SKG the airport for Chalkidiki
Chalkidiki does not have a commercial airport of its own and never really needed one.
Instead, the region has always relied on Thessaloniki International Airport “Macedonia”, commonly known by its airport code SKG.
For decades, this airport has functioned as the natural gateway not only to Chalkidiki but to most of northern Greece.
For many travellers, arriving at SKG already feels like arriving close enough to the sea, even before the actual drive south begins.
SKG is located on the southeastern edge of Thessaloniki, directly next to the Thermaic Gulf.
The sea is only a few hundred metres from the runway, and on clear days arriving aircraft descend with views over water, city and distant mountains.
This coastal location is one of the reasons the airport has always been important for the wider region, but also why its expansion took many years to complete.
In recent years, the airport underwent a major upgrade.
Runways were extended and the terminal expanded, allowing larger aircraft to land safely and improving passenger flow.
Wide-body aircraft that previously faced restrictions can now operate normally.
For travellers heading to Halkidiki, this mostly means more direct international flights during the summer season and fewer technical stopovers than in the past.
TELEPHONE CENTER: +302310985000
The name “Halkidiki Airport” is often used informally, especially online, but officially the airport remains Thessaloniki International Airport “Macedonia”.
This makes sense geographically.
The airport sits almost exactly between Thessaloniki and the beginning of Halkidiki, and for most destinations on Kassandra the drive south starts immediately after leaving the airport area.
Distance matters here.
From SKG, Nea Moudania, often considered the gateway town to Halkidiki, is about 50 kilometres away.
Depending on traffic and season, this usually takes around one hour.
Sithonia is further and travel times increase accordingly, often approaching two hours or more for the eastern side.
These are realistic times, not optimistic brochure estimates, and they matter when planning arrival and departure days.
Inside the airport, facilities are modern and generally functional.
There are cafés, casual food options, duty free shops, ATMs, car rental desks and free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal.
During high summer the airport can feel busy and slightly compressed, especially on weekends when charter flights arrive almost simultaneously.
Outside peak season, movement is calmer and the space feels easier to navigate.
The airport serves both domestic and international flights.
Year-round connections link Thessaloniki with Athens and several Greek islands.
Seasonally, direct flights connect SKG with many European cities, especially from central and eastern Europe.
For Halkidiki, this seasonal rhythm has shaped tourism patterns for decades, long before low-cost airlines existed.
Getting from the airport to Halkidiki is straightforward in theory, but choices depend on budget, patience and destination.
Taxis wait outside arrivals at all hours.
Car rentals operate directly inside the terminal.
Public transport exists, though it requires some planning and time.
Each option has its place, and none are particularly unusual by European standards
Direct flight connections to Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG)
https://www.flightconnections.com/flights-from-thessaloniki-skg
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
is Greece’s second largest city and one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban centres in Europe.
Its metropolitan population exceeds 1.2 million people.
Founded in the Hellenistic period, the city has lived through Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and modern Greek eras without interruption.
This layered history is still visible today, sometimes clearly, sometimes only if you know where to look.
For travellers heading to Halkidiki, Thessaloniki often plays a secondary role, but it should not.
The city has a strong commercial centre, a long waterfront promenade, museums, markets and neighbourhoods with very different atmospheres.
Many visitors choose to spend a night or two here either before heading south or on their return, especially if flight times are inconvenient.
Thessaloniki also explains why Halkidiki developed the way it did.
The city functioned for centuries as the economic and administrative centre of the region.
Roads, ports and later airports were planned with Thessaloniki as the reference point.
Even today, most services for Halkidiki still route through the city in one way or another.
Public transportation from Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) to Halkidiki
Reaching Halkidiki by public transport requires one intermediate step.
You first need to get to the
KTEL Chalkidikis bus station
, which is located west of the airport area, roughly 9.5 kilometres away.
The simplest solution is to take a taxi from the airport directly to the KTEL station.
Taxis are regulated, available around the clock and generally reliable.
Free Now, formerly known as Taxi Beat, is the most widely used taxi app in Greece and works well in Thessaloniki.
It allows card payments and fare estimates, which many travellers find reassuring.
Using local buses is possible and inexpensive, but it takes longer.
