The cheapest and fastest buses from Thessaloniki to Athens
Cheapest price
$50
Average price
$50
Fastest journey
5 h 45 m
Average duration
5 h 45 m
Buses per day
9
Distance
303 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Thessaloniki to Athens is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Thessaloniki to Athens will cost around $50 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $50.
Of the 9 buses that leave Thessaloniki for Athens on Wed, May 27, 9 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Wed, May 27 the direct buses cover the 303 km distance in an average of 5 h 45 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 5 h 45 m .
On Wed, May 27 the slowest buses will take 5 h 45 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
12:15 AM5h45Thessaloniki6:00 AMAthens$501One-way0 transfers
7:15 AM5h45Thessaloniki1:00 PMAthens$501One-way0 transfers
10:15 AM5h45Thessaloniki4:00 PMAthens$501One-way0 transfers
12:15 PM5h45Thessaloniki6:00 PMAthens$501One-way0 transfers
1:45 PM5h45Thessaloniki7:30 PMAthens$501One-way0 transfers
12:15 AM5h45Thessaloniki6:00 AMAthens$501One-way0 transfers
7:15 AM5h45Thessaloniki1:00 PMAthens$501One-way0 transfers
10:15 AM5h45Thessaloniki4:00 PMAthens$501One-way0 transfers
12:15 PM5h45Thessaloniki6:00 PMAthens$501One-way0 transfers
1:45 PM5h45Thessaloniki7:30 PMAthens$501One-way0 transfers
Travel Information
Compare train, bus, ferry, and flight for Thessaloniki to Athens
Omio recommends booking the flight as it is the most popular option from Thessaloniki to Athens among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the train with prices starting from $25. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 2h 2m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a train costs an average of $25, and a flight costs an average of $69.
Distance: 188 miles (303 km)
Compare bus with
| Bus | Most popular Flight | Ferry | Train | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
$50 Average price | $123 Average price | $120 Average price | $25 Average price Cheapest | $157 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
7h 20m Average total duration 6h 50m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 2m Average total duration Fastest 2h 2m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 17h 23m Average total duration 16h 23m Onboard + 1h 0m Additional time* | 5h 38m Average total duration 5h 8m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 21m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Thessaloniki to Athens:
A train is $25 (€20) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Thessaloniki to Athens costing on average $50 (€40).
A train is $95 (€77) less than a ferry for this route with tickets for a ferry from Thessaloniki to Athens costing on average $120 (€97).
A train is $98 (€79) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Thessaloniki to Athens costing on average $123 (€99).
Other travel options to Athens take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 8m.
Bus takes on average 6h 50m.
Ferry takes on average 16h 23m.
Tickets start at around $50 (€40) compared to roughly $157 (€126) in fuel and tolls — a saving of about $107 (€86). The journey takes 6h 50m versus 5h 21m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can use the time productively rather than spending it behind the wheel. No parking to sort, no fuel stops, and most coaches have Wi-Fi and power outlets.
Direct services are operated by KTEL Thessalonikis.
Driving is worth considering if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), or want the flexibility to stop along the way.
Thessaloniki to Athens Bus Timetables
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator KTEL Thessalonikis | Departure Time 12:15AM | Arrival Time 06:00AM | Duration 5h45 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $50 |
Operator KTEL Thessalonikis | Departure Time 07:15AM | Arrival Time 01:00PM | Duration 5h45 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $50 |
Operator KTEL Thessalonikis | Departure Time 10:15AM | Arrival Time 04:00PM | Duration 5h45 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $50 |
Operator KTEL Thessalonikis | Departure Time 12:15PM | Arrival Time 06:00PM | Duration 5h45 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $50 |
Operator KTEL Thessalonikis | Departure Time 01:45PM | Arrival Time 07:30PM | Duration 5h45 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $50 |
Operator KTEL Thessalonikis | Departure Time 03:15PM | Arrival Time 09:00PM | Duration 5h45 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $50 |
Operator KTEL Thessalonikis | Departure Time 04:45PM | Arrival Time 10:30PM | Duration 5h45 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $50 |
Operator KTEL Thessalonikis | Departure Time 06:15PM | Arrival Time 12:00AM | Duration 5h45 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $50 |
Operator KTEL Thessalonikis | Departure Time 11:15PM | Arrival Time 05:00AM | Duration 5h45 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $50 |
Live departures
Thessaloniki to Athens bus times
