Some people visit Thessaloniki when they miss the turn towards one of the popular Greek resorts or on their way back, while others come intentionally because they want to visit this city. Whether you have wandered or intentionally come for a few hours to take a break for lunch, coffee, shopping, or a stroll along the seaside and a visit to historical monuments, it is necessary to find something very important, a parking spot!
 
Whether it is free or paid parking in Thessaloniki, it doesn’t matter because sometimes parking in Thessaloniki, as in many big cities, can easily turn into an impossible mission and a nightmare. We provide below some places where parking is available in Thessaloniki, as well as the prices for those places and options for free parking in Thessaloniki.

Paid Parking in Thessaloniki

There is a large number of parking spaces on designated street parking areas in the city center, which are charged. In the wider city center, there are blue signs indicating parking spaces that can only be used by Thessaloniki residents, and white signs indicating parking spaces for visitors.
 
THESi is the new controlled parking system of the municipality of Thessaloniki, which has been operating since 2018. It is one of the most advanced and integrated technological systems in Europe, with online functions - service interface - control - public information. THESi aims to facilitate the finding of parking spaces in the city, prevent illegal parking, and all the problems it causes in Thessaloniki, as well as alleviate traffic congestion.
 
As they inform us on their website:
“A visitor to the THESi controlled parking system, in zones 1 and 3, is considered to be any visitor in Thessaloniki who wants to park their vehicle within the THESi implementation zones. Parking is charged from Monday to Friday 08:00-21:00 and on Saturdays 09:00-16:00. Outside these hours and on non-working days, as well as on public holidays, it is free. If you come during this period, you have the option for free parking in Thessaloniki. The charge is 1.70€/hour, with a maximum allowed time of 4 hours in one zone.”
 
It is worth noting that there are several ways to pay for parking. You can pay for parking in one of the 400 shops in downtown Thessaloniki that have a blue THESi sticker. These include kiosks, “4 all” chain stores, OПАП, coffee shops… In any case, there are payment points at every corner. You just need to write down or remember the five-digit number from the sign where you parked and, together with the registration number, request to pay for the desired number of hours at the payment point. You can also pay through the ParkPal app.

There is also a large public, parking lot near the port, which can be a good option. Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZjL7rywnQuh9GtTT8

Garages in Thessaloniki

Another solution for parking in Thessaloniki is garages, which you can easily find anywhere in the center of Thessaloniki, as well as in the wider area of the city. What is very important, they are the safest option for your car, and we will talk about safety further in the text. The prices of parking garages in Thessaloniki range from 12 to even 40 euros per day. In any case, it is worth mentioning that many of them offer various types of discounts. For example, during the night, from 21:00 to 9:00, the fee is 5 euros, or on Sundays, when the shops are closed, they charge from 9:00 to 21:00, also 5 euros. Therefore, we recommend that you inquire directly before choosing the garage where you will leave your car. Additionally, a certain number of them offer the possibility of online reservation, where you can choose the days when you want to park your vehicle by filling out the form located on their website.

Take into account that some garages have specific working hours; they may be open until 9 PM, closed on Sundays, and operate only until 4 PM on Saturdays, for example. It’s important to check their working hours before making a reservation and deciding where to park.

To access the map of all the parking lots and garages in Thessaloniki, click HERE

Don’t be surprised if, when you park your car, the attendant asks for the key. This is common practice in most garages and parking lots in Thessaloniki. Although it’s not pleasant to leave your key with someone, especially if you have valuable items in the car, it’s still safer to leave the car in a garage this way than in a parking lot, even if the parking lot has a guard.

If you are planning to visit Thessaloniki and would like more information about this city, such as places to visit, where to find good food, and how to get around the city, please check out our Guide to Thessaloniki

Free parking in Thessaloniki

There are several open municipal parking areas where you can park your vehicle for free and then use public transportation or walk to the city center. Free parking spaces can be found in multiple locations around the city, but generally a bit further from the center of Thessaloniki.

Locations of private parking in Thessaloniki:

Location: Sapfous 15
Address: Sapfous 15, Thessaloniki 546 27, Greece
Contact Number: +30 231 331 7777
Opening Hours: 24⁄7

Location: Santaroza 16-18
Address: Santaroza 2, Thessaloniki 546 27, Greece
Contact Number: +30 231 331 7777
Opening Hours: 24⁄7

Location: Filippou 35-31
Address:
Panagia Chalkeon
33 Philippou
1st Community of Thessaloniki
54631 Thessaloniki
Contact Number: +30 231 231 5404
Opening Hours: 24⁄7

Location: Thessaloniki 546-31
Address:
Courts Square
Philippou 30
1st Community of Thessaloniki
54631 Thessaloniki
Contact Number: +30 231 231 5404
Opening Hours: 24⁄7

What to pay attention to when it comes to free parking in Thessaloniki!?

