From Thessaloniki Airport to Halkidiki: Your Options
Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) is the gateway to the beaches of Halkidiki, with the Kassandra peninsula roughly 1 to 1.5 hours away by road and Sithonia about 1.5 to 2 hours. There is no direct scheduled bus from the airport to the resorts, so you choose between a pre-booked transfer, a taxi, a rental car, or the budget route by public bus via the KTEL terminal.
| Option | Approx. time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-booked transfer | 1–2 h door-to-door | Fixed price agreed upfront, driver meets you |
| Taxi | 1–2 h | Long route — agree the fare before you set off |
| Rental car | 1–2 h | Most flexible for exploring the peninsulas |
| Public bus (via KTEL) | 2.5–4 h total | Cheapest, two legs with a change in the city |
By Pre-booked Transfer
For most travellers heading to a Halkidiki resort, a pre-booked private transfer is the simplest door-to-door option: the driver meets you in Arrivals, tracks your flight if it runs late, and the price is fixed in advance, which matters on a route this long. Child seats are usually available on request. It is the comfortable choice with luggage, children, or a late-night arrival.
By Taxi
Taxis wait at the official rank in the Arrivals area, between Terminals 1 and 2. Halkidiki is a long, inter-city run rather than a metered hop, so agree the fare with the driver before you set off, and expect a higher tariff between 00:00 and 05:00. For a guaranteed price it is safer to book the car ahead.
By Rental Car
If you plan to explore beyond your resort, a rental car from the airport is the most flexible option: the desks sit on the Arrivals level, and you drive out straight onto the motorway south. Count on about 1 to 1.5 hours to Kassandra and 1.5 to 2 hours to Sithonia, and book early for July and August, when the cheapest cars sell out first.
By Public Bus — the Budget Route
There is no direct line, but the budget route works with light luggage: take OSETH bus 79 from Arrivals (Exit 4) to the Eastern Bus Transfer Station by IKEA, continue the short hop to the KTEL Chalkidikis intercity terminal, and board a coach toward Kassandra or Sithonia. The airport leg costs €2.00; the intercity fare depends on your destination, so check the KTEL Chalkidikis timetable for your resort. Allow 2.5 to 4 hours in total, depending on connections.
Kassandra or Sithonia: How Far Is Your Resort?
Kassandra is the nearer peninsula: its first resorts are roughly an hour from the airport, and the far end around 1.5 hours. Sithonia lies further east, so most of its resorts take 1.5 to 2 hours by car. If you land in the evening, factor the drive into your plans; a pre-booked car or transfer saves queuing after a long flight.
Quick Tips
- Book ahead in summer. Transfers, taxis and rental cars are all in heavy demand in July and August.
- Agree taxi fares upfront. The route is outside the metered city zone.
- Heavy luggage or kids? A transfer or rental beats the two-leg bus route.
- Heading to the city instead? See getting from the airport to the city centre.
