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Plan your visit to Thessaloniki

Coming to Thessaloniki

The easiest way to reach Thessaloniki is by plane. The international airport “Macedonia” (SKG) connects the city to approximately 40 countries and more than 60 foreign cities as well as to 35 cities and islands in Greece (direct flights and transit). The number of connections varies depending on the season.

The airport is located 16km from Thessaloniki. Bus service to the city center (Line 0X1 “KTEL – Airport” and 0N1 “KTEL – Airport” – Night Service) runs every 15-30 minutes and the journey takes about 40 – 50 minutes. The single fare is 2€, onboard ticket vending machines accept exact change only. Taxis are also available in the airport area, the route to the city center costs approximately 20€. There are also plenty of car rental options at the Arrivals gate, at the airport. By car, the city center is easily accessible from the A25 Motorway (Thessaloniki – N. Moudania National Road). The drive to and from the city center takes about 25 – 30 minutes depending on traffic.

Thessaloniki can be reached by train from various cities in Greece as well as from Belgrade (SRB) and Sofia (BG). The Hellenic Railway Organization (OSE) operates the national train service. The city is also connected via the intercity KTEL bus network to almost all Greek cities and via various bus services to neighboring countries.

Moving around the city

If you’re staying in the center of the city, you can most likely walk to most places you’ll need. The only means of public transportation in the city are buses. You can get more information on Google maps (don’t trust timetables there) or http://oasth.gr. The ubiquitous metro construction works are stalled as they keep discovering layer after layer of older versions of the city and are often running out of funds.

Another option to cruise the city is by taking a taxi. The taxi service features rather attractive prices and will be the most profitable way to explore the city for visitors traveling with a big company of mates. A taxi can be called by phone or taken from a specialized parking lot or just caught in the street. Alternatively, you can use Beat (formerly Taxibeat), an app-based blue taxi service that finds your location and offers the options of paying in cash, by card, or using a PayPal account.

Another nice option is rental bikes. You register once using your passport and receive your bike card, which includes at least 5€ for bike rentals. There is a 2€ deposit that you get back once you return your card. The price is 1€ per hour. Bikes can be taken from one station and returned to another.

From May until October, “Karavakia water boats” connect the port of Thessaloniki and the White Tower with the Blue Flag awarded beaches of Peraia, Neoi Epivates, and Agia Triada. The passengers have the opportunity to enjoy the city from another point of view, through a 50-minute route with stops.

Neighborhoods to stay

If you are staying for a short period of time in the city, the best idea is perhaps to stay in the center. Anywhere between Egnatia str. and the seaside promenade, and between Ladadika harbor area and the International Trade Fair area would be perfect, if you can afford it.

If you choose to stay out of the center, keep in mind that public transportation is bad with old and crowded buses not running frequently. A metro network is being constructed for years now, its construction tends to be a never-ending story. Taxis are affordable, Beat is a very good taxi service, like UBER but with professional taxi drivers. Good neighborhoods are:

• Upper city (Ano Poli, a beautiful uphill neighborhood with some steep roads)
• Eastern Thessaloniki suburbs like Depot or Nea Paralia (the latter one quite expensive and overrated),
• Kalamaria (most safe and probably the best organized public services as well),
• Pylaia (good housing),
• Panorama (although it’s a little far and quite overrated, it’s still one of the best places to live in the city)

Avoid following neighborhoods:

• The railway station area, as well as the old industrial area just off the city center’s west side, is not much of a residential part anyway. Many abandoned buildings and some offices are mainly to be found there.
• Dendropotamos -and nearby Lahanokipoi– (the area near the Makedonia bus station which is probably the worst and most dangerous of all),
• Western Thessaloniki suburbs like Menemeni, Evosmos (generally good but too much pollution and difficult transportation),
• Suburbs like Sindos (far from the city center and mainly an industrial area).
• Bad idea is also to walk at night throughout the Aristoteles University campus and stay very late inside the port area.
• Generally, almost all places that deserve a visit in the city are situated in safe and good neighborhoods. There are also many areas that are safe and good like Analipsi or Harilaou in the Eastern suburbs or Neapoli and Stavroupoli on the west side but do not belong to the “best” category.
Concluding, there is no serious crime in Thessaloniki, even late at night, you can find people walking, which is always good. Nevertheless, pickpockets are to be found in busy sites, such as markets, public transportation, dark backstreet alleys, and parks late at night, so be careful with your belongings in these places.