skg.flights Thessaloniki Airport

Car hire at Thessaloniki Airport

Thessaloniki is the starting point for northern Greece: Halkidiki’s three peninsulas, Mount Olympus and the Pieria coast, Vergina, Kavala and the road to Meteora are all one to three hours away, and none of them are served well by public transport. The airport is where most visitors pick up a car, with the rental desks in the terminal and the cars a short walk away.

For a city break the car is a burden: the centre is dense, parking is scarce and the X1 bus does the job. Rent for the days you leave town, or pick the car up in the city afterwards.

Rental companies at Thessaloniki Airport

The international brands and several Greek companies share the rental area in the terminal. Desks are open for all arrivals in summer; in winter late flights should confirm the pick-up time.

  • Avis / Budget
  • Hertz
  • Sixt
  • Europcar
  • Enterprise / Alamo / National
  • Greek companies with desks in the terminal or delivery to arrivals

Booking tips

  • Crossing into North Macedonia, Bulgaria or Albania needs written permission and cross-border insurance; many contracts exclude it
  • Winter trips to Olympus or Kaimaktsalan may need snow chains; ask for them
  • Halkidiki weekends in July and August sell out the small cars; book early
  • A credit card in the driver’s name is needed for the deposit
  • Licences issued outside the EU/EEA need an international driving permit

Driving from the airport

The airport road meets the Thessaloniki ring road within minutes. Follow signs for Halkidiki (Nea Moudania) to reach Kassandra and Sithonia via the new motorway; for Athens, Katerini and Olympus take the ring road west to the A1; for Kavala and the east, the Egnatia Odos. Driving into the centre means the seafront avenue, which crawls at rush hour.

Frequently asked questions

Which car rental companies are at Thessaloniki Airport?

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.

Can I take a rental car from Thessaloniki to North Macedonia or Bulgaria?

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.

See also

Prices and timetables are indicative and change seasonally. Confirm before you travel.