Day trips · Thessaloniki · Greece
6 best day trips from Thessaloniki
Where to go when you want a day away from Thessaloniki, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: TheOnassis at English Wikipedia, Public domain
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Thessaloniki is Vergina (Royal Tombs of Aigai) (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car). The closest option is Pella, about 40 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 6
- Closest
- Pella (40 km)
- Most popular
- Vergina (Royal Tombs of Aigai)
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vergina (Royal Tombs of Aigai) | 75 km | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car, or KTEL bus to Veria and a local bus or taxi | Culture, First-timers |
| Mount Olympus and Dion | 90 km | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car, or train or bus to Litochoro | Culture, Families, Quiet stays |
| Kassandra, Chalkidiki | 80 km | About 1–1.5 hours by car | Car, or KTEL Chalkidiki bus | Beach, Families, Couples |
| Pella | 40 km | About 45 minutes by car | Car, or KTEL bus towards Edessa | Culture, Quiet stays |
| Edessa waterfalls | 90 km | About 1.5 hours by car or train | Car, train or KTEL bus | Families, Quiet stays |
| Meteora | 230 km | About 3 hours each way by car | Car, train via Palaiofarsalos, or an organised tour | Culture, First-timers |
The day trips
75 km · About 1 hour 15 minutes by car
1.Vergina (Royal Tombs of Aigai)
The underground museum at Vergina, ancient Aigai, protects the royal tombs discovered in 1977, including the tomb attributed to Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, with its gold larnax and wreaths. Combine it with lunch and revani in Veria.
- Getting there
- Car, or KTEL bus to Veria and a local bus or taxi
- Best for
- Culture, First-timers
90 km · About 1 hour 15 minutes by car
2.Mount Olympus and Dion
Greece's highest mountain rises above the village of Litochoro, where the Enipeas gorge trail starts. At its foot, the archaeological park of Dion, a sacred Macedonian city, has temples, mosaics and a good museum.
- Getting there
- Car, or train or bus to Litochoro
- Best for
- Culture, Families, Quiet stays
80 km · About 1–1.5 hours by car
3.Kassandra, Chalkidiki
The westernmost of Chalkidiki's three peninsulas has long sandy beaches, pine-backed coves and resort villages such as Kallithea and Pefkochori. It is where Thessaloniki goes to swim on summer weekends, so leave early to avoid traffic.
- Getting there
- Car, or KTEL Chalkidiki bus
- Best for
- Beach, Families, Couples
40 km · About 45 minutes by car
4.Pella
The birthplace of Alexander the Great and capital of the Macedonian kingdom has some of the finest pebble mosaics of the ancient world, including the lion hunt and the stag hunt, shown in the site museum and in situ.
- Getting there
- Car, or KTEL bus towards Edessa
- Best for
- Culture, Quiet stays
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90 km · About 1.5 hours by car or train
5.Edessa waterfalls
The town of Edessa sits on a cliff edge where its river drops in a series of waterfalls, the largest about 70 metres high, with a park, walkways and caves behind the water.
- Getting there
- Car, train or KTEL bus
- Best for
- Families, Quiet stays
230 km · About 3 hours each way by car
6.Meteora
Byzantine monasteries perched on sandstone pillars above Kalambaka, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a long day from Thessaloniki, so many travellers stay a night in Kalambaka or Kastraki.
- Getting there
- Car, train via Palaiofarsalos, or an organised tour
- Best for
- Culture, First-timers
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Buy and validate a ticket before or on boarding; inspectors do check.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Thessaloniki?
Vergina (Royal Tombs of Aigai). The underground museum at Vergina, ancient Aigai, protects the royal tombs discovered in 1977, including the tomb attributed to Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, with its gold larnax and wreaths.
+How long does it take to get from Thessaloniki to Vergina (Royal Tombs of Aigai)?
About 1 hour 15 minutes by car — Car, or KTEL bus to Veria and a local bus or taxi, about 75 km.
+How long does it take to get from Thessaloniki to Mount Olympus and Dion?
About 1 hour 15 minutes by car — Car, or train or bus to Litochoro, about 90 km.