Public transport in Thessaloniki - the best option for city trips

The city transport in Thessaloniki - ticket prices, bus and metro lines, apps, tips, and the easiest way to explore the city without a car. Updated: January 2026.
Thessaloniki is a city that is best experienced when you park your car and immerse yourself in its rhythm. Whether you want to visit historical monuments, go to Zeitenlik, or stop by IKEA, public transport is the most practical and affordable option. Since the end of 2024, Thessaloniki finally has a functional metro, which has completely changed the way of moving through the city.

This will be a detailed guide for exploring Thessaloniki by public transport, but we must immediately mention the taxi option, which is not expensive in Thessaloniki.

In short - the most important information

• Basic ticket: valid for 70 minutes and costs 0.60 €.
  
• Payment on the bus: only with contactless card (Mastercard, Visa, phone). Cash is no longer accepted on vehicles.
  
• Central lines run every 7–12 minutes.
  
• Metro: connects key points of the city and operates with the same tickets as buses.
  
• Fines: extremely high (€120) and are strictly enforced, even among tourists.
  
• Apps: make sure to install OASTH or Moovit for real-time arrival tracking.
  

Where to buy a ticket for public transport in Thessaloniki?

You can buy tickets for the city bus in Thessaloniki
1. At sales points (OASTH kiosks): Located at main points (e.g., Aristotelous Square, Railway Station, near the White Tower). Here you can buy individual tickets, a daily ticket, and a 10+1 free ticket which is paid in cash.

• Check out where the newsstands selling bus tickets are located and easily locate the one closest to the part of the city where you are staying.
  

2. On the bus. IMPORTANT: the ticket on the bus is paid exclusively with a card! Cash payments are no longer accepted on buses. Now you buy a ticket by simply tapping your payment card or phone on the terminal on the bus.

You can use apps on your mobile phone to track lines and stations:

• Android: OASTH Bus on Google Play
  
• iOS: OASTH Bus on the App Store
  

Prices of public transport in Thessaloniki

Check out the types of tickets for public transport in Thessaloniki and their prices.

More about each ticket

Daily ticket - the most cost-effective option for exploring the city

• Price: 2.50 €
  
• Validity: 24 hours from the first validation
  
• Unlimited number of rides
  

Basic ticket (one way)

• Price: 0.60 €
  
• Reduced price: 0.30 €
  
• Validity: 70 minutes
  
• Transfers: allowed, but only in the same direction.
  
• Payment only by card on the bus.
  

Set of 10+1 tickets - if you stay longer in Thessaloniki

• Price: 5.80 €
  
• Purchased at traffic company newsstands
  
• Paid in cash
  
• Buying a set includes 1 free ticket
  
• Valid for city buses and metro
  
• A favorable option if you stay in Thessaloniki for multiple days.
  

Who is eligible for the reduced price (0.30 €)?

• Children and youth from 7 to 18 years.
  
• Seniors over 65 years.
  
• Children up to 6 years old travel completely free.
  
• Tip: Always have your passport with you as proof of age when buying a discounted ticket at the kiosk.
  
• More information on the website: oasth.gr.
  

What is the fine and can you avoid it if you do not pay it?

The fine for not having a ticket is not small and amounts to 120 euros. In any case, make sure to have a ticket or be prepared to purchase it online and avoid risking paying a high fine. Even if you are a tourist, the fine will be forwarded to border authorities and will await you upon leaving Greece.

Metro in Thessaloniki - A Fast Ride through History

The Thessaloniki metro is not just a means of transport, but also a kind of underground museum. At stations like Venizelou and Agia Sofia, you can see fascinating archaeological finds discovered during construction.

• Price: Same as the bus (0.60 €).
  
• Children up to 6 years old do not pay for a ticket.
  
• Purchase: At vending machines at each metro station (accept cards and cash).
  
• Connection to the airport: The metro takes you to the last station (Nea Elvetia), where you transfer to express bus lines to the airport.
  

For more details on the metro in Thessaloniki, including the existing lines, where they go, and what was discovered during excavations, you can check here:
Metro in Thessaloniki
Archaeological treasures discovered during the construction of the metro in Thessaloniki: from ancient past to present

Key bus lines for tourists

No. 50 - “Cultural Line”

This is the “queen” for tourists. It starts from the White Tower and takes you through the heart of historical Thessaloniki, including the Upper Town (Ano Poli).

• Price: 2.00 € (valid for 70 min, you can get off to see the sights and board the next bus no. 50 with the same ticket).
  
• Guide: There is a guide on the bus providing information in Greek and English, and the monuments are marked on brochures you receive.
  
• Departures start at 9:30 and end at 15:00 during the winter, while in the summer, the first departure is at 8:00 and the last one at 19:00.
  
