Getting to and from Thessaloniki Airport
The airport is 15 km from Aristotelous Square along the coastal ring road, 25–35 minutes by taxi outside the rush hour. Thessaloniki has no metro line to the airport, so the choice is between the OASTH buses, which are cheap and frequent but stop everywhere, and a taxi, which is the only sensible option late at night with luggage.
Most summer visitors are not staying in the city at all but heading to Halkidiki. Kassandra’s first resorts are about an hour away, Sithonia an hour and a half or more, and there is no direct public transport: it is a pre-booked transfer, a taxi, a hire car, or the bus into town and the KTEL Halkidikis coach from there.
OASTH buses: X1 express and line 78
Line X1 is the airport express: it runs 24 hours a day between the airport and the KTEL Makedonia intercity bus station, passing through the city centre along Egnatia and the seafront, every 20–30 minutes by day and about hourly at night. Line 78 covers the same corridor with every stop, and 78N replaces it overnight. The airport fare is €2, bought from the machine at the stop or the driver; the ride to the centre takes 40–60 minutes.
The stop is on the road directly outside arrivals. Buses get crowded after the evening low-cost arrivals, and the X1 does not go to the railway station: get off at Aristotelous or Kamara and change, or take a taxi from there.
- Fare: €2, valid for the airport lines
- X1: airport – city centre – KTEL Makedonia, 24 hours
- 78 / 78N: all stops on the same route, day and night
- For Halkidiki coaches, ride the X1 to its last stop: the KTEL Halkidikis station is nearby
Taxi from Thessaloniki Airport
Thessaloniki taxis are dark blue and white and wait in a long rank outside arrivals at all hours. Fares are metered, with the airport surcharge and a night tariff after midnight; a trip to the centre lands around €30. Radio taxi: +30 2310 866866. For Halkidiki agree the price before leaving, or better, pre-book a transfer at a fixed rate.
| Destination | Fare | Time |
|---|---|---|
| City centre (Aristotelous, White Tower) | €30 | 25–35 min |
| Peraia / Nei Epivates | €15 | 10–15 min |
| KTEL Makedonia bus station | €35 | 30–40 min |
| Kassandra (Kallithea, Hanioti) | about €90 | 60–75 min |
| Sithonia (Nikiti, Neos Marmaras) | about €120 | 80–100 min |
| Katerini / Olympic Riviera | about €90 | 60–75 min |
Halkidiki transfers and coaches
Pre-booked transfers are the standard way to Halkidiki: the driver meets you in arrivals, the price is fixed and a minivan for a family costs little more than a taxi. Shared shuttles run to the main Kassandra resorts in summer. The budget route is the X1 bus to the KTEL Makedonia terminus and a KTEL Halkidikis coach from the nearby station; it works, but allow half a day and check the last coach time.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Thessaloniki Airport from the city centre?
About 15 km along the coast. A taxi takes 25–35 minutes outside the rush hour; the X1 bus 40–60 minutes.
How much is a taxi from Thessaloniki Airport to the centre?
Around €30 by day on the meter, including the airport surcharge; more after midnight. Halkidiki resorts cost €90–120 depending on the peninsula.
Is there a bus from Thessaloniki Airport to the city?
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.
How do I get from Thessaloniki Airport to Halkidiki?
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.
Does the airport bus go to the railway station?
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.
See also
Prices and timetables are indicative and change seasonally. Confirm before you travel.