Last Updated: June 30, 2022
Thessaloniki to Halkidiki: By Car, Bus & Private Transfer
Wondering how you can travel from Thessaloniki to Halkidiki? There are a few different options and we’ve explored them all in this detailed guide to traveling between the two regions in northern Greece!
Can you travel by train, are there any direct buses, and does it make sense to rent a car are just some of the questions we’ve answered in this guide. Read on to learn more about the quickest ways of traveling between Thessaloniki to Halkidiki and see which option fits best into your Greece travel itinerary!
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Distance From Thessaloniki To Halkidiki
The total distance between Thessaloniki and Halkidiki depends on a few things. First, it’s important to note that Thessaloniki is the second-largest city in Greece, but Halkidiki is a region. The region comprises a good chunk of northern Greece, and it encompasses a lot of different towns and villages.
The road distance from Thessaloniki to towns in the northern part of Halkidiki is approximately 70 kilometers. There are a few different roads and the distance varies between 68 and 76 kilometers, but it usually doesn’t take more than an hour and some change to traverse that in a car.
On the other hand, if you want to travel from Thessaloniki to a city or town in the southern part of the Halkidiki region, it will take longer. Toroni is one of the southernmost towns in the region, and it takes approximately two hours to traverse the 140-kilometer distance between the two towns.
In any case, the distance between Thessaloniki and Halkidiki is less than 150 kilometers, and it can be covered in less than two hours, depending on where exactly in the region you are heading.
By Car
Traveling by car is the best and cheapest way of getting from Thessaloniki to Halkidiki. The exact length of the journey depends on where exactly in Halkidiki you’re going to. It’s only about an hour’s drive from Thessaloniki to the towns in the north of the region, but you’re in for a 2-hour mini-road trip if you want to visit the town of Sarti, which is in southern Halkidiki.
If you are a confident driver, renting a car is probably the quickest and most convenient way of traveling from Thessaloniki to Halkidiki for you. You can rent a car at the Thessaloniki airport – car rental is not too expensive in Greece, and prices start at some $35 per day for a small passenger vehicle.
It’s important to note that there are multiple roads between the two towns, and it’s always best to check the traffic conditions with ELPA, the Automobile & Touring Club of Greece. They offer roadside assistance, as well as current information on traffic and the state of the roads.
It’s common for roads in Greece to be closed for maintenance or because of a traffic accident, which is why it’s always smart to check for any news before you set out on a trip.
Also, keep in mind that there really aren’t any big roads in the Halkidiki region. It doesn’t have any bigger cities, so there aren’t any highways or tolled roads here. On the one hand, that’s great because you don’t have to spend money on tolls, but that also means that the drive will take longer because of the lower speed limits on the smaller roads.
The roads in the Halkidiki region are sometimes curvy and they often pass through localities, so the speed limits are usually around 50 or 60 km/h. The speed limit on open roads in Greece is 110 km/h, and it’s 120 km/h on the highways.
By Bus
If you’re not keen on driving in Greece, you’ll be glad to know that it is possible to travel from Thessaloniki to Halkidiki by bus. There are bus stations throughout the Halkidiki region, so it should be possible to travel to any town you want – it just takes a bit of planning ahead.
Most busses depart from the Halkidiki bus station in the east of the city, but it’s also worth noting that there is a station near the Thessaloniki airport. KTEL buses operate in this region, and a lot of the stations will have the KTEL prefix in the name – the KTEL Halkidiki station, KTEL Halkidikis SA, KTEL BUS STOP at Nea Irakleia, and others.
It’s possible to check the bus schedule at the official website of the KTEL bus service, and you can even buy the tickets online. Bus ticket prices are readily available on the website, and it’s worth noting that the journey from Thessaloniki central bus station to Sarti costs a little less than 20 Euros. That’s not too bad, considering that this is the longest bus route from Thessaloniki airport to Halkidiki.
In addition to that, it’s also important to note that the website is in really good condition. You can see information about how many seats are available on the bus, and you can even choose exactly where you want to sit.
Overall, if you don’t want to rent a car and drive on your own and the taxi transport from Thessaloniki airport to Halkidiki is too expensive for you, traveling by direct bus is certainly the best option. Just find a KTEL station, buy an affordable ticket, and you might get to where you’re going in less than an hour!
By Taxi
Thessaloniki airport taxi is the most convenient way of traveling from the Thessaloniki international airport to the beautiful region of Halkidiki. However, it’s also the priciest option out of the bunch, and it’s certainly not worth considering if you’re traveling through Greece on a budget.
The prices start at 90 Euros for the transfer, and they go up to 150 Euros, depending on your final destination in Halkidiki. The taxi ride takes between one and two hours depending on where you’re headed, but at least you get dropped off exactly where you want to.
The taxi picks up passengers at the airport terminal and transfers them directly to their city of choice, but you can arrange a different pickup point if the airport isn’t very convenient for you.
It’s important that the best taxi transfer services in Greece all have an online presence, so it’s very easy to get information on the pickup date, time, passengers, and duration of the trip. Taxis can transfer a group of up to six passengers, so keep that in mind in case you’re traveling through Greece with a larger group.
By Private Helicopter Transfer
If you’ve got money to burn, the most convenient way of traveling between Thessaloniki and Halkidiki is to charter a private helicopter transfer. This is the quickest way of traveling between the two regions in northern Greece, and it’s an amazing opportunity to discover what the varied landscape of the country looks like from above.
Air taxis are common in Greece, and you can charter a helicopter in pretty much every big city. It’s even possible to charter small aircraft for day tours, and you should definitely consider something like this if you’ve got a big budget for your Greece trip. The only downside is that this isn’t a good solution for bigger groups, since aircraft have extremely limited seating.
We can’t tell you much about the prices for air transfers since the companies only give out quotes upon request. But we can tell you that there are several reputable companies that offer air transfer services in northern Greece, so you can compare quotes from different companies and go with the best option.
What About Planes, Trains, And Boats?
Unfortunately, the only way of traveling from the city of Thessaloniki to the Halkidiki region is by road. There are no planes, trains, or boats that transport passengers between these two parts of Greece.
Thessaloniki train station is one of the largest in the Balkans. It’s connected to all the major train stations in the Balkans including all the stations in Greece, but there aren’t any train stations in the Halkidiki region.
This region doesn’t have any major cities – it’s all small towns and villages, so there are no major traffic hubs. Halkidiki doesn’t have an airport, there aren’t any train stations, and there aren’t even any highways in the region.
On one hand, this is great because it means there are fewer crowds in the area because it isn’t quite as easily accessible, but on the other hand, it also means that it’s a hassle to reach your final destination.
It’s worth noting that the Thessaloniki ferry port is the closest port to Halkidiki and none of the seaside towns in the Halkidiki region offer ferries to the nearby Greek islands. If you were hoping to travel to some of the islands in the Northern Aegean, you should know that you can only do so from Thessaloniki.
About the Author Roger Timbrook
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!