• For more information, visit the website oasth.gr
  

Line for Zeitenlik (Serbian Military Cemetery)

If you want to visit Zeitenlik, use line no. 27. Wait for it on Egnatia Street (westbound direction).

• IMPORTANT: Get off at the station called Symaxika (Symachika). Locals refer to this area as such (translated as: Allied cemeteries). If you ask for “Zeitenlik,” many may not understand you.
  

How to get to the airport and Halkidiki?

• 01X and 01N (night): Express lines connecting the center and “Macedonia” Airport.
  
• Line 45: takes you from Egnatia directly to the KTEL Chalkidiki station (for buses to Halkidiki).
  
• Lines 2K and 3K: go directly from the center to IKEA.
  
• Line 02X Nea Elvetia - Airport (from the center: metro to the last station Nea Elvetia, then transfer to a new line to the Airport and vice versa in the opposite direction).
  
• Line 2K takes you to the intercity bus station (KTEL) from Egnatia and back.
  

Additional lines for exploring Thessaloniki and its surroundings

If you want to escape the city center and see where the locals spend their free time, these lines are essential:

Panoramic view and spiritual peace

• Line no. 24: Wait at the Platia Aristotelous station (Aristotelous Square), and it will take you to the last station T.S. Hilion Dendron. Here, in the area of Agios Pavlos, there is a beautiful temple dedicated to Saint Paul, located just above the Holy Spring (Agiasma) of the Apostle Paul. The view of the city from here is fantastic.
  
• Line no. 58: It will take you from the city center to the upscale suburban area of Panorama. As the name suggests, it offers the most beautiful view of Thermaikos Gulf, and the area is known for the best trigona pastries.
  

Heading to the sea and marinas (Eastern Thessaloniki)

• Lines 02K, 5, 6: These lines take you to the eastern part of the city - Kalamaria and Nea Krini. Here, you can walk along the sea and enjoy a coffee in the beautiful Marina Aretsou. This is a favorite area for a leisurely walk without tourist crowds.
  

How to reach the nearest beaches by public transport?

If you are in Thessaloniki in the summer without a car, you can swim at the beaches in the suburbs:

• Lines 69 (Epanomi) and 72 (Nea Michaniona): These lines start from the terminal near IKEA. You can reach IKEA by lines 2K or 3K from the center, then transfer to these buses that take you to the first organized beaches.
  
• Line 70: This is a seasonal summer line running directly from the city center to Epanomi, the fastest option for a “sea escape” during hot days.
  

Final tip:

One of the best ways to experience Thessaloniki without stress is to park your car on the outskirts of the city or in a garage and use these lines. You won’t waste time searching for parking (which is almost impossible in Thessaloniki), and you’ll see places that tourists often overlook.

Tourist “Open Top” Bus (SightSeeing Thessaloniki)

For those who want maximum comfort and an audio guide in their language (available in 8 languages), there is the famous blue open-top bus. This is an ideal way to visit all the key points of the city without worrying about line numbers.

• Starting point: White Tower (Lefkos Pyrgos).
  
• How it works: The ticket is valid on a hop-on hop-off basis, meaning you can get off at any of the 8 stops, explore the monument, and wait for the next tourist bus with the same ticket.
  
• Key stops: Archaeological Museum, churches Agia Sofia and Saint Dimitrios, Byzantine Fortress (Kastra), Kamara, Aristotelous Square, and the Port.
  

Ticket prices:

• One-day: 16 € (adults) / 10 € (children 5–15 years).
  
• Two-day: 18 € (adults) / 8 € (children 5–15 years).
  
• Children under 4 years old travel for free.
  

Read more: a detailed guide through the stops and tips for this mode of sightseeing can be found in our article: Tourist Bus in Thessaloniki - Everything you need to know.

Exploring Thessaloniki by Taxi

When it comes to using taxis to get around the city, there is an official tariff from the Thessaloniki Taxi Association. Prices range from €1.90/start (minimum fare is €3.16, the rate per kilometer in the city is €0.68, outside the city €1.19 - the city limit is the Ring Road\, the bypass around Thessaloniki for Halkidiki) to €18 from the Airport to the city center and vice versa. In the photo\, you can see a detailed overview of the official taxi fares in Thessaloniki.

It should be noted that many taxi drivers are willing to offer better, unofficial prices. One of them is Athanasios Sakis Makantasis, who accommodates our tourists. He offers rides outside Thessaloniki at a rate of €0.90/kilometer instead of €1.19, which is the official price. You can contact Mr. Sakis at the phone number: +30 6971 806 608 (Viber/WhatsApp).

If you are planning to visit Thessaloniki and could benefit from more information about this city, such as places to visit, where to find good food, and how to get around the city, check out our Guide to Thessaloniki.
More information in the article What to Visit in Thessaloniki.

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