Flights
Thessaloniki’s Makedonia International Airport (IATA code: SKG) is located 16 km (10 miles) from the city centre. Besides Greece’s Aegean Airlines, many foreign carriers use Thessaloniki for domestic and international flights. The number of connections varies, depending on the season. For more information about Makedonia Airport, please see their website.
From the airport, central Thessaloniki is easily reached by taxi or city bus.
Taxi
The journey from the airport to the city takes about 30-45 minutes depending on traffic. The approximate cost for the journey is € 20. A more expensive ‘night rate’ takes effect from midnight until 5am, so the taxi rate then will be about € 25.
An official taxi rank is situated right outside the Arrivals at the airport. Otherwise, you may also book your taxi drive through taxi way. All the taxi companies that operate in Thessaloniki are generally dependable. Nonetheless, it is advisable that you ask the driver what the estimated cost is and make sure the taximetre is set properly at the beginning of your journey.
Please note that taxis in Thessaloniki are dark blue.
City Bus
A public bus service runs every 30 minutes from a stop right outside the Arrivals exit. The journey to the city centre takes about 40 – 50 minutes. Single fare tickets cost € 2. Tickets can be purchased from vending machines on board, which only accept the exact change. The bus routes are: route no. X1 “KTEL – Airport ” & no. N1 “KTEL – Airport ” (Night Service). For more information you can either visit the relevant page on the airport website, or the website of the Thessaloniki Urban Transport (OASTH).
Please note that, although this is advertised as a “non-stop service”, it does in fact stop many times (every three bus stops in the city) during the journey. Moreover, it is almost always overcrowded, and thus not recommended.
Other Means
Thessaloniki is also accessible by train, coach, or car.
Train: The Central Train Station is located at 71 Monastiriou st, 4km away from the Conference venue. There are frequent trains from and to Athens and most Greek cities. A few international routes are offered, as well (from/to Sofia, Bucharest, Skopje, and Belgrade). For more information, please visit the website of Trainose, the Greek Railway Company.
Coach: The Intercity Bus Station (KTEL) Macedonia connects Thessaloniki to destinations in Greece and abroad (Istanbul, Tirana, Budapest, Bratislava, Prague, and certain cities in Germany). It is located 6 km away from the city centre (244 Giannitson st). For more information, please see their website.
Car: Thessaloniki can be reached by car via Egnatia Odos, the Greek part of the trans- European axle E90. You can plan your route through sites such as Viamichelin.
Tourism Services
Should you have any enquiries regarding Thessaloniki you can visit the Tourism Services of Thessaloniki website.