The easiest way to get to Halkidiki is through the airport of Thessaloniki. A large and modern air hub, Thessaloniki Airport is one of the best in Greece. Partially about how to get from Thessaloniki Airport to your destination, Grekoblog already wrote in the article. But we decided to return to the topic and dwell on the issue of transport in more detail.
A bit of history
The official name of the international airport, located 13 km southeast of the northern capital of Greece, is Macedonia ( international code SKG), but until 1993 it was called Thessaloniki Airport Mikra in honor of a small village, which later became one of the suburbs of the capital of the region.
The airport in Thessaloniki started operating in 1930 as a military airfield. After the Second World War, in 1948, the needs of civil aviation. Until 1965, the infrastructure was expanded and modernized, but due to the constant increase in passenger traffic and the growth of the city itself, the terminal was eventually moved to a new location.
Macedonia Airport serves about 4 million passengers a year
The last modernization of Thessaloniki Airport was carried out in 2004-2006. Today, Thessaloniki Airport has modern passenger and cargo terminals, as well as two runways - 2440 and 2410 m, respectively.
Not only civil, but also military aircraft are based on the territory of Thessaloniki Airport. There is an flying club and parking for private light aircraft.
Macedonia Airport operates around the clock and annually serves up to 4 million passengers. In the plans management company- further expansion of terminals and improvement of the runway, which will allow receiving and sending transcontinental flights and increasing passenger traffic to 7-9 million people a year.
Airport and Thessaloniki on the map:
Cheap flights to Thessaloniki
If you have not purchased your ticket yet, you can quickly search for cheap flights using the calendar low prices below:
How to get from Thessaloniki Airport to the main cities of Greece
In order to get from Macedonia (Thessaloniki) airport by bus to the main cities of continental Greece, you should head to the main bus station of the region (Macedonia intercity bus station). Thus, the trip from Thessaloniki Airport will consist of 2 parts:
- OASTH bus No. X1 (N1 - night), following directly from the terminal through the city center to the bus station Macedonia intercity bus station.
- Transfer at the bus station to the bus to your desired destination in mainland Greece.
Route No. X1 operates from 6:10 to 22:35, the interval of movement is 15-20 minutes. Night bus number 78N, respectively, from 23:30 to 5:30, departing from the stop at the terminal every half hour. On Sundays and holidays transport will have to wait 10-15 minutes longer. Travel time with all stops is about 40 minutes, the fare (as of 2018) is €2.
You can get to the main cities from the main bus station
From Thessaloniki Airport to Halkidiki
If the goal is not Athens or Corfu, but a hotel located directly on the Halkidiki peninsula, then you should follow a different route:
1. Take the bus number 79A from Thessaloniki Airport to the KTEL Halkidikis bus station. The schedule of route number 79A can be found on the OASTH website
2. At the KTEL Halkidikis bus station, select the desired route, purchase a ticket and take a seat on the bus. The schedule of routes and ticket prices can be found on the official website of the operator KTEL Halkidikis.
Taxi and airport transfer
As a rule, the bus is the most profitable option for travelers who are going to get to their hotel, wherever it is. But, being burdened with luggage or a large family, it is easier to use a taxi. Moreover, a taxi in Thessaloniki is inexpensive.
From Thessaloniki to Halkidiki can be reached from the bus station KTEL Halkidikis
Taxi from Thessaloniki Airport, whose parking lot is located at the exit of the terminal, can be taken to the city or even to the door of a hotel in a remote mountain village. A trip to the bus station will cost about € 30 (2018), a double fare is charged at night. The cost of a taxi to another city or resort will be calculated according to the intercity, higher fare.
You can also order a taxi from Thessaloniki Airport in advance - by the time your flight arrives via the Internet [link]. In this case, the driver will be waiting for you with a sign with your name on it at the exit from the baggage claim area.
Ordering a car online is especially convenient for two reasons. Firstly, the fare is calculated by the system and known in advance, and if the flight is delayed, you will not have to pay extra. And secondly, you can order a car directly at Thessaloniki Airport for your personal needs. For example, with a large trunk or pre-installed child seats.
As for the tariffs, the screenshot with the prices is the most popular destinations above. But before the trip, we would recommend checking the rates separately. You can do it using this link.
