The Terminals of Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG)
Thessaloniki "Makedonia" Airport (SKG) has two terminal buildings — Terminal 1, the original terminal, and Terminal 2, opened in 2021 — which together handle every domestic and international flight in northern Greece. Both are run by Fraport Greece, which modernised the airport and built T2, and they work as a single complex: connected landside by an internal walkway and merged into one shared area once you are through security. In practice the terminal on your boarding pass matters at check-in, but not once you are airside.
Terminal 1 and Terminal 2: what is the difference?
Terminal 2 is the newer, larger building and the airport's main hub, with modern check-in halls, the main security screening and most of the boarding gates, plus the bulk of the shops, cafés and duty-free. Terminal 1, the refurbished original, handles the remaining check-in desks and gates. Both have arrivals on the ground floor and departures on the level above, and both feed the same airside zone — so whichever terminal you clear security in, you can reach any gate, and a last-minute gate change between buildings is never a problem once you are through.
Which terminal do I need?
Your terminal is printed on your boarding pass and shown on the departure screens, and that is always the figure to trust, because airlines are reassigned from time to time. As a rough guide, most full-service and Greek carriers — Aegean, Olympic Air, Lufthansa, Austrian, Eurowings and SAS among them — use Terminal 2, while several others, including British Airways, easyJet, Turkish Airlines and Wizz Air, use Terminal 1. For the carriers flying each route and season, see our Thessaloniki Airport airlines guide. If you are arriving, just follow the signs to baggage reclaim — both terminals' arrivals lead to the same forecourt.
As a general rule, plan to arrive at SKG about two hours before a Schengen flight, and three hours for non-Schengen departures or during the busy summer peak, when the check-in and security queues are at their longest.
Getting around inside the airport
SKG is compact and easy to cross. The two terminals are joined by an internal walkway you can cover on foot in a few minutes, with lifts and ramps for step-free access and clear bilingual signage in Greek and English throughout. No shuttle bus is needed — everything is walkable. Arrivals and baggage reclaim are on the ground floor; check-in and, past security, the gates are on the upper level.
Facilities and lounges
Across both buildings, facilities include: check-in counters for Schengen, non-Schengen and domestic flights (Terminal 2 alone has around 28), boarding gates, duty-free and retail, and cafés, bakeries and restaurants both landside and airside. You will also find free Wi-Fi, ATMs, a pharmacy, baby-care rooms, and car-rental desks a short walk from arrivals; for the current list of shops and services, the official airport website is the best reference.
There are four airside business lounges: the Aegean Business Lounge, Prima Vista, "The Lounge" Thessaloniki, and Skyserv. Access is by airline status, a lounge-membership scheme or paid entry, depending on the lounge.
Getting to and from the terminals
Everything for ground transport is in the Arrivals area. The airport bus stop is in front of Exit 4 — the 1X and 1N buses run to the city centre — and the official taxi rank sits between the two terminals, between Exit 3 and Exit 4. Car parks and rental desks are a short walk away. For every way into the city, see our airport-to-city-centre guide; if you would rather skip the queues, a pre-booked private transfer (such as GetTransfer.com) can meet you at arrivals and take you straight to your hotel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I walk between the terminals after security?
Yes. Behind security the two terminals share one airside zone, so once you are through you can reach any gate on foot without leaving or clearing security again.
Are shops and services open late at night at Thessaloniki Airport?
The airport handles early-morning and late-night flights, but it is not a 24-hour shopping hub — many shops, food outlets and desks open and close with the flight schedule, so expect limited services in the small hours.
Which terminal does Aegean use at Thessaloniki Airport?
Terminal 2, along with the other full-service carriers. Always confirm on your boarding pass, as assignments can change at busy times.
