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Good to know
- Nearest airport
- Thessaloniki Airport "Makedonia" (SKG)
- To city centre
- 14 km
- Parking in the centre
- Paid zones
- Main roads
- A1, A2 Egnatia Odos, A25
- Region
- Central Macedonia
- Population
- 309,617
- City IATA code
- SKG
- Time zone
- Europe/Athens
- Currency
- EUR
- Driving side
- Right-hand traffic
- Rental offices
- 21
- Rental companies
- 3
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Where to pick up a car in Thessaloniki
Rental desks by area, with the distance from the city centre.
Thessaloniki
Offices 1Further from the centre
Offices 12
Thessaloniki by car
Byzantine churches and a seafront promenade anchor Thessaloniki, a port on the Thermaic gulf that cooks, argues and stays up later than the capital. Mount Chortiatis stands over it, and the plain behind opens the way into the Balkans.
Driving in Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is reached by A1, A2 Egnatia Odos and A25. Parking in the centre is paid and marked by zone.
Where to park
Spaces are hard to find in Thessaloniki, so drivers often end up in a paid car park, and double-parked cars are the main cause of congestion. Local drivers often ignore parking rules, but fines are still issued.
Arriving by road
A C-shaped inner ring road bypasses the city, and the motorways all join it, starting from the A1/A2 junction in Lachanagora in the west. It runs clockwise around the northwestern suburbs to Kalamaria in the southeast, where it meets the A24, which leads south to Chalkidiki and the airport exit.
From the airport without a car
Bus 01X runs from the airport to the Macedonia InterCity Bus Terminal by way of the New Railway Station, and carries on at night as 01N. Bus 02X goes to the Nea Elvetia metro station, where riders switch to the metro for the centre.
Popular searches in Thessaloniki
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Day trips from Thessaloniki
- Chalkidóna31 km
- Polýgyros51 km
- Kateríni55 km
- Véroia64 km
Rules of the road in Greece
- Speed limits
- 50 / 90 / 130 km/h
- Alcohol limit
- 0.5 ‰
- Motorway tolls
- motorway tolls paid at the barrier
What kind of car do you need?
Typical capacity for the category — the exact model is confirmed by the rental company at booking.
Frequently asked questions
Greece: which side of the road do they drive on?
On the right. Speed limits are posted at the roadside and differ between towns, open roads and motorways.
Which currency will I be charged in?
Prices are usually set in EUR. The rental company sets both the price and the deposit, and shows them before you book.
Can I drive the car into another country?
Often yes within the EU, but never assume it. Crossing a border has to be allowed by the rental company and usually costs extra, so check the terms before you book.
Where do I park in the centre of Thessaloniki?
Parking in the centre is paid and marked by zone.
Do I need an International Driving Permit?
A non-EU licence must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit.
What are the speed limits in Greece?
50 km/h in towns, 90 km/h on open roads, 130 km/h on motorways.
Are the motorways tolled?
Motorways charge at the barrier.
Where can I pick up a rental car in Thessaloniki?
At Thessaloniki: an independent office. In the city centre: Hertz, Sixt, Thrifty and 5 independent offices. In Kamara: 4 independent offices. In Ampelokipoi: an independent office. In Pronia: an independent office. Elsewhere in the city: 6 independent offices. More rental desks are at Thessaloniki Airport "Makedonia".