Thessaloniki Airport: frequently asked questions

Two hours for a Schengen flight, two and a half for a non-Schengen one (UK, Israel, Turkey). The new terminal handles queues well, but summer weekends and the winter fog delays can bunch several flights together.

The boards on this site update automatically with scheduled and estimated times, gates, baggage belts and status. Open a flight for its details or subscribe to alerts for a flight number.

Check the estimated time on the departures board here and confirm with the airline. EU rules give you meals after two hours of delay and possibly compensation after three hours on arrival; keep receipts and boarding passes.

About 15 km along the coast. A taxi takes 25–35 minutes outside the rush hour; the X1 bus 40–60 minutes.

Around €30 by day on the meter, including the airport surcharge; more after midnight. Halkidiki resorts cost €90–120 depending on the peninsula.

Yes. The OASTH X1 express runs 24 hours a day to the city centre and the KTEL Makedonia station for €2, every 20–30 minutes by day. Line 78 and the night 78N cover the same route with all stops.

By pre-booked transfer, taxi (about €90 to Kassandra, €120 to Sithonia) or hire car. There is no direct bus: the public option is the X1 to the KTEL Makedonia terminus and a KTEL Halkidikis coach from the station nearby.

Not directly. Take the X1 or 78 into the centre and change, or take a taxi; the railway station is about a 35-minute drive from the airport.

In the Fraport car parks in front of the new terminal: short stay from about €3 an hour, long stay around €12 a day, first 10 minutes free. Private car parks on the airport road are cheaper by the week.

Only to drop off. For a pick-up use the short-stay car park, where the first 10 minutes are free, and check the live arrivals board before driving out along the coast road.

Avis, Budget, Hertz, Sixt, Europcar and Enterprise have desks in the terminal, alongside several Greek companies; the cars are in the car park next to the building.

Only with the company’s written permission and cross-border insurance, which some companies refuse and others charge for. Ask before booking; the border is under two hours away and the question comes up often.