Thessaloniki is a gentle airport to land at with young children: it is small, the walk through it is short, and most Halkidiki beach resorts are under two hours away. Two things still catch families out, and both are worth settling before you fly — the Greek rules on carrying a child in a car, and how you move a pushchair, a car seat and overtired kids from the terminal to the hotel. Here is how each one works at Thessaloniki Airport (SKG).
Do you need a child car seat in Greece?
Yes, and the rule is stricter than many visitors realise. Greek law requires a child under 12 years old and shorter than 135 cm to travel in a child restraint suited to their size. That covers rear-facing seats for babies, forward-facing seats for toddlers, and booster cushions for older children until they reach the height or age limit. The rule applies to every vehicle on Greek roads, including your own car and a rental car.
| Your child | What the law expects |
|---|---|
| Under 3 years | A suitable child restraint (infant carrier or toddler seat); should not travel unrestrained |
| 3 to 11 years, under 135 cm | A child seat or booster matched to their weight and height |
| 12 years or taller than 135 cm | The standard adult seat belt is allowed |
Taxis are the exception worth understanding. A child is allowed to ride in the back seat of a taxi without a seat, so a driver at the rank will take your family whether or not you have one. That makes it legal, but not safe: the airport road runs straight onto the fast dual carriageway toward Halkidiki, which is no place for a toddler on a lap. Taxis almost never carry seats of their own, and car rental desks rent them only as a paid extra you should reserve in advance, since summer stock is thin. The dependable way to arrive with a seat already fitted is a pre-booked private transfer — you request an infant or child seat when you reserve, and it is installed and waiting at arrivals. A flight-tracked car booked through GetTransfer.com adds the seat at the booking stage and gives one fixed price to your resort. Under the 2025 Highway Code, driving with a child who is not properly restrained can cost up to €350 per child and, in serious cases, a short suspension of the licence.
Getting from the airport to your hotel with children
For a family with real luggage heading to a Halkidiki resort, a door-to-door transfer is usually the calmest arrival: no folding the pushchair, no reloading at a change, no queuing at a stop in the afternoon heat. Our airport-to-Halkidiki guide sets the transfer, taxi, bus and rental options side by side, with times and rough costs for each.
The budget route into the city is the 1X and 1N bus for a €2.00 fare, with children under six travelling free. OSETH's rules allow one open pushchair per bus when the driver judges there is room; otherwise you fold it and hold the child, as the transport authority OSETH sets out. Be realistic about the crush, though: in July and August the 1X fills with arriving passengers and their suitcases, and finding space for a pram and two children on a busy run is genuinely hard. The bus suits a light-travelling couple with one small child; a bigger family is better off with a transfer or a metered airport taxi, the taxi only if you bring your own seat. If you would rather drive yourself, families often rent a car at the airport — book the child seat together with the car rather than hoping one is spare on arrival.
Through the terminal with a pushchair
Thessaloniki Airport is a single, compact passenger terminal, which helps with children: walking distances are short, and you can keep a child in the pushchair almost to the gate. The operator lists baby care rooms among its family facilities on the official SKG website, useful for a feed or a change before a flight. On the practical side, gate-check the pushchair at the aircraft door rather than folding it early, carry snacks and water since the shops sit past security, and leave a little extra time at passport control, where families with young children can sometimes use a shorter lane. After a late-night landing the predictability of a pre-booked car matters even more, which is where the guide to arriving at SKG after midnight goes into detail.
A family day out close to the airport: Waterland
If your trip has a spare day at either end, Waterland is an easy hit with children. It is northern Greece's largest water park, set in Tagarades a short drive south-east of the terminal and right on the road toward Halkidiki, so it fits a first afternoon or a last day before an evening flight. Alongside the big slides there is a dedicated children's pool, and the park's location and opening times are on the Waterland website. The free seasonal shuttle runs from Thessaloniki city centre rather than the airport, so from the SKG side a taxi or rental car is the direct way in — and because the park sits on the airport side of the city, you reach it without crossing Thessaloniki's traffic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do taxis at Thessaloniki Airport provide child seats?
No. Greek taxis are not obliged to carry child seats and rarely do. A child may legally ride in the back of a taxi without one, but it is not safe on the fast road to Halkidiki, so either bring your own seat or book a private transfer and request the seat when you reserve.
Can I take a pushchair on the 1X airport bus?
Yes, within limits. The transport rules allow one open pushchair per bus if the driver judges there is space; otherwise you fold it and hold the child. It is manageable with one small child and light bags, but hard in peak summer, when the bus is crowded and you are carrying a pram and full luggage.
Do children pay on the bus from the airport?
Children under six travel free on the city buses, and the standard fare for everyone else on the 1X into Thessaloniki is €2.00. There is no separate airport surcharge.
Summary
Sort the car seat before you fly — it is the one thing that can go wrong at the door and the one thing a Greek taxi will not fix for you. For Halkidiki with young children and full luggage, a pre-booked transfer with a fitted seat is usually the calmest and often the best-value door-to-door choice; the 1X bus is fine for a light-travelling couple with one small child; a rental car earns its place only if you reserve the seat with it. Settle that at home, and the compact terminal, the short beach transfer and a day at Waterland take care of themselves.
