It’s very easy to get from Thessaloniki to Halkidiki with public transportation. It just takes a little bit of planning. The Halkidiki bus station is just to the east of town. Thessaloniki city buses from town can take you there quickly, as can a taxi.
There’s also convenient bus that connects Thessaloniki Airport with the Halkidiki bus station if you would like to go there directly from the airport.
Halkidiki is Northern Greece’s premier destination for outstanding beaches, culture, socializing, and entertainment. Here’s a complete Halkidiki Travel Guide, covering the best beaches, sights, and charming villages.
Since Halkidiki is so close to Thessaloniki, it’s really worth combining your beach holiday with a city break. Thessaloniki -famous for culture and nightlife is a great place to taste the best of urban Mediterranean lifestyle.
Related post: Best Things to do in Thessaloniki – Sights, Activities, and Cultural Experiences
How to Get from Thessaloniki to Halkidiki
It’s very easy to get from Thessaloniki to Halkidiki. Many locals drive, but it’s also very convenient to take a bus – or “KTEL” – from Thessaloniki to the Halkidiki beaches.
There’s a separate KTEL Halkidiki Bus Station that services all of Halkidiki – this is not the main KTEL Makedonia Bus Station. The distance from Thessaloniki to Halkidiki varies, depending on where you want to go.
Thessaloniki to Halkidiki Bus
All buses for Halkidiki leave from the Halkidiki Bus Station, in the east of the city.
The bus 45 connects the Thessaloniki central bus station – “KTEL Makedonia – Halkidiki Bus Station – “KTEL Halkidiki.” This buses run through the center of town. It stops at the Train Station, then makes selected stops along Egnatia Street, including Kolombo, Antigonidon, Aristotle Square, and Kamara. For more information, please see here.
The buses may say “Mediterranean Cosmos” – the shopping center just after the Halkidiki Bus Station. Confirm with the driver that the bus goes to KTEL Halkidiki as you board.
Thessaloniki Airport to Halkidiki
The bus stop is directly outside the arrivals area. With the airport terminal at your back, you’ll see the bus stop at the right-hand end of the arrivals pick up area.
Several buses stop here. The 79A and the 79B take you to the KTEL Halkidiki bus station.
How to Get a Ticket for the Bus at the Thessaloniki Airport
There is a ticket booth right by the bus stop. Alternatively, you can also get your ticket on board the bus from a ticket machine.
Note that the ticket machines on board accept only coins – no paper money – and that they do not give change. The fare for the 79A or 79B is €0,90. You can only buy one ticket at a time.
Thessaloniki Airport Buses – the 79A, the 79B, the 01X, and the 1N
Four OASTH buses stop at the arrivals area of the Thessaloniki airport. To get from the Thessaloniki Airport to Halkidiki, you take the bus 79A. The 79A and the 79B make a loop connecting IKEA – a central hub for changing buses – and the KTEL Halkidiki Bus Station. The 79A goes from IKEA to Thessaloniki Makedonia Airport to the KTEL Halkidiki Bus Station. The 79B goes from the KTEL Halkidikis to the Airport and then to IKEA.
The Express Thessaloniki Airport Bus
The 01X and the 1N are express buses linking the Thessaloniki Makedonia Airport with the KTEL Makedonia Bus Station to the west of the city, via the city center. The 01X and the 1N buses do not serve to the KTEL Halkidiki station.
From the KTEL Makedonia bus station, you can catch buses to nearly everywhere in Greece except Halkidiki – like Alexandroupoli, Athens, Volos. There are even buses that go to island destinations- like Evia, Lefkada, Chania (you pay for the ferry separately).
Here’s more detailed information about the Airport Express buses.
The Schedule for the 79A and 79B Airport Buses
The 79 A and the 79 B run approximately every 30 minutes throughout the day, beginning at 6 am, with the last bus departing shortly after 21:30. For detailed information please check here.
This is not a problem, because the KTEL Halkidiki buses stop running earlier in the evening than that. Some leave as late as 21:00. But for other destinations, the last departure can be as early as the middle of the day.
Please note: it may look like there is a queue, but as soon as the bus arrives everyone will just crowd on.
The KTEL Halkidiki (Chalkidiki) Bus Station
The KTEL Halkidiki (Chalkidiki) services all three areas of the Halkidiki peninsula: Kassandra- the first leg, Sithonia- the middle leg, and Ouranoupoli- the area above the Mount Athos peninsula.
Find complete KTEL Halkidiki schedules and fare information here.
Especially in the high season, buses can fill up quickly. You can buy a ticket in advance using this link.
Dear sir/madam
Please can you advise if it is possible for me to travel by bus from halkidiki bus station to kassandra on a SUNDAY.? I am not able to understand the bus schedule online. It will be sunday evening.
Thank u in advance. Fiona Day
Dear Fiona,
There are buses every day of the week, but how late the last departure from Thessaloniki is depends on your specific destination – the town in Kassandra (Kassandra is the name of the whole first leg of the peninsula). For instance, if you’re going to Kassandria (with an “i” before the final “a”), the last departure from Thessaloniki is at 21:00:
http://halkidikicms.3pi-telematics.com/en/timetable.html?from=53&to=66#scrollToMain
But for example if you’re going to Pefkochori, the last departure is at 19:00: http://halkidikicms.3pi-telematics.com/en/timetable.html?from=53&to=129#scrollToMain
And please note, Halkidiki has its own KTEL station, not to far from the airport. (The main large KTEL Makedonia station, past the train station, serves other destinations but not Halkidiki.)
You can take the 79 from the airport to the KTEL Halkidiki bus station, or the 45 from downtown.
https://thessalonikilocal.com/how-to-get-from-thessaloniki-airport-to-halkidiki-by-public-transportation/
Please note – you need to wear a face mask on the bus.
Have a great time!
-Amber