Getting from Mykonos to Thessaloniki

If you're moving on from Mykonos to Thessaloniki you are in for a change of pace that most visitors to Greece never experience. Thessaloniki is the second city and it carries itself with a confidence that comes from knowing it does not need to compete with Athens. It has the best food scene in Greece by most accounts, a Byzantine heritage that runs deeper than anywhere else in the country, a waterfront that the city actually uses, and a young population from the two major universities that gives it an energy Athens can feel like it is missing. It is a proper city and one of the most enjoyable in southeastern Europe.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry between Mykonos and Thessaloniki. Getting there from Mykonos means flying or travelling overland via Athens.

What about flying?

Both Mykonos and Thessaloniki have airports which makes flying the straightforward choice on this route. The journey goes Mykonos to Athens and then Athens to Thessaloniki, with total travel time around 3 to 4 hours door to door depending on your connection. Direct flights between Athens and Thessaloniki run frequently throughout the day so connections are rarely difficult. Thessaloniki Airport, known as Makedonia Airport, is around 15 kilometres from the city centre.

Drive or bus from Athens

If you are passing through Athens, driving to Thessaloniki takes around 5 to 6 hours on the E75 motorway heading north. It is a long but straightforward drive and the road improves significantly once you clear the Athens suburbs. KTEL buses run regularly between Athens and Thessaloniki from the Kifissos terminal, with the journey taking around 6 hours. The intercity train is also a good option, running between Athens and Thessaloniki in around 4 to 4.5 hours on the upgraded line.

Your best option

Fly if you are coming directly from Mykonos. The Athens connection is frequent and reliable and Thessaloniki rewards arriving with time and energy. If you are already in Athens and have flexibility, the train is worth considering. It drops you at Thessaloniki central station right in the heart of the city and the journey through central Greece and Macedonia is a good one.