The table below shows live departures for Thessaloniki to Athens buses for today, Tuesday, May 26. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 11:15 PM Thessaloniki | 5h45 | 5:00 AM Athens | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Wednesday, May 27 | |||||
![]() | 12:15 AM Thessaloniki | 5h45 | 6:00 AM Athens | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 7:15 AM Thessaloniki | 5h45 | 1:00 PM Athens | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 10:15 AM Thessaloniki | 5h45 | 4:00 PM Athens | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 12:15 PM Thessaloniki | 5h45 | 6:00 PM Athens | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 1:45 PM Thessaloniki | 5h45 | 7:30 PM Athens | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 3:15 PM Thessaloniki | 5h45 | 9:00 PM Athens | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 4:45 PM Thessaloniki | 5h45 | 10:30 PM Athens | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 6:15 PM Thessaloniki | 5h45 | 12:00 AM Athens | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Thessaloniki to Athens by train, bus, ferry, or flight
Compare train, bus, ferry, and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
May 27
May 28
May 29
May 30
May 31
Jun 01
Jun 02
Jun 03
Jun 04
Jun 05
Jun 06
Jun 07
Jun 08
Jun 09
Jun 10
Jun 11
Jun 12
Jun 13
Jun 14
Jun 15
Jun 16
Why should you book Thessaloniki to Athens buses with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs Infobus?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for Infobus, but also compare tickets for the likes of KTEL Thessalonikis to find the best option for your trip from Thessaloniki to Athens.
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare Infobus with all available travel options, which are train, bus, ferry and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Thessaloniki to Athens.
Why book with Omio over Busbud or Checkmybus?
- Official reseller: Infobus tickets can only be bought on Omio or Infobus's website as Omio is the only official third party seller for Infobus tickets. Busbud or Checkmybus do not sell Infobus tickets as they are not official sellers.
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including train, bus, ferry and flight to find the ideal travel option from Thessaloniki to Athens.
Journey information
Overview: Bus from Thessaloniki to Athens
Buses from Thessaloniki to Athens run on average 8 times per day, taking around 6h 50m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $50 (€40) but you can travel from only $25 (€20) by train.
There are 8 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:15, the last at 23:15. The fastest bus covers the 188 miles (303 km) distance in 5h 45m.
Distance 188 miles (303 km) |
Average bus duration 6h 50m |
Cheapest ticket price $50 (€40) |
Buses per day 8 |
Direct buses 8 |
Fastest bus 5h 45m |
First bus 12:15 AM |
Last bus 11:15 PM |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Wed |
Least Busy Day Sun |
Bus providers: Infobus, KTEL Thessalonikis from Thessaloniki to AthensYou can travel by bus between Thessaloniki to Athens with Infobus, KTEL Thessalonikis for as low as $25 (€20). When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
Infobus
KTEL Thessalonikis
FAQs: Bus from Thessaloniki to Athens
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Thessaloniki to Athens by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Athens, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

- Infobus
- Assistance
- Priority seating
- Transport for wheelchairs and mobility aids.
- Acropolis of Athens, an ancient citadel featuring iconic structures like the Parthenon and offering panoramic views of the city
- Acropolis Museum, a modern museum housing artifacts from the Acropolis and providing insights into ancient Greek civilization
- Ancient Agora of Athens, a historic site that was once the heart of public life in Athens, featuring ruins and a reconstructed Stoa
- National Archaeological Museum, Greece's largest museum, showcasing an extensive collection of artifacts from various archaeological locations across the country
- Plaka, a charming historic neighborhood with narrow streets, neoclassical architecture, and vibrant local shops and cafes.
- Mount Lycabettus, enjoy panoramic views of Athens from the city's highest point
- Explore the vibrant Monastiraki Flea Market, where you can find antiques, souvenirs, and local crafts
- Visit the Panathenaic Stadium, the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble and host of the first modern Olympic Games
- Take a stroll through the National Garden of Athens, a peaceful oasis in the heart of the city
- Experience a traditional Greek performance at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, an ancient stone theatre.
- Infobus
- You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before departure for a partial refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may incur a fee.
- Infobus
- One carry-on bag up to 5kg (40x20x25) and one checked bag up to 20kg (50x30x80).
- Infobus
- 10€ per additional bag.
- Infobus
- Small pets allowed in carriers
- larger pets may require a separate ticket.
Most popular bus connections from Thessaloniki
More options for your journey from Thessaloniki to Athens
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
