Thessaloniki’s Metro network grew significantly on 27 August 2026, when the Kalamaria branch entered passenger service with five brand-new stations. The extension marks the first branching automated metro line ever built in Greek engineering history, and it brings a major improvement to how visitors and residents move around Greece’s second city.
The Five New Stations
The new stations — Nomarchia, Kalamaria, Aretsou, Nea Krini, and Mikra — form an approximately 4.8-kilometre branch that runs southeast from the existing line toward the coast. With the extension now open, the Thessaloniki Metro network has grown to 18 stations total.
Journey times give a good sense of what changes for travellers:
- Kalamaria to central Thessaloniki: under 20 minutes
- Mikra to the New Railway Station: approximately 24–26 minutes
The metro runs fully automated, with no driver on board — the same technology used on lines in Paris, Copenhagen, and Dubai.
What It Means for Visitors
Thessaloniki is northern Greece’s most important city — a working, lived-in place with outstanding Byzantine churches, a Roman forum, excellent food, and a student population that keeps it energetic year-round. Until now, getting around the city relied heavily on buses, taxis, or walking.
The Kalamaria extension connects the metro to a residential seaside district that was previously awkward to reach without a car. For visitors, the more immediate benefit is the overall expansion of the network: the metro now covers more of the city, and journey times between the railway station (for arrivals from Athens), the airport, and central neighbourhoods have become more predictable.
The metro operates Monday to Thursday 05:15–00:30, Friday and Saturday 05:15–02:00, and Sunday 05:15–00:30.
Getting to Thessaloniki
The city is served by Thessaloniki Macedonia International Airport (SKG), roughly 15 kilometres southeast of the centre. Direct flights operate from dozens of European cities, and there are trains from Athens (approximately five hours on intercity rail). Our guide to things to do in Thessaloniki covers the key sights and neighbourhoods worth building time around.
With the metro now covering more of the city, we recommend it as the default option for reaching the city centre from the station — and for moving between the historic centre and the waterfront promenade without flagging down a taxi.