Passport & Visa

Citizens of European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries do not need a visa to enter Greece, only a valid ID. Many other countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Australia, and New Zealand, benefit from visa-free entry for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Visitors from visa-exempt countries must hold a valid passport and, starting in late 2025, will need to apply for an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) authorisation online before travelling. For those requiring a visa, such as travellers from some Middle-East, African or Asian nations, a Schengen visa must be obtained prior to arrival. All travellers should ensure their passport is valid for at least three months beyond their intended stay.

• Web:

  https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/visa-policy_en

Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia (SKG)

The Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia, in the area of Mikra, is the second largest airport in Greece and is linked with most destinations of Europe and Balkan countries in particular. Getting from the airport to the city centre will take you from 20 to 45 minutes, depending on the traffic. You can go to the centre of Thessaloniki using bus route X1 'KTEL – Airport'. It runs every 30-ish minutes and it takes approximately 45 minutes. You can buy a ticket at the kiosk before boarding or pay using exact change in a machine inside the bus.

• Web:

  www.skg-airport.gr/en

• E-mail:

  kacmtl@otenet.gr

• Address:

  Thessaloniki Airport, Thessaloniki

• Phone:

  +30 231 098 5000

Public Transport

You can cover most of the distances in the city on foot or using local buses. Tickets can be bought either at the kiosks or from the vending machines on the bus, 90 cents, exact change. If you buy the ticket on the bus, remember to have coins. All tickets must be validated and are usable for 70 minutes. Various kinds of day passes are also available. Google Maps is blissfully unaware of the bus system in Thessaloniki, so you'll have to install an app like Moovit to figure out how to get places.

• Web:

  www.oasth.gr/en

• E-mail:

  oasth@oasth.gr

• Phone:

  +30 231 098 1100

Taxi

Uber does operate in Thessaloniki, but it's simply used to call a municipal taxi to your location and does not give you a cost estimate. From the smaller streets, taxis can be hailed whenever you need one. On the major city streets, there are points with the sign 'TAXI'. You also find taxis standing on piazzas or outside the hotels. You can also book online through Taxiway.

• Web:

  www.taxiway.gr

• E-mail:

  info@taxiway.gr

• Phone:

  +30 231 086 6866

Electricity

In Greece, the standard power outlets are Type F and Type C which are compatible with most European plugs. The voltage is 230V, and the frequency is 50Hz.

FAQ

Is Thessaloniki the same as Thessalonica? Yes. Thessalonica was the most common spelling in early 20th century, which later changed to Salonika, and finally to the version we have now. In English, the city can be called Thessaloniki, Salonika, Thessalonica, Salonica, Thessalonika, Saloniki, Thessalonike, or Thessalonice. Is Thessaloniki in northern Greece? Yes. Thessaloniki is located at the northwest corner of the Aegean Sea, on the Thermaic Gulf. However 'north' does not mean 'cold'. Expect sunny weather and perfect beach conditions from April to late September. Are there beaches in Thessaloniki? There are no beaches in the city centre, since Thessaloniki is a port city. Nevertheless, you can easily reach sandy beaches by boat, car or bus. Alternatively, explore the Halkidiki area after a few days in the city. Thessaloniki's Macedonia airport is very well connected.