From the airport you take bus number
79 (Airport – IKEA)
.
From there you change to
36 (Voulgari – KTEL Chalkidikis)
.
The total fare is low, but luggage and traffic can make the journey feel long.
Single fare is €0,60, but timetables can change slightly depending on season.
From the KTEL Chalkidikis station, buses depart regularly toward all major destinations in Halkidiki.
During summer season, departures are frequent, often hourly.
The buses are clean, air-conditioned and safe, though not fast.
They follow normal roads and are affected by traffic like everything else.
Car hire companies at Thessaloniki Airport
Car rental is one of the most popular ways to reach Halkidiki.
Almost all major international and local rental companies operate directly at the airport.
This includes Sixt, Europcar, Hertz, as well as several Greek companies.
Booking in advance is strongly advised during summer months, as availability fluctuates quickly and prices rise close to arrival dates.
Driving in Halkidiki is generally straightforward.
Roads are paved and signage is clear.
Traffic increases significantly in July and August, especially on Fridays and Sundays.
Maps and navigation apps help, but some delays are simply part of the seasonal rhythm.
Lost and found
Swissport: +302310478932
Olympic Airlines: +302310408477, +302310985324
Aegean Airlines: +302310476058, +302310985323
Goldair Handling: +302310489066
Austrian Airlines: +302310471220
Information desk
The airport information desk is located on the ground floor near international arrivals.
Telephone: +302310473212
Airport Parking
The airport operates East and West car parks with a total capacity of around 1470 spaces.
There are also designated spaces for travellers with disabilities.
Parking availability varies strongly by season, especially during peak summer weekends.
For updated information: +302310985341
Transportation
Bus number 78 connects the airport with Thessaloniki city centre approximately every 45 minutes.
Journey time is around 45 minutes depending on traffic.
Taxi fare from the airport to the city centre usually ranges between 12 and 15 euros.
Radiotaxi services include:
+302310550500, +302310214900, +302310546522, +302310551525, +302310866866, +302310525000
Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority
TELEPHONE: +302108916000
E-MAIL:
FAX: +302108947101
Information for Russian travellers visiting Halkidiki in 2026
Travel conditions for Russian citizens wishing to visit Greece have changed significantly in recent years.
Direct flights between Russia and Greece have been suspended, and travellers now need to route through third countries.
This adds time and cost, but does not make travel impossible.
Common transit hubs include Yerevan in Armenia, Istanbul in Turkey, and Belgrade in Serbia.
All three offer regular connections to Thessaloniki.
Airlines and routes change often, so travellers should check directly with carriers rather than relying on outdated information.
Flexibility is essential here.
Greek visa procedures for Russian citizens continue to operate through official visa centres.
Applications follow the standard Schengen process.
Despite rumours, visas are generally issued normally when documentation is complete.
Processing times can vary, but there is no blanket suspension of tourist visas.
Because travel routes often involve multiple flights and airlines, comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Flight schedules can change at short notice, and indirect travel increases exposure to delays.
Staying informed and planning with margin helps avoid unnecessary stress
Airfields
In addition to Thessaloniki International Airport, Halkidiki also has a small certified airfield used mainly for ultralight aviation.
PREL Wings Ltd
is the oldest ultralight aircraft flight school in Greece, founded in 1992.
Its facilities are located near the 30th kilometre of the Thessaloniki – Nea Moudania highway, close to Tsantalis Winery.
The airfield is officially certified by the Greek Aviation Authority.
Telephone: +302399051031
Mobile: +306972446046
The airfield operates a runway of approximately 600 metres, suitable for ultralight aircraft.
It is not intended for commercial aviation, but for training, recreational flying and private use.
The surrounding landscape is open and relatively flat, offering good visibility and safe operating conditions.
For pilots, flying over Halkidiki gives a clear understanding of the region’s geography.
The three peninsulas become immediately obvious from the air.
Distances that feel long on the road suddenly make sense when seen from above.
Coastlines, forests and settlements appear as connected patterns rather than isolated points.
Training is available for beginners as well as experienced pilots.
For some visitors, this is their first experience of Halkidiki from the air.
It is a quieter, slower form of aviation, far removed from commercial airports, and it fits the character of the region surprisingly well.