Thessaloniki Airport has genuine public transport — the bus to the city is cheap and reliable, at a fixed published fare. For taxis and Halkidiki, there is no fixed published price: taxis run on the metered Greek taxi tariff and pre-booked transfers are priced by the operator.
To Thessaloniki city centre (15 km)
- Bus (01X): 2 EUR (OSETH special-line fare). 40-55 minutes. Every 20-30 minutes.
- Taxi: Metered on the standard Greek taxi tariff — check the current rate before travelling. 25-35 minutes.
- Pre-booked transfer: Priced by the operator — get a quote.
For the city centre, the bus is excellent value at a fixed, verified fare. Solo travelers and couples with moderate luggage should take it. Families with large luggage or late-night arrivals will find a taxi or transfer more practical.
To Thessaloniki waterfront / port (18 km)
- Taxi: Metered — check the current tariff.
- Pre-booked transfer: Priced by the operator — get a quote.
To Kalamaria / eastern suburbs (20 km)
- Taxi: Metered — check the current tariff.
- Pre-booked transfer: Priced by the operator — get a quote.
To Halkidiki — Nea Moudania / Kassandra gateway (60 km)
- Taxi: Metered, plus tolls — check the current tariff.
- Pre-booked transfer: Priced by the operator, typically toll-inclusive — get a quote.
To Halkidiki — Kallithea / Kassandra resorts (65-75 km)
Kassandra is the most popular Halkidiki peninsula with dense resort development. Allow 1.5-2 hours by road. Taxi fares are metered plus tolls paid separately; pre-booked transfer prices vary by operator and exact resort — get a quote for your destination.
To Halkidiki — Sithonia (Neos Marmaras, Vourvourou, Hanioti area) (80-95 km)
Sithonia is the middle peninsula, less developed and more scenic. The drive is 1.5-2.5 hours depending on the specific destination. As with Kassandra, taxis are metered plus tolls and transfer prices come from the operator's quote for your resort.
To Halkidiki — Ouranoupoli / Athos area (100 km)
Ouranoupoli is the gateway to Mount Athos. Allow 1.5-2 hours from the airport. Pricing works the same way: a metered taxi fare plus tolls, or an operator's transfer quote.
To Katerini / Pieria beaches (50 km south)
Taxi fares are metered; pre-booked transfers are priced by the operator — get a quote for your destination.
What affects the price
Night surcharge: Greek taxis apply Tariff 2 (the night rate) between midnight and 5 AM, a surcharge set by national regulation — check the current rate, since it is revised periodically.
Tolls: The Thessaloniki-Halkidiki road has tolls. These are typically included in transfer quotes but confirm at booking. Taxi meters exclude tolls — passengers pay them separately at the toll booth.
Vehicle size: Minivans typically cost more than a standard sedan and are worth considering for families on longer Halkidiki journeys — ask the operator for the price difference.
The bus vs everything else
For the city centre, the 2 EUR bus is the standout budget option with a fixed, published fare. For Halkidiki, there is no direct airport bus. The KTEL system covers Halkidiki from the city's central bus station (Makedonia Bus Terminal), but combining the airport bus with a second bus to the peninsula adds 1.5-2 hours to the journey and is impractical with holiday luggage.