Car Rental at Thessaloniki Airport
You can pick up a hire car the moment you land at Thessaloniki Makedