Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
certain which companies are currently flying from the airport website. Then visit a travel
agent or book online.
served by local bus 78; a taxi costs around €15 to €25.
BOAT
The poor ferry connections of Greece's second-largest city is disappointing. At time of
gean islands of Limnos (€20, eight hours), Lesvos (€30, 14 hours), Chios (€32, 19 hours)
and Samos (€40, 20 hours); the old Sporades ferry remained scuttled. Double-check with
port-area travel agencies such as
Karacharisis Travel & Shipping Agency
(
2310 513
005;
b_karachari@tincewind_techpath.gr
;
Navarhou Koundourioti 8;
8am-8.30pm)
.
BUS
Domestic
KTEL Makedonia, is 3km west of centre. Each destination has its own specific ticket
counter. However, for Athens
only
, avoid the trip by going to
Monastiriou Bus Station
(
2310 500 111; Monastiriou 69)
- an easy-to-miss office opposite the train station - where
all Athens-bound buses start before calling in at KTEL Makedonia. Additional discounts
to regular fares apply for kids, students, special-needs travellers, retirees and soldiers
(well, Greek ones, anyway).
For
Halkidiki
, first reach the eastern Thessaloniki
Halkidiki bus terminal
( 2310
316 555;
www.ktel-chalkidikis.gr
; Karakasi 68)
via city buses 45A or 45B, which from the main
bus station stop en route at the train station, Plateia Aristotelous and Kamara. With wait-
ing and traffic, this 'express' service can take over an hour. Then there's the trip to
Halkidiki itself. The whole production can take three to six hours; it's much wiser to rent
a car.
International
KTEL offers twice-daily international services to Sofia (five hours, €26) and Tirana (nine
hours, €30).
Currently, small bus companies opposite the courthouse (Dikastirion), serve Skopje,
İstanbul, TIrana, Sofia and Bucharest. Here, try
Simeonidis Tours
( 2310 540 970;
www.simeonidistours.gr
;
26 Oktovriou 14; 9am-9pm Mon-Fri, to 2pm Sat)
. From the Kolom-
vou bus stop on Egnatia, walk west and then down to the left on 26th Oktovriou.