Car rental at Macedonia airport (Thessaloniki)
Finally, you can also get to your hotel by rented car. The corresponding companies are represented at the airport quite widely.
You can get from the airport to any point on a rented car
To avoid overpayments, it makes sense to use the automatic price comparison system of car rental companies, developed by the team of the well-known hotel portal Booking.com. The system not only monitors prices online in all major car rental companies, but also allows you to book a car in advance. This is very useful in the high season, when cars in car rental companies sell like hot cakes.
For the test, Grekoblog tried to find a car at Thessaloniki Airport for a trip in October 2018, and the system sorted about 200 found options in a few seconds. The most profitable of them is presented in the screenshot below. As you can see, the cost of renting a car in Thessaloniki starts from 13.5 Euros per day.
Greece has given the world so much beauty that almost every person on the planet still wants to see this cradle of culture. This fact explains the multimillion-dollar flow of tourists rushing to the Greek coast in any season of the year.
Greece - ancient treasury
Is everything in Greece? Well, of course, absolutely everything. There is no other country in the world with such a variety of entertainment and attractions as in Greece. Divers can enjoy diving in the coastal waters of the Mediterranean or Aegean Sea in search of sunken ships, whose holds are filled to overflowing with treasures from all over the world. lovers beach holiday will appreciate the numerous small Greek islands, each of which is distinguished by its bright personality, as well as amazingly delicious national cuisine. In addition, almost any one is a monument of ancient culture with the ruins of temples and the richest museum collections.
Thessaloniki - the capital of cultural life in Europe
Along with Athens and widely famous island Santorini, Thessaloniki can be considered the center of the cultural and Christian life of Europe. This tourist route includes a lot of activities that will make your holiday in Greek Thessaloniki truly unforgettable.
Few people know, but this city is considered the birthplace of Cyril and Methodius, the founders of Slavic writing. For a long time between Thessaloniki and Constantinople there was an unspoken rivalry for the title world center Christian religion.
Now Thessaloniki can offer travelers not only its past, but also its present, filled with holidays, carnivals and annual festivals.
Airport SKG: unknown name
For many years, Thessaloniki has attracted millions of tourists. Many of them, when purchasing a ticket, are worried about the final destination, indicated by the SKG encoding. The name of the airport in this case raises questions. Newcomers who fly outside their home country for the first time or have never bought tickets on their own are especially susceptible to such unrest.
We hasten to reassure all travelers. There are no mistakes in yours if you see the mysterious SKG combination. The airport of destination, according to this coding, is called "Macedonia" and is located in Greek Thessaloniki. This is where everyone goes Russian tourists dreaming of spending their holidays in one of the most beautiful cities in Greece.
International code: where does it come from?
Experienced travelers know that each international airport has its own designation in three letters of the Latin alphabet. These letters can be found on airline tickets, itinerary receipts or even road signs. Where do they come from?
The fact is that before opening, each international airport must be certified. Based on the results of this check, he receives access to servicing foreign companies and an individual code. In the case of Thessaloniki SKG.
The assignment of an individual three-letter code is carried out by the International Air Transport Association, which conducts certification of all airports. Also, this organization is an inspecting and controlling body that monitors the quality of services provided at every airport in the world.
What does the SKG encoding hide? The airport
Greece has always been a very hospitable country, therefore, despite its small size, it has two international airports. The second largest and passenger traffic in the country is in Thessaloniki.
SKG Airport is a fairly large air hub; not only tourists who want to relax in Thessaloniki pass through it, but also those who are heading to the popular island resorts of the Aegean Sea. Now the airport is located almost in the center of the city, the main attractions can be reached in just thirteen kilometers.
International Airport: Brief Historical Background
SKG Airport traces its history back to the thirties of the last century, then it was called Thessaloniki Mikra Airport and was located in the suburbs of Thessaloniki. An airfield was built for military needs and only in the middle of the last century began to serve civil aviation liners. Every year, its passenger traffic increased, and the Greek authorities were forced to rebuild and modernize such an important air hub several times.
In the sixties of the twentieth century, the airport was moved to a new location and completely rebuilt. At the same time he received modern name and its international code, which is still in use today.
Thessaloniki air gate today
Currently, the airport serves more than four million passengers a year; military aircraft and civil aviation liners are based on its territory. There is also a popular flying club in the city and private parking.
