Cheap Flights to Thessaloniki (SKG)

Travellers who book flights to Thessaloniki rather than the Greek capital are making an informed choice. In this port city you'll be splashed by the soft waves that lap its never-ending bay, cooled by boulevards lined with trees that dapple its cafés and welcomed by the smiles of the locals. After all, they know you're blessed to be in the 'Mother of Macedonia'.

When should I book flights to Thessaloniki?

The marvellous Med summer in Thessaloniki might not quite go on for ever. It just seems that way. But you'll be able to walk the city's streets in short sleeves from April to October. For cheap flights to Thessaloniki, though, you're best off avoiding mid-July through to the first week of September, the very peak of peak season. And, of course, the week of Easter or Christmas will never be bargain territory. Prices rise gradually as your departure date approaches, so to guarantee cheap tickets to Thessaloniki, don't leave your booking any later than 4 weeks before you fly.

Where can I fly to Thessaloniki from?

If you want to keep it simple, the direct flights from Stansted (Ryanair) or Gatwick (easyJet) are the way to go. It should only take three hours from these London airports. These two low-cost carriers also have most of the cheap flights to Thessaloniki Greece throughout the year. Other carriers, like Eurowings or KLM, offer longer routes with stop-overs from many UK airports – as do premium airlines like Lufthansa. But your total journey time will be seven hours, or more, with these carriers.

Getting from Macedonia International Airport to my hotel

The nearest airport to Thessaloniki for international flights is Macedonia International Airport (SKG), which is only 10 miles south of this Greek coastal city. The even better news is that this airport is served 24 hours a day by a dedicated bus service – number 78, which hooks you up to both the city's main railway station and main bus terminal. These buses only cost a couple of euros and get you within striking distance of your hotel in 40 minutes. Taxis cost as much as EUR 20, and can be hard to find at peak times.

What can I do in Thessaloniki once my flight has landed?

So your search for cheap flights to Thessaloniki Greece has paid off. But what can Greece's second city offer you? Plenty of sun-soaked cafés to sit in during the day and bars to linger in during the evening, for a start. Before you start relaxing, make sure that you explore some of the city’s cultural highlights. Thessaloniki boasts several different galleries, as well as several contemporary art museums, which sit alongside ancient monuments. History has been both kind and cruel here. Glorious Roman ruins and elegant Byzantine churches cast sharp shadows in the midday sun. But much of Thessaloniki’s history was lost in a fierce fire a century ago. The only glow you'll feel in Thessaloniki today, though, is from the local ouzo and the bright Greek sunshine.