Getting around
High
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: oseth.com.gr, thessmetro.gr
Overall7.7/10Easier to get around than about 75% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- Metro and buses now use an integrated ticketing system with reduced fares: €0.60 per ride and €16/month for unlimited travel—among Europe's most affordable.
- Public transportation switched to cashless in 2026; bring a contactless card or smartphone. Ticket machines at metro stations still accept cash, but buses only accept contactless payment.
- Central bus lines run frequently (every 7–12 minutes), making buses highly reliable for day-to-day movement.
- Heavy pedestrian overcrowding occurs along three main commercial axial streets, especially during sales periods and holidays, though the city center is still generally walkable.
- Validate your ticket immediately after boarding—fines are strictly enforced at €120 and apply to all passengers including tourists.
- Uber operates as Uber Taxi (professional licensed drivers only), not peer-to-peer rideshare, following Greek regulations.
- If renting a scooter, remember parking is never a problem—a major advantage in a city with severe parking congestion.
- The city's modest air pollution and dirty pavements in some neighborhoods are cited as pedestrian concerns, though the waterfront offers a cleaner, more pleasant walking experience.
Buses
- Coverage
- Comprehensive network covering entire city and suburbs; 622 buses in operation
- Operator
- OASTH (Urban Transport Organization of Thessaloniki)
- Frequency
- Central lines run every 7–12 minutes; other routes vary
- Operating Hours
- 05:00–midnight (standard); seasonal variations
- Payment Methods
- Contactless card only onboard buses (Visa, Mastercard, phone); cash not accepted on vehicles but accepted at ticket machines
- Transfer Policy
- 70-minute transfer window on same ride type
- Single Ride Fare
- €0.60
- Monthly Card Fare
- €16
Special Routes
Line 50 (Cultural Route)
- Fare
- €2.00
- Description
- Loop of city landmarks in ~50 minutes with English audio commentary
Airport Express (Line 01X/01N)
- Fare
- €2.00
- Description
- 24/7 service; 20–30 minute intervals; stops near major landmarks
Metro
- Status
- Operational since November 2024
- Coverage
- Connects city center with New Railway Station and eastern district of Nea Elvetia; recently expanded to Kalamaria district in southeast
- Frequency
- Every 3.5 minutes during peak service
- Day Pass Fare
- €2.50
- Operating Hours
- Sunday–Thursday: 05:30–00:30; Friday–Saturday: 05:30–02:00
- Single Ride Fare
- €0.60
- Monthly Card Fare
- €16
Ticket Packages
10+1 Ticket Bundle
- 10+1 Ticket Bundle
- €5.80
11 rides for price of 10
Taxis
- Airport Flat Rate
- €25
Daytime; nighttime rates are approximately €35
- Color
- Deep blue and white
- Availability
- Over 2,000 taxis in city; easily found at stations, airport, main squares
- Minimum Fare
- €3.16
- Base Start Fare
- €1.90
- Per Kilometer Daytime
- €0.68
- Per Kilometer Outside City
- €1.19
Walkability
- Overview
- Thessaloniki's city center offers pedestrian-friendly infrastructure with many key attractions within walking distance. However, some neighborhoods suffer from narrow sidewalks, parked motorcycles, and street furniture that obstruct pedestrian movement. The waterfront is particularly scenic and walkable.
- Getting Around Tier
- high
- Getting Around Tier Rationale
- Recently inaugurated metro connecting city center to eastern districts, reliable bus network with frequent central lines, low public transit fares, and Uber/FREENOW rideshare availability combine to make car-free mobility practical for most daily needs.
Vehicle Rentals
Cars
- Availability
- Multiple rental agencies throughout city
- International Drivers License
- Required
- Note
- Driving can be challenging due to traffic congestion and limited parking in city center
Bikes
- Availability
- BikeIT and other rental companies offer bike rentals
- Note
- Specific pricing not readily available in the sources we checked
Scooters
- Weekly Average
- €189
- Daily Range Low
- €5.00
- Daily Range Mid
- €30
- Daily Range High
- €38
- License Requirements
- Car license or AM for 50cc; A1/A2 for 125cc; full A class for larger engines
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this walkability & transport research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Thessaloniki
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.