The Halkidiki peninsula, located in the northern part of mainland Greece, looks like a giant trident on the map of the country. This region is a recognized center of world-class beach tourism, and millions of tourists ask themselves the answer to the question of how to get to Halkidiki every year. The popularity of the region is explained by a particularly mild climate and developed infrastructure for a comfortable family vacation. The cleanliness and livability of the northern Greek beaches play a significant role.
Choosing wings
The Halkidiki peninsula does not have an airport, and therefore you have to get to any of its resorts through Thessaloniki. The local airport is called Macedonia and serves both domestic and international flights. In summer, many charters go up from the capital of Russia towards Thessaloniki, but you can get to Halkidiki and its resorts on regular flights of Russian and European airlines:
- A non-stop flight on Aeroflot's wings is traditionally distinguished by the most inhumane prices. A round trip ticket will cost no less than 300 euros per season. On the way, passengers will have to spend about 3, 5 hours.
- A flight with Serbian airlines looks much cheaper. You will have to pay only 150 euros for a ticket through Belgrade, even in summer, and the possible long connection in this case is a good reason to get to know the Serbian capital. Moreover, Russian citizens do not need a visa to enter a city in Serbia.
- The second option for cheap connecting flights is traveling on the wings of Turkish Airlines. A transfer in Istanbul can take as long as you like, because the Turkish airline offers its passengers free sightseeing tours around the city while waiting for a flight to Thessaloniki. The price of a ticket on board Turkish Airlines is from 230 euros in the high season.
- The Greek airline Aegean Airlines often offers cheap flights from Moscow to Thessaloniki. With a fortunate coincidence, they can be booked for 150 euros.
In order to buy air tickets much cheaper, subscribe to the email newsletter. Every day, a lot of special offers will come to your e-mail, which will make your vacation more profitable, more varied and more enjoyable. Do not forget about the special conditions declared by low-cost airlines. They usually only offer food and drinks on board at an additional cost. You will also have to pay for the baggage separately, and the dimensions of the carry-on baggage should not go beyond very strict limits.
When arriving at the airport of Thessaloniki, take a taxi or public transport to get to the city bus station. From there, buses run by KTEL ChalkidiksS SA to most of the resort areas. Routes are laid in more than 30 settlements of the peninsula. Ticket prices depend on distance and start at 3 euros. For a transfer to the most distant hotels, you will have to pay about 20 euros. You can find useful information and details about the work of the bus company on the website - www.ktel-chalkidikis.gr.
How to get to Halkidiki by land transport
If you are categorically against flights and prefer to travel slowly but surely across the land, you will be able to get to the popular Greek resorts on the Halkidiki peninsula without aviation:
- First, you will have to buy a ticket for the Moscow - Warsaw train, departing from the Belorussky railway station every day at 15:00. You will have to spend almost 19 hours on the way to the Polish capital, and for the cheapest ticket in a compartment you will have to pay just over 100 euros. The website of the Russian Railways - www.rzd.ru will allow booking travel documents.
- In Warsaw, you will have to change to a train to Katowice. Trains leave in this direction several times a day and the journey takes from two to four hours, depending on the category of the train. The fare is approximately 12 euros. The website www.bahn.de will help you to buy a ticket.
- In the city of Katowice, you need to move from the train station to the bus station. The stop of the express train you need for the transfer is located in front of the main entrance to the railway station.
- The bus to Greece leaves Katowice at 15.30 and arrives at the bus station of Thessaloniki the next day at 4.45. The journey will cost about 90 euros.
In any case, the road will take at least two days, and you will have to pay more than 220 euros for the journey.
European bus carriers offer comfortable conditions for their passengers. All buses operating on international routes have a spacious cargo compartment, where even bulky luggage can be easily accommodated. On the way, passengers can use a dry closet and prepare hot drinks using a coffee machine. The buses are equipped with modern multimedia and air conditioning systems, and individual sockets will help to charge the phone and other electronic devices.
All prices in the material are approximate and given as of February 2017. It is better to check the exact fare on the official websites of the carriers.
