It is well connected by air, rail, bus, and - from certain islands - by ferry. Below is a practical breakdown of every realistic route into the city.
Flights into Thessaloniki Makedonia Airport (SKG)
Thessaloniki Makedonia International Airport (SKG) handles around 9–10 million passengers a year and is Greece’s second-busiest airport after Athens Eleftherios Venizelos. It sits 15 km south-east of the city centre, just off the ring road.
Airlines and routes: Aegean Airlines and Sky Express dominate domestic flights from Athens (approximately 55 minutes, multiple departures daily). International connections include direct services from London Heathrow and Gatwick, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Rome, Vienna, Warsaw, Bucharest, and most western European capitals. Ryanair and Wizz Air add low-cost options from a wide range of European cities, particularly in summer.
Fares: Athens–Thessaloniki domestic flights start from approximately EUR 30–50 return when booked in advance via Aegean’s website. European low-cost fares vary enormously by season; booking six to eight weeks ahead consistently yields the best prices.
Getting from SKG into the city:
- Bus 78 runs from the airport to the main railway station (Thessaloniki Peliti) and continues to the western bus terminals. Journey time is approximately 45 minutes; tickets cost approximately EUR 2 as of 2026. Buses run from roughly 5am to midnight.
- Taxis from the authorised rank outside arrivals cost approximately EUR 20–25 for the city centre. Journey time is 20–30 minutes depending on traffic.
- Ride-hailing apps (Beat and Bolt operate in Thessaloniki) can be slightly cheaper than metered taxis and allow cashless payment.
Trains from Athens and Sofia
The main Thessaloniki railway station is Thessaloniki Peliti (also called Nea Egnatia), located centrally near the city’s western edge.
Athens to Thessaloniki: Hellenic Train (formerly TrainOSE) operates several InterCity Express (ICE) departures daily between Athens Larissa and Thessaloniki. The journey takes approximately 4 hours 20 minutes on the fastest service. Fares start from approximately EUR 25 in standard class when booked in advance, rising to EUR 40–55 closer to departure. First-class seats cost roughly EUR 10–15 more and offer wider seats and more legroom. The Athens–Thessaloniki rail line was significantly upgraded in recent years and is now the most comfortable and reliable ground connection between the two cities.
Sofia to Thessaloniki: A direct international train operates between Sofia Central Station and Thessaloniki, taking approximately 4–5 hours. Services run twice daily in each direction. Fares are around EUR 15–25 depending on class. This is a convenient option for travellers arriving in Sofia by flight or coming overland through Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
Booking: Buy Hellenic Train tickets at thessaloniki.gr, via the Hellenic Train app, or at the station ticket desk. For international legs, booking the Sofia–Thessaloniki train directly through the Hellenic Train or Bulgarian Railways (BDZ) websites is advisable.
Buses to Thessaloniki
KTEL (the Greek national coach network) provides extensive coverage into Thessaloniki from around the country. Thessaloniki has two main bus terminals:
- KTEL Makedonia (central station, Monastiriou 319): handles long-distance routes to Athens, Ioannina, Kavala, Halkidiki, and most northern Greek destinations.
- KTEL Thessaloniki Western Terminus: serves routes toward Edessa, Veria, and the Pella region.
Athens to Thessaloniki by bus: KTEL runs frequent services between Athens’ Kifissos bus station and KTEL Makedonia in Thessaloniki. The journey takes approximately 5 hours 30 minutes and costs around EUR 30–35 one way as of 2026. Services run throughout the day and overnight. This is generally the cheapest ground option between the two cities but slower than the train.
From Sofia: KTEL Makedonia and private Bulgarian operators run daily cross-border coaches between Sofia and Thessaloniki. Journey time is approximately 3–4 hours (variable at the Greek–Bulgarian border, especially in summer). Fares are typically EUR 15–20 one way. Book directly at the KTEL Makedonia station or via platforms like FlixBus and Flix where available.
From Skopje (North Macedonia): Several private bus companies operate between Skopje and Thessaloniki, with journey times of approximately 2 hours 30 minutes and fares around EUR 10–15. A popular route for travellers doing a Balkans circuit.
Ferries to Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki has a working commercial ferry port located about 2 km east of the city centre at the eastern end of Nikis Avenue, accessible by taxi (approximately EUR 8 from the White Tower area) or a 25-minute walk along the waterfront.
Aegean island routes: Ferry services connect Thessaloniki to Lesbos (Mytilini), Chios, Limnos, and Samothraki. Journey times range from approximately 9 hours (Limnos) to 15 hours (Chios). These routes are operated primarily by Attica Group (Blue Star Ferries) and Kefalos Shipping. Services are year-round for Limnos but predominantly summer-only for Chios and Samothraki.
Heraklion (Crete): A weekly overnight ferry connects Thessaloniki to Heraklion, Crete, operated by Minoan Lines during the summer season (roughly June to September). Journey time is approximately 18–20 hours. Fares for a reclining seat start from approximately EUR 50; cabin berths add EUR 25–60 depending on size. This is a scenic and comfortable option for travellers combining northern Greece with Crete, and popular among Greek families during school holidays.
Kavala ferry port: Kavala, 160 km east of Thessaloniki by road (roughly 2 hours by KTEL), serves as an additional hub for ferry connections to Thassos and the North Aegean. If your primary destination after Thessaloniki is Thassos, travelling to Kavala by bus and catching the short 70-minute ferry crossing there is more practical than routing through Thessaloniki port.
Getting Around on Arrival
The city centre is compact and walkable from the main railway station and the ferry port. The Thessaloniki Metro opened in 2023 and connects the airport to the city centre - check current service status and extensions when planning as the network was still being expanded as of 2026. Buses cover the wider city, including routes to Ano Poli, the universities, and eastern suburbs. The OASTH bus network has printed timetables at major stops, and a journey costs approximately EUR 1.20 with a contactless card or pre-purchased ticket.
For Halkidiki and other out-of-city day trips, KTEL Makedonia’s Halkidiki-specific terminal operates separate services directly to the peninsula’s three prongs - buy tickets there rather than at the main station.
Where to stay: Search hotels in Thessaloniki on Booking.com