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Travel Information
Compare train, bus, ferry, and flight for Athens to Thessaloniki
Omio recommends booking the flight as it is the most popular option from Athens to Thessaloniki among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the flight, with an average ticket price of $99 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 3h 32m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a flight costs an average of $99, while a ferry costs an average of $118.
Distance: 188 miles (303 km)
Compare flight with
Most popular Flight | Ferry | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$99 Average price Cheapest | $118 Average price | $160 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
3h 32m Average total duration Fastest 1h 32m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 17h 43m Average total duration 16h 43m Onboard + 1h 0m Additional time* | 5h 23m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
 Most popular airline |  Most popular ferry company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Athens to Thessaloniki:
A train is $25 (€20) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Athens to Thessaloniki costing on average $50 (€40).
A train is $74 (€60) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Athens to Thessaloniki costing on average $99 (€80).
A train is $93 (€75) less than a ferry for this route with tickets for a ferry from Athens to Thessaloniki costing on average $118 (€95).
Other travel options to Thessaloniki take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 42m.
Bus takes on average 5h 56m.
Ferry takes on average 17h 43m.
You'll arrive about 3h 51m sooner (1h 32m by flight vs 5h 23m by car) and save roughly $61 (€49) compared to fuel and tolls ($99 (€80) vs $160 (€129)). You also avoid a long drive, giving you more time to relax or get on with your plans.
Driving is still worth considering if you want to stop along the way, are travelling with bulky luggage, or need a car at your destination.
Travel optionsfrom Athens to Thessaloniki
How to get from Athens to Thessaloniki by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Athens to Thessaloniki is by taking a flight because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- A313611:45 PM0h55Athens International Airport12:40 AMThessaloniki International Airport$1051One-way0 transfers
Cheapest
- A313611:45 PM0h55Athens International Airport12:40 AMThessaloniki International Airport$1051One-way0 transfers
Fastest
- A311411:20 AM0h50Athens International Airport12:10 PMThessaloniki International Airport$1871One-way0 transfers
Other options
GQ39011:35 PM0h55Athens International Airport12:30 AMThessaloniki International Airport$1171One-way0 transfers- GQ3889:00 PM0h55Athens International Airport9:55 PMThessaloniki International Airport$1661One-way0 transfers
- A31182:45 PM0h55Athens International Airport3:40 PMThessaloniki International Airport$1871One-way0 transfers
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights
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.
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How to Travel from Athens to Thessaloniki?
Visitors can travel from Athens to Thessaloniki by train, car, bus or flight. This is a popular route, with the train being the recommended mode of transport. The distance between the two cities is around 300 miles. It takes 4 hours and 23 minutes to reach Thessaloniki from Athens by train, 5 hours 45 minutes by bus, and less than an hour by plane.
What is the Cheapest Way to Get from Athens to Thessaloniki?
The cheapest way to travel from Athens to Thessaloniki is by bus, which takes 5 hours and 45 minutes. The trip is direct, and departs from Athens and arrives at Thessaloniki Monastiriou. There are several service operators for this route, including KTEL Thessalonikis, which travels every three hours daily with a trip duration of 5 hours and 45 minutes, and Eurobus SK, which travels once a week with a duration of 7 hours.
What is the Fastest Way to Travel from Athens to Thessaloniki?
Flying is the fastest way to travel from Athens to Thessaloniki. The trip takes just under an hour, but it is also the most expensive mode of transport compared to the others. The two most common Airlines that serve this route are Olympic Air and Ellinair, both of which service this route every day.
Find and Book with Omio the Best Tickets from Athens to Thessaloniki
Omio is a booking platform that allows you to compare and choose the best mode of transport to use from train, flight or bus to get you from Athens to Thessaloniki.
Travel from Athens to Thessaloniki by train
Taking the train from Athens to Thessaloniki is a safe, fast, and pleasant way to reach your destination, and the trip takes only 4 hours and 23 minutes. Some trains offer WiFi and plug sockets, and first-class passengers enjoy additional benefits. There are several trains that serve this route and which depart at different times, and there are additional night trains that reach Thessaloniki in around 5 hours. This route is serviced by Greek Railways (OSE), and trains depart every 4 hours.
Travel from Athens to Thessaloniki by bus
Traveling by bus from Athens to Thessaloniki is not only the cheapest option, but also offers many more departure times. There are several commonly used bus operators, namely KTEL Thessalonikis and KTEL Magnesias, which both travel every 3 to 4 hours daily with a trip duration of 5 hours 45 minutes. Trips offered by Eurobus SK and Korona Travel take 7 hours and trips are offered once a week. There are two different bus depots in Athens: KTEL Attika bus station and KTEL bus Station Kifissou. In Thessaloniki, buses arrive into either Monastiriou 67, which is close to the railway station, or Gianitson 244 near the center of Thessaloniki.
Travel from Athens to Thessaloniki by Plane
If you prefer a fast journey, the best way to travel from Athens to Thessaloniki is by plane. The trip takes just under an hour. The arrival airport is Makedonia (SKG) in Thessaloniki. You can fly with either Olympic Air (Aegean) or Ellinair, which are the two biggest Airlines in Greece. Ellinair offers this route twice a day, while Olympic Air offers 11. On arrival, you can take a pre-booked taxi to your accommodation or the city center. You can also take a bus into the city.
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FAQs: Travel from Athens to Thessaloniki
Travel to Thessaloniki easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Athens to Thessaloniki.
This is compared to other travel options from Athens to Thessaloniki:
A train is $25 (€20) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Athens to Thessaloniki costing on average $50 (€40).
A train is $74 (€60) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Athens to Thessaloniki costing on average $99 (€80).
A train is $93 (€75) less than a ferry for this route with tickets for a ferry from Athens to Thessaloniki costing on average $118 (€95).
Other travel options to Thessaloniki take longer:
Train takes on average 5h 42m.
Bus takes on average 5h 56m.
Ferry takes on average 17h 43m.
- Around 9 flights per day.
- Around 8 buses per day.
- Around 1 trains per day.
- Around 1 ferries per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Athens and Thessaloniki as scheduled services by train, bus, ferry, and flight can vary by season or day of the week.
- Flights mostly depart from Athens International Airport and arrive in Thessaloniki International Airport.
- Ferries mostly depart from Port of Piraeus and arrive in Port of Thessaloniki.
- Travel with KTEL Thessalonikis to go to Thessaloniki by bus.
- Travel with Blue Star Ferries, Seajets to go to Thessaloniki by ferry.
- Travel with Hellenic Train S.A. to go to Thessaloniki by train.
- Travel with Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air to go to Thessaloniki by flight.
- 8 direct buses per day with KTEL Thessalonikis.
- 1 direct ferries per day with Blue Star Ferries, Seajets.
- 1 direct trains per day with Hellenic Train S.A..
- 9 direct flights per day with Aegean Airlines.
Travelling from Athens to Thessaloniki: related information
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