The last modernization of Macedonia Airport was carried out about ten years ago, but a new reconstruction is already planned, which would allow to receive up to ten million passengers a year. Inside the building there are two terminals, cafes, restaurants and currency exchange offices. Those who wish can take a stroll through the duty-free shops or rent a car. The entire infrastructure of the terminal operates twenty-four hours a day.
The resorts of Greece have always been a desirable holiday destination for tourists, because almost everyone wants to join the culture and history of this country, which has several millennia. It is not surprising that SKG Airport, located in Thessaloniki, receives more and more travelers every year from different countries peace. If you are planning to visit Greece, then, most likely, your acquaintance with it will begin for you from Macedonia Airport.
If you are flying to one of the resorts of the Greek trident - the Chalkidiki region, then you will definitely need information on how to get from Thessaloniki Airport to the center of Thessaloniki and the main Greek beach resorts: Nea-Kallikratia, Nea-Potidea, Sani, Neos Marmaras and others.
Before traveling to Thessaloniki, write down the exact address of your hotel or apartment in Thessaloniki, download the city map and public transport map to your smartphone.
Brief information about the airport in Thessaloniki
Airport "Macedonia" in Thessaloniki is located 17 km south of. It is the main airport in northern Greece and is the hub for the following airlines: Aegean Airlines, Astra Airlines, Ellinair and budget low-cost airline Ryanair.
From Russia, regular direct flights to Thessaloniki fly from Moscow. The cost of an air ticket Moscow - Thessaloniki for a regular flight is 150 Euros in two directions, and the travel time is just over 3 hours. In summer, charters from dozens of Russian cities are added to regular flights. From Ukraine, a regular flight to Thessaloniki flies from Kiev. Air ticket Kiev - Thessaloniki will cost you 100 Euros in two directions, travel time - 2 hours 15 minutes.
Thessaloniki airport terminal
Thessaloniki airport has only one terminal of three floors. The first floor is the arrivals hall, divided into two compartments: for international flights/flights outside the Schengen area and for domestic flights/flights from the Schengen area. The second floor is the departure hall, which also houses retail space and bars. There are many ATMs on this floor. On the top floor there are 2 restaurants and several bars overlooking the runways. Below you can see a map of the airport in Thessaloniki.
At Thessaloniki Airport, you can buy traditional Greek products, cigarettes, jewelry, clothes. You can also pack your luggage here.
A few kilometers from the airport there are hotels Hyatt Regency Thessaloniki at a price of 122 Euro per day for a double room and Hotel Nikopolis at a price of 98 Euro per day for a double room.
How to get from Thessaloniki airport to the city center?
There are three ways to get from Thessaloniki Airport to the city center or to Greek resorts: by city buses with transfers, by taxi or by rented car. Let's consider each of these methods in more detail.
Bus from Thessaloniki airport to city center
Buses from Thessaloniki Airport are usually new and air-conditioned, but very often crowded. The buses are operated by the transport company O.A.S.TH.
There are direct buses from Macedonia Airport to the center of Thessaloniki. You will not be able to get from Macedonia Airport to the Greek resorts in Halkidiki by a direct bus: you will need to transfer to bus station located on the outskirts of Thessaloniki. Between the airport and the KTEL Halkidiki bus station in Thessaloniki, city buses No. 78, No. 78A and No. 78N run through the city center. Bus station address:ΚΤΕΛ ΧΑΛΚΙΔΙΚΗΣ A, Pilea 555 35.
- Bus route number 78 runs twice an hour during the daytime - from 05:00 to 22:00 from the airport to KTEL station and from 05:50 to 23:00 from KTEL station to Thessaloniki Airport.
- Bus route number 78N runs in the evening and at night. The route runs every half an hour from 23:30 to 05:30 from the airport to KTEL station and from 22:30 to 04:30 from KTEL station to Thessaloniki Airport.
- Bus route number 78A departs only once a day at 05:00 in the direction from the KTEL bus station to Thessaloniki Airport.
The total travel time from the airport to the center of Thessaloniki is approximately 30-40 minutes. The ticket is purchased from the vending machine on the bus. Please note that the machine does not give change. The cost of a ticket for one trip from Thessaloniki Airport for an adult is 2 Euro, for students and pensioners - 1 Euro, for children under 6 years old, travel is free. The ticket must be validated, otherwise it will be invalid, in the yellow puncher.
