Travel Information

Airport

Thessaloniki Airport “Makedonia”, is an International airport located 14 km of the city center. It is the second largest airport in Greece. It is the main airport of northern part of the country and serves the city of Thessaloniki, and the cities of the region.

Thessaloniki Airport’s website (www.skg-airport.gr) offers details about departures & arrivals and further useful information about the city.

Transfer from / to airport

Bus

The OASTH buses connect the airport with the city center throughout the day by the 01X and 01N lines. The journey is around 40 minutes.

– Line 01X departs every 30 minutes during the day.
– Line 01N operates during the night.
– The nearest bus stop to the IAAE2024 venue from the airport is “Omospondia”, which is approximately 150m from the venue (Grand Hotel Palace).
– Along the route, you can get off in city centre “Platia Aristotelous” (Aristotle’s square) and at the main bus station of Thessaloniki “KTEL Thessaloniki”.
– When heading back to the airport, the nearest bus stop to the IAAE2024 venue is “Orizomili” located about 100m from the venue (Grand Hotel Palace).

A single ticket costs €1.80. You can buy the ticket from the ticket machine on the bus using only coins. Keep in mind that the machine does not return spare change.

For more information visit: http://oasth.gr/#.

General Transportation Information

BUS

The Organization of Urban Transportation of Thessaloniki (O.A.S.TH.), connects the whole city via a dense network of bus lines. You can get your tickets at the O.A.S.TH.’s ticket booths, at the 1200 selling points or by the vending machines inside the buses. Free service is offered to people with special needs.

TAXI

There are approximately 2000 taxis in Thessaloniki with 24h service taxi ranks in many city spots and in many departure ones like the Airport, the Train Station, the Macedonia Intercity Station and the Port.

BICYCLE

The bike sharing system in the Municipality of Thessaloniki, named I-BIKE, of THESSBIKE company, holds eight stations and a fleet of 200 bicycles, including two seats, four seats, electric bikes and vehicles for handicapped.

 CAR HIRE

Car hire is widely available. Participants may opt to hire a car during their stay, and thus use it for their airport transfers. If you’re unfamiliar with the city highways, it’s a good idea to have a Satellite Navigator to get your bearings (especially for participants unfamiliar with driving on the right).

Tourist Information

From the ancient Greek Symposium to the meetings and events of present day, people convene to exchange ideas and goods, and they transform the world as they do so…

At the crossroads of East and West, the city of Thessaloniki has been witnessing these transformations for millennia as a proud host of great people and historic events. Today, the capital of the region of Central Macedonia and the second largest Greek city, Thessaloniki, is a significant business hub for Southeast Europe and a remarkable place to visit.

The city of Thessaloniki is a vibrant modern metropolis. Built on the waters of the North Aegen sea, the city and its 1 million inhabitants are renowned for their hospitality and easy going lifestyle.

It takes a walk on the “paralia” -the longest urban waterfront in Europe- to relax and feel the charm of this unique Greek city.

It takes a few hours in the city centre to turn a stroll into time travel: from Alexander the Great and Aristotle the philosopher, to the inventive Romans or the pious Byzantines through to the lofty Ottomans and the cosmopolitan contemporaty Greeks. It takes less than a two hour drive to the divine Mt Olympos for a climb or to the emerald waters of Halkidiki for a swim; add an hour or two to your day trip and visit Vergina, Pella and Dion to admire the grandeur of the Kingdom of the Macedons.

Thessaloniki is the second biggest city in Greece and a regional business hub and shopping centre with an active commercial port, a significant local industrial activity, and the largest academic and research community in the country.

The city hosts the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair, the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, the European Centre of Vocational Training, the Alexandria Innovation Zone and several other major institutions. It has rightfully been a European Cultural and Youth Capital: besides the excellent museums and historic buildings, the city is a big stage for creative young people who enjoy all aspects of life. Gastronomy is just one of them. Music, dance and dazzling nightlife is another.

The city is easy to explore. You can go anywhere in about 30 minutes. A modern International airport is just 15 km to the east, a railway station is in walking distance from the city centre, buses and taxis are trustworthy and inexpensive -everything in Thessaloniki puts you at ease. The climate is no exception: typically Mediterranean with warm-to-hot summers, mild winters and an annual average of 300 days of sunshine.

Suggested Sights

Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki
Museum of Byzantine Culture
White Tower Museum
Arch of Galerius and Rotunda (on via Egnatia str.)
Roman Agora of Thessaloniki (on via Egnatia str.)
Paleo – Christian temple of Agia Sophia
Agios Dimitrios and ancient “Crypt”

Please refer to above links for the opening hours.

The bus number 50 “Cultural Line” is the sightseeing route. You can get the bus near the White Tower (Lefkos Pirgos). “Ladadika” district is recommended for entertainment (music, food, cafe, bars) near the port of Thessaloniki, which is also very nice for a night walk (various cultural activities are taking place there).

More sights and general information about Thessaloniki can be found at www.thessaloniki.travel – the official website of Thessaloniki Tourism Organisation. Additional information can be found on the links below:

www.thessalonikiconventionbureau.gr (Thessaloniki Convention Bureau)
www.thessaloniki.gr (official website of Municipality of Thessaloniki)