If you’re heading to northern Greece, Thessaloniki is your gateway. It’s Greece’s second-largest city and serves as the main airport for the entire northern region – meaning access to Halkidiki beaches, Mount Olympus, traditional mountain villages, and a vibrant urban center with excellent food, Byzantine history, and significantly fewer tourists than Athens.

Thessaloniki International Airport “Macedonia” (SKG) handles around 7 million passengers annually and connects directly to dozens of European cities plus select Middle Eastern destinations. It’s smaller and less chaotic than Athens airport, which honestly makes it more pleasant to navigate.

Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG)

The airport sits about 13-17km southeast of Thessaloniki city center, depending on which source you trust. Either way, it’s close. You can reach downtown in 25-40 minutes depending on your transportation choice.

It’s a modern, efficient airport that was expanded and renovated in recent years. Facilities include shops, restaurants, cafes, free WiFi, ATMs, currency exchange, car rental desks, and all the standard airport amenities. It’s split into two terminals (A for domestic, B for international), though they’re connected and easy to navigate.

Getting to/from Thessaloniki City Center

Airport Bus (01X and 01N) is the cheapest option by far. The 01X runs during the day while the 01N operates at night (roughly 11pm-6am). Buses depart every 20-25 minutes during the day and connect the airport to the city center in about 40-45 minutes, terminating at KTEL bus station. You should however get off at Platia Aristotelous/Kamara (in the city center).

Tickets cost €2 if you buy from the kiosk or pay exact change on the bus (€1.80 if you somehow have exactly that in coins, but the machines don’t give change so most people pay €2). It’s straightforward. Bus stops are clearly marked outside Arrivals, and the buses are modern and air-conditioned. If you’re traveling light, this is unbeatable value.

Taxis use fixed flat rates to the historic city center, which is brilliant because you know the price upfront. Day rate (5am-midnight) is €25, night rate (midnight-5am) is €35. The journey takes 25-30 minutes under normal traffic conditions.

Taxis line up outside both terminals. Look for the blue cars with white roofs and “TAXI” signs. They’re regulated and legitimate. Most drivers don’t accept cards, so bring cash euros. If your destination is outside the historic center, they’ll use the meter instead of the flat rate.

Pre-booked private transfers cost around €25-30 and offer the convenience of someone meeting you with your name on a sign. Worth considering if you’re arriving late, have lots of luggage, or just want zero hassle. Services like Welcome Pickups get consistently good reviews.

The Thessaloniki Metro Main Line is now operational, but it does not go directly to the airport. The line ends at Mikra (coming 2026), where you must transfer to a shuttle bus to reach the terminal.

Rental cars are available from all major companies if you’re planning to explore northern Greece, Halkidiki, or drive to other regions. You don’t need a car in Thessaloniki itself – the city center is compact and walkable -but having one opens up the surrounding areas brilliantly.

Airlines Flying to Thessaloniki

Within Europe

Thessaloniki has excellent European connections with around 28 airlines serving the airport from 88+ destinations across 32 countries.

Budget airlines dominate the routes. Ryanair is the biggest operator, flying from 33 European airports including London, Brussels, Berlin, Milan, and various German cities. easyJet serves 16 destinations including multiple UK airports (London Gatwick, Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh). Wizz Air covers Central and Eastern Europe extensively.
Flights from major European cities to Thessaloniki can be ridiculously cheap if you book early and travel light – sometimes under €50 round-trip from cities like Berlin, London, or Milan. The usual budget airline caveats apply (extra fees for everything), but the base fares are excellent.

Legacy carriers serving Thessaloniki include Aegean Airlines (Greece’s flag carrier and biggest operator), Lufthansa, British Airways, Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Air France, and others. Aegean alone flies from 99+ destinations, making them the dominant player. They’re part of Star Alliance, offer decent service, and include checked bags.

German connectivity is particularly strong: 13 German airports have direct flights to Thessaloniki, reflecting the large number of German tourists visiting northern Greece and Halkidiki.

From Outside of Europe

There aren’t any transatlantic flights. If you’re coming from North America, you’ll connect through a European hub (usually Athens, Frankfurt, Munich, or Paris) or Middle Eastern hub (Istanbul, Dubai, Doha).

The Athens connection is often the most logical. Fly internationally to Athens, then catch a quick 50-minute domestic flight to Thessaloniki. Multiple flights run daily between Athens (ATH) and Thessaloniki (SKG).

Middle East connections are available via Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Tel Aviv (multiple Israeli carriers plus Wizz Air), and seasonal routes to Yerevan and Tbilisi. These connections can offer cheaper fares from Asia, Australia, or even North America if you don’t mind the extra stop.

There aren’t also any direct intercontinental flights that operate to Thessaloniki from the Americas, Africa (except Middle East/North Africa), or Asia-Pacific regions. Everything requires at least one connection.