In the course of the buses from the airport, you can get off in the city center - at Aristotle's square(Platia Aristotelous) and on main railway station of Thessaloniki in (Neos Sidirodromikos Stathmos).
Bus from Thessaloniki Airport to the Greek resorts in Chalkidiki
If your destination is not the center of Thessaloniki, but another Greek resort town, then you will need to take a bus to the KTEL bus station in Thessaloniki and transfer there to a bus to your resort in Halkidiki. Find out the number of your bus and its schedule at the box office at the KTEL bus station, where you can immediately buy a ticket. You can familiarize yourself with the bus schedule to your resort in advance on the website of the KTEL Chakidikis bus station.
In this case, you do not have to drive through the city center on route number 78 and wind loops. In this case, you will need to take bus number 79 at the airport and take it to the A. S. IKEA (Anatolikos Stathmos IKEA) stop, then transfer to bus number 36/36A/36B to the KTEL Chalkidikis stop. Travel on buses of this route will cost you 1 Euro for an adult and 0.5 Euro for a child.
The Greek resorts on the trident of Halkidiki are spread over its three "fingers": the peninsulas of Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos. If your resort is located on the nearest "finger" to Thessaloniki - Kassandra, you want to save money, and you are not bothered by bus delays for an hour, then it makes sense to travel to your resort by bus. If you are traveling with children and you need to go to the "fingers" remote from Thessaloniki - Sithonia or Athos, I recommend ordering a taxi transfer.
The distance to the main Greek resorts and the fare to them from the KTEL bus station one way I have given in the table below.
Please note that many buses, especially long distance buses, only run a few times a day, so it's best to check the schedule on the website in advance. Prices are also subject to change, as happened in the summer of 2016 due to an increase in the VAT rate.
Bus from Thessaloniki Airport to other cities in Greece
If your destination is not located on the Halkidiki peninsula, then in order to move to another Greek city from Thessaloniki (for example, to Athens, Larisa, Lefkada) by bus you will need to get from Thessaloniki Airport to central bus station Thessaloniki (not to be confused with the bus stationKTEL Chalkidikis!).
Thessaloniki Central Bus Station - Macedonia Intercity Bus Station (KTEL Macedonia)- located at Giannitson 244, Thessaloniki 546 28. Buses to other countries also depart from this bus station: to Bulgaria (Sofia, Bansko), Turkey (Istanbul), Macedonia (Skopje), Czech Republic and even to Germany. You can get acquainted in detail with the available international bus routes and see their prices on the official website of the Macedonia bus station, available in English.
The bus station KTEL Macedonia is located 2.5 km from the main railway station in Thessaloniki (Neos Sidirodromikos Stathmos), where lines 78 and 78N stop.
How and where to buy a bus ticket at Thessaloniki Airport?
The national currency of Greece is Euro. As I said, bus tickets are sold in special machines inside the buses. The machine on the bus does not give change, so prepare small coins.
In Thessaloniki itself, a bus ticket can also be bought at ticket offices at bus stops.
Taxi from Thessaloniki Airport
The taxi rank at Thessaloniki Airport is located at the exit of the arrivals area. Depending on traffic, the trip from the airport to the center of Thessaloniki will take you 35-40 minutes.
Some features of a taxi in Greece:
- When traveling at night (from 00:00 to 05:00), the taxi fare increases by 30%.
- The driver must turn on the meter. Follow this when boarding a taxi.
- Payment in a taxi is possible only in cash, which should be stocked up in advance.
- According to Greek law, one taxi car can carry a maximum of 4 people at a time, including children.
- Greek taxi drivers don't know in English or know it very poorly, so write down in advance on a piece of paper the exact address of your destination in Greek.
How to get to Thessaloniki Airport
When traveling from the center of Thessaloniki to the airport, depending on the time of day, you will need to take bus number 78 or number 78N and get to the Airport Macedonia stop. You can take this bus at the stop at Aristotle's Square, the main railway station of Thessaloniki, or at the KTEL Chalkidikis bus station.
When traveling to Thessaloniki Airport from the beach Greek resort it will be most convenient to order a taxi transfer, otherwise you will first have to go from your hotel to the bus station in your city, then go to the KTEL Chalkidikis bus station, and then wait for the bus to the airport.