In the wider center of Thessaloniki, it is possible to find free parking spaces on side streets, but they are often occupied, especially during weekdays. If you want to find a free parking spot on side streets, we recommend arriving early (before 8 AM).
In some areas of Thessaloniki, parking may be free during specific time periods, such as nighttime hours or weekends. Check local signs, as rules vary from one area to another. For example, in zones where parking is paid during the day, you can park for free at night, on Saturday afternoons, or on Sundays.
Street parking spaces in the peripheral areas of the wider center often do not have a payment system, especially in residential areas further from main roads and tourist spots. Some of these streets are located in neighborhoods such as Ano Poli (the old town on the hill) and areas toward the northern and eastern parts of Thessaloniki.
Additionally, free parking is available at certain shopping centers. For example, there is free parking at the One Salonica mall (you must leave before closing). There is also free parking in front of the Ikea shopping center.
Parking in front of the Cosmos shopping center is charged, but if you park in front of the Masoutis store and buy at least one item (even a bottle of water), you can stay in the parking lot for 2 hours.
Tips for finding free parking in Thessaloniki:

  • Arrive early: If you plan to park in the wider city center, try to arrive early in the morning or later in the evening.
  • Use mobile apps: Parking apps like Parkopedia or ParkMan can help you find available spaces and check if parking is free or paid.
  • Consult with locals: Local residents or shopkeepers can often recommend places where parking is free.

What is extremely important is not to park your car in the city center and in the busiest streets and boulevards (Egnatia, Tsimiski, Leoforos Nikis…), to pay attention that there is no no-parking sign where you want to leave your car, and not to block a hydrant. A hydrant is a device, usually located on the sidewalk or next to the street, that allows firefighters quick access to water in case of fire. In many cities, including Thessaloniki, this is legally required, and parking in front of a hydrant can result in fines or even removal of the vehicle. The fines are high, and you may also lose your license plates.
In Thessaloniki, hydrants are usually marked in red and are often located at the edges of sidewalks or near streets. Next to the hydrant, there may be an additional sign indicating that the spot is reserved and parking in front of it is not allowed. Some streets also have a yellow or red line on the road near the hydrant to further signal the parking restriction.

Attention! Do not park on the sidewalk in front of the cemetery entrance, on the main Lagada Street. Additionally, parking in front of the entrance to the French part of the cemetery is not recommended, as there have been a large number of car break-ins. If you are staying overnight in Thessaloniki, it is best to look for accommodation that includes parking and inquire if there is an additional fee. If you are traveling to Thessaloniki in a camper or if you happen to want to rest in your car for a little while and continue on, take a look at the website Park4night.

Parking at Thessaloniki Airport

Thessaloniki’s “Macedonia” International Airport offers five designated parking areas for passengers and visitors, suitable for both short-term and long-term stays. The airport parking is open 24⁄7, year-round. Reservation of parking spaces is not necessary. There is 24-hour security. Parking is free for up to 20 minutes, and from the 21st to the 60th minute, a fee of 4 euros is charged. Prices range up to 48 euros for 15 days and 80 euros for a month, and a monthly pass can be obtained for 60 euros. On the airport’s website, you can find a detailed price list categorized by zones, which you can check here.

Parking in Thessaloniki - Safety

As you know, Thessaloniki is a large city, and while safety is generally good in many smaller places in Greece, one should be cautious in larger cities. In this section, we will provide you with some tips that may help ensure everything goes smoothly.
Many of you are careful about this, but it doesn’t hurt to mention valuable items left in the car, especially if they are left in plain sight. Our advice is to avoid leaving anything visible, even sunglasses, as you never know what might attract a potential thief.
Whether you park in paid or free parking in Thessaloniki, avoid leaving anything valuable in the car, especially money or important documents.
Some parts of the city or streets are less crowded or poorly lit, which may increase the risk of a break-in. Avoid the area from Vardaris Square to the bus station for overnight stays and parking.
Our tourists usually stop by Thessaloniki on their way to or from their holiday destinations, and at that time, their car is often full of items, so the best and safest option is a garage. Do not leave a car full of valuables unattended, even for 5 minutes. It’s best to leave one person to keep an eye on the car if you’re going into a shopping center or even just quickly stepping into a restroom. We don’t want to scare you; not all cars with items are broken into, but it does happen.
Do not be misled by busy locations; break-ins can still occur there. This includes parking in front of Ikea, in front of One Salonica (which we mentioned above as free), in front of Waterland, at large supermarkets, and even in parking lots in the city center. From our experience, the safest option is to leave the car in a garage, no matter the cost, even if you have to leave your keys with the garage staff.
Before walking away from your car, make sure it’s locked, as some thieves have equipment to block signals so that your remote lock doesn’t work. The device supposedly stores the code in the radio signal you use to lock the car, allowing thieves to enter freely. So, before you walk away from your car, manually check that the doors are locked.

Additional Remarks for Parking in Thessaloniki

One final important note is that there are no gas stations in the strict city center, so don’t rely on refueling there.
If a parking spot is marked with blue or yellow, it means parking is prohibited in that area.
If the garages in the center of Thessaloniki are too expensive for you, park a bit further from the city center in a more affordable garage, then walk, use public transportation, or take a taxi (taxi prices are not high). Considering that traffic congestion is common in Thessaloniki, walking is sometimes a faster and more pleasant option.
Share your parking experiences in Thessaloniki with us, and if you have any recommendations for parking spots, feel free to let us know.



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