Travelling to Thessaloniki

About Thessaloniki

Tips recommended by www.Thessaloniki.travel:

Thessaloniki is the second-largest city in Greece and it is located on the Thermaic Gulf in the northwest corner of the Aegean Sea.

It was developed rapidly due to its prominent geographical location as one of the most important ports, and economical and commercial centres of Macedonia and the Balkan Peninsula for the past 2300 years.

Thessaloniki is a city of history and culture with over 20 museums and 20 museum houses. Around the city, you can find monuments and modern sculptures such as the statue of Alexander The Great or the 'Umbrellas' on the Waterfront of Thessaloniki.

Thessaloniki Guide

Must see: Thessaloniki’s landmark, The White Tower. Rotunda. Heptapyrgion. Aristotle square. UNESCO Monuments. The Byzantine churches. Ladadika. Seafront. Museums (Archaeological, Museum of Byzantine Culture, etc.). Axios National Park.

Must do: Take a walk across the seafront promenade. Tour to vineyards. Food and city Tours.

Must eat: There are absolutely no limitations as to the hours you could take a trip down to Thessaloniki’s gastronomic wealth lane! The city’s day begins with the coffee experience and the “Thessaloniki’s koulouri” (bagel) or tsoureki (Greek brioche), and moves on with appetisers and tsipouro in a traditional tavern, followingly to a luncheon closing with a coffee or dessert. Some of the signature desserts of Thessaloniki are the “Trigona from Panorama” and the “Bougatsa”.

Arriving to Thessaloniki:

With a strategic position in Greece and Europe, Thessaloniki is easily accessible by all means of transport. Features International Airport (Macedonia International - SKG), Railway station, Harbour, Intercity Bus station and is connected by road with the rest of Greece and abroad through national and international highways. By plane, train, bus or car, see how you can get to Thessaloniki and choose the best for you.

By Flight

The International Airport 'Macedonia' (SKG) connects Thessaloniki with more than 35 countries and more than 125 foreign cities with direct flights, as well as 35 cities and islands in Greece (direct flights and transit). The number of connections varies depending on the season.

The airport is just 16 km from Thessaloniki. Connected directly with the city centre via bus lines OASTH No01X and No01N (night). At the airport area taxis are stationed in servicing passengers. The cost of the route from the airport to the centre is about 20 Euros and 28 Euros between 12:00am and 5:00am.

At the airport you will find currency exchange, ATMs, catering, duty free shops, parking, car rental companies etc. The Tourist Information Office operates Monday - Friday from 8:30 to 20:00 (except for holidays).

By Train

The New Railway Station is the central passenger terminal of Thessaloniki and is located in Monastiriou Street. Used by TRAINOSE as a starting point or a transfer point to other trains that cover the entire length of the rail network in Northern Greece.
Ticket purchases can be made through the website of TRAINOSE or at contact & sale points: Passenger Station of Thessaloniki, open 24/7. Tel: 2310-599 421 Travel and Tourism Office of TRAINOSE, opening hours: Monday to Friday 08:00-15:30

Coache KTEL 'Macedonia'

The Intercity Bus Station KTEL 'Macedonia' constitutes a reference point for long-distance road transport of Thessaloniki. The facilities include cafés, restaurants, indoor and outdoor parking, luggage storage, free Wi-Fi and is easily accessible via 12 lines of urban transport and by taxi.

Coach KTEL ‘Halkidiki’

Separate bus station operates to transport the passengers to the tourist resorts of the region of Halkidiki. The KTEL Halkidiki bus station is located in the 9th km of the National Road Thessaloniki - N. Moudania. Stations are working in Nea Kallikratia, Nea Moudania, Kassandreia and Arnea. At the KTEL HALKIDIKI there is also parcel place where are sent and received parcels to and from Halkidiki. The facilities are accessible to people with disabilities. The route network of local bus daily connecting KTEL HALKIDIKI with the city of Thessaloniki with bus No45 or No36, while it is accessed via taxi.

Travelling in the city

Thessaloniki offers an easy and quick way to commute; no city spot is more than 30 minutes away from the centre by public transportation. Public buses and taxis are the main means of transportation of Thessaloniki, while bicycles have become increasingly popular over the past years. The picturesque boats and the alternative Segway, complete the list of transportation selections during summer period.

METRO

Thessaloniki Metro, a 9.6 km network, shall have 13 modern stations, 18 fully automatic and air-conditioned trains, as well as platform screen doors in all stations, ensuring the provision of the optimum services to the passengers and their maximum safety. Thessaloniki’s Metro shall be ready in 2020.

Bus Public Transport

The Organization of Urban Transportation of Thessaloniki (O.A.S.TH.), connects the whole city via a dense network of bus lines. You can get your tickets at the O.A.S.TH.’s ticket booths, at the 1200 selling shops or by the vending machines inside the buses. Free service if offered to people with special needs. Try getting the “No 50 Cultural Route”, departing from the White Tower. It passes through the monuments, important buildings, old neighbourhoods, narrating the historic wealth of Thessaloniki in the course of time. Both optic and acoustic information is available for the passengers, in Greek and English.

All necessary information concerning timetables, bus tracking in real time, route duration, best routes etc, is available on the official page of O.A.S.TH.

TAXI

There are approximately 2000 taxis in Thessaloniki with 24h service taxi ranks in many city spots and in many departure ones like the airport, the train station, the Macedonia Intercity Station and the port.

Events:

Reworks International Music Festival Thessaloniki International Film Festival Dimitria Festival Thessaloniki Documentary Festival Thessaloniki International Book Festival Thessaloniki International Fair

Nearby Escapes or Day Trips

Beaches of Thessaloniki include the Potamos river, Fanari, Agelaradiko, the Aggelochori beach, the Aghia Triada Beach, the Baxe Beach or the beach of Perea.

The two protected areas of the Municipality of Thermaikos included in the NATURA 2000 Network (lagoon of Epanomi and Aggelochori), with 178 rare protected bird species and over 2500 species of plants are a paradise for nature lovers who come to observe from up close the rich flora and fauna but also enjoy the beauty of the landscape.

It is one of the most important ecosystems in Greece. It is a system of river estuaries, peat bogs, lagoons and salt marshes, an ideal habitat for many species of wildlife. The Nicholas K. Gioutikas of Axios Delta Information Centre is located on Eirinis Street in Chalastra Thessaloniki. The is a great opportunity for sight-seeing, taking pictures, or simply escaping the hectic pace of the city.

With Byzantine origin, the thermal baths in Lagadas in the Prefecture of Thessaloniki, offers natural wellness and relaxation in an eco-friendly environment. The thermal spring water has many health benefits and is the basis for many thermal spas.