Thessaloniki Airport

Thessaloniki ‘Macedonia’ International Airport (IATA code: SKG) is located just 16 km from the centre of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city and the capital of Central Macedonia.

The airport is located in the northern part of Greece and besides being the ideal stopover for visiting the Chalkidiki peninsula, it is also particularly strategic for visiting neighbouring Balkan countries such as Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria.

Throughout the year, the airport offers connections with major European cities, while in the summer season traffic increases considerably with numerous charter and scheduled flights connecting Thessaloniki with popular tourist destinations.

Connections to the centre of Thessaloniki

Buses

The OASTH public bus service connects the airport with the centre of Thessaloniki via line 01X (Airport – Thessaloniki Railway Station). Buses operate every day of the year with a frequency of approximately 20-30 minutes during daylight hours (5:00-24:00) and hourly during the night.

The journey to the city centre takes approximately 40-50 minutes under normal traffic conditions, with several stops along the way serving the main neighbourhoods and points of interest, including the railway station and intercity bus station.

Tickets can be purchased from vending machines located at the airport bus stop, directly from the driver (at a surcharge), or via the official OASTH app.

Taxis

Taxis are a convenient and relatively cheap option, considering the distance between the airport and the centre. They are available 24 hours a day outside the arrivals terminal.

The fare to the centre of Thessaloniki is around €20-25 during the day and €35 during the night (00:00-5:00), with a journey time of around 25-30 minutes in normal traffic conditions.

During busy tourist periods, especially in summer, it is possible to find long queues at taxi stands. In such cases, an alternative is to book a private transfer service in advance, especially if you are travelling in a group or with a lot of luggage.

Private transfer

An alternative to TAXIs is to book in advance a private transfer to or from Salonicco airport. A driver will pick you up at the airport arrivals (thus avoiding taxi queues), at your hotel or wherever you prefer, to take you to the desired address.

It is the best solution if you do not want to waste time, do not want to use public transport, have a lot of luggage or are travelling in a group. To book a private transfer to or from Salonicco airport visit this site.

Car hire

The best solution for visiting Chalkidiki’s localities, mountain areas or archaeological sites in the region is to hire a car. The airport has offices of all major car rental companies, both international and local, located within the terminal.

To rent a car in Greece we always recommend comparing the rates of all companies with DiscoverCars because in our opinion it offers the best prices, allows cancellation up to 48 hours before rental and offers a very cheap comprehensive insurance policy.

Connections to the North Aegean Islands

Thessaloniki Airport is also a convenient access point for several North Aegean islands, which can be reached by a combination of car and ferry travel:

• Thassos: The northernmost Aegean island can be reached by ferry from Kavala or Keramoti, ports located 160 km and 170 km from the airport respectively (about 1 hour 45 minutes – 2 hours by car), plus a 35-45 minute ferry crossing.
• Samothrace: This mountainous island with its famous waterfalls can be reached by ferry from the port of Alexandroupoli, about 260 km from the airport (2 hours 45 minutes by car), plus a crossing of about 2 hours.
• Limnos: During the summer season, there are direct flights from Thessaloniki to Limnos operated by Sky Express, with a flight time of about 45 minutes. Alternatively, it is possible to reach the island by ferry from Kavala (about 12 hours by boat).

Arrivals and Departures

Recommended hotels

Below is a list of recommended hotels near Thessaloniki Airport.