Domestic Flights

Thessaloniki connects to the Greek islands and cities via Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air, and Sky Express. Popular routes include Athens (multiple daily flights), Crete (Heraklion and Chania), Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Kos, and several others.

Domestic flights are affordable, typically €40-100 one-way depending on how far ahead you book and the season. If you’re island-hopping and want to skip the long ferry rides from Athens, flying via Thessaloniki can save serious time.

Customs & Immigration

For EU/Schengen Passengers

If you’re arriving from another EU/Schengen country, you’ll walk straight through with essentially no checks. Just follow “Arrivals” signs and you’re out in minutes. Easy.

For Non-Schengen Passengers

Coming from outside the Schengen zone (UK, US, Canada, Australia, etc.) means going through passport control. Greece uses automated e-gates for many nationalities, which speeds things up significantly.

The process is generally quick—scan your passport at the e-gate, look at the camera, and you’re through. Even during busy periods, expect 15-30 minutes maximum. Immigration officers are professional and the process is straightforward.

Customs uses the standard three-channel system:

• Green channel: Nothing to declare (most people use this and walk straight through without stopping)
• Red channel: Goods to declare or items exceeding limits
• Blue channel: EU passengers (no routine checks)

Realistically, unless you’re carrying restricted items or large amounts of cash/goods, you’ll breeze through customs without anyone stopping you.

When to Book Flights to Thessaloniki

Timing your booking makes a huge difference in what you’ll pay.

How Far in Advance

Summer travel (June-August): Book 8-12 months ahead if possible, especially if you’re going in July or August when demand peaks. Prices climb steadily as availability decreases.

Shoulder season (April-May, September-October): Book 2-6 months out. You’ll find good prices without needing to plan nearly a year ahead, and the weather in Thessaloniki is excellent during these months—warm but not scorching, fewer crowds, lower accommodation prices.

Winter travel (November-March): You can book 1-3 months out and still find deals. Thessaloniki in winter is cold but not unbearable, and if you’re interested in the city’s cultural side rather than beach time, it’s a good option.

General wisdom: booking around 45-60 days before departure typically yields the best average prices. Prices tend to jump at 21 days, 14 days, and 7 days out, so avoid last-minute bookings unless you find a specific deal.

Cheapest Months

January and February are typically the cheapest months to fly to Thessaloniki, followed by November and December. If you can handle cooler weather and aren’t fussed about swimming, you’ll save significantly.

October and April offer the best balance — pleasant weather, fewer tourists, reasonable prices, and everything’s still open. May and September are also excellent but slightly pricier as they’re peak shoulder season.

July and August are the most expensive, often 30-50% higher than other months. If your dates are at all flexible, avoid peak summer.

Best Days

Flying midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday) is generally cheaper than weekends. Sunday bookings statistically offer better prices than Friday bookings, though this isn’t guaranteed.

If you’re watching prices over time, consider booking on a Sunday or Monday for potentially better deals.

Booking Your Flights to Thessaloniki: Do It Yourself or Travel Agent?

Book it yourself if you’re comfortable searching online, your itinerary is straightforward (direct flight or simple connection), you want control over airline and times, and you’re flexible if plans change.

Our trusted affiliate is a good option. Once you find the flight you want, book directly through them. Or go to the airline’s website – it’s often the same price and makes changes or customer service easier.

Set price alerts if you’re booking months ahead. You’ll get notified when prices drop and can decide whether to wait or lock in your booking.

Use a travel agent if you’re booking complex multi-city itineraries, organizing group travel for 10+ people, want package deals (flight + hotel), aren’t confident booking online, or want someone to handle logistics if issues arise.

Travel agents can sometimes access bulk fares or package deals unavailable to individuals. The convenience fee might be worth it for complicated trips.

Other Things Worth Knowing Before Flying into Thessaloniki

Connecting through Thessaloniki works well if you’re flying internationally to SKG then catching a domestic flight to an island or Athens. Leave at least 2 hours between flights to clear customs, collect bags, and re-check in. The airport is small enough that this should be sufficient.

Multi-city tickets can save backtracking. Consider flying into Athens and out of Thessaloniki (or vice versa) if you’re exploring multiple regions of Greece. The price difference is usually minimal and you avoid retracing your route.

Budget airline gotchas apply here too—read the fine print on baggage allowances, seat selection fees, and change policies. What looks like a €30 flight can become €80 with fees. Not a problem if you’re aware and pack accordingly.

Student discounts: If you’re 18-25, Aegean Airlines offers 15% off every booking through their genAIRation program, plus other perks. Worth signing up if you’re in that age range and flying Aegean.

Uber exists but only as Uber Taxi in Thessaloniki, partnering with licensed local taxis. It’s useful for transparency on pricing and paying by card even if the driver doesn’t have a machine. Regular taxis work fine too and are affordable.

Note: this page includes links that may qualify as affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission.

Photo credit: Hombre via Wikimedia