Getting around · Thessaloniki · Greece
Getting around Thessaloniki
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Andrew Zorin, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
Central Thessaloniki is long and narrow, stretched along the gulf, and most sights lie within a walk of the waterfront between the port and the White Tower. City buses and the metro, which opened in late 2024 under Egnatia Street, cover longer distances, and taxis are plentiful and fairly priced. Not in the city, where parking is hard and public transport and walking cover everything.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- SKG
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
Walking
The centre, Ladadika and the Roman monuments are 10–20 minutes apart on foot, and the seafront is flat. Ano Poli is steep, so many visitors take a taxi or bus up and walk down.
Metro
The metro line runs east–west under Egnatia Street from the New Railway Station past the city centre towards the eastern districts, and is the fastest way to cross the city.
Check the operator's site for current lines and stations, as extensions are being added.
Bus
OASTh city buses cover the whole urban area, including Ano Poli, Kalamaria and the airport, with frequent services along Egnatia and Tsimiski.
Buy and validate a ticket before or on boarding; inspectors do check.
Taxi
Blue-and-white taxis can be hailed or booked by phone and app, and are an affordable way up to Ano Poli or out to the airport.
Cycling
Cycle lanes run the length of the seafront promenade, and bike rental shops near the White Tower make it easy to ride to the Concert Hall and beyond.
From the airport
Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia is about 15 km south-east of the centre. OASTh buses run between the airport, the city centre and the coach station, taking about 40–50 minutes depending on traffic. A taxi to the centre takes about 20–30 minutes.
Do you need a car?
Not in the city, where parking is hard and public transport and walking cover everything. A car is useful for day trips to Vergina, Mount Olympus and the Chalkidiki beaches, though buses also serve them.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Vergina (Royal Tombs of Aigai) | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car, or KTEL bus to Veria and a local bus or taxi |
| Mount Olympus and Dion | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car, or train or bus to Litochoro |
| Kassandra, Chalkidiki | About 1–1.5 hours by car | Car, or KTEL Chalkidiki bus |
| Pella | About 45 minutes by car | Car, or KTEL bus towards Edessa |
| Edessa waterfalls | About 1.5 hours by car or train | Car, train or KTEL bus |
| Meteora | About 3 hours each way by car | Car, train via Palaiofarsalos, or an organised tour |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Thessaloniki?
Not in the city, where parking is hard and public transport and walking cover everything. A car is useful for day trips to Vergina, Mount Olympus and the Chalkidiki beaches, though buses also serve them.
+How do you get from the airport to Thessaloniki?
Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia is about 15 km south-east of the centre. OASTh buses run between the airport, the city centre and the coach station, taking about 40–50 minutes depending on traffic. A taxi to the centre takes about 20–30 minutes.
+What is the best way to get around Thessaloniki?
Walking: The centre, Ladadika and the Roman monuments are 10–20 minutes apart on foot, and the seafront is flat. Ano Poli is steep, so many visitors take a taxi or bus up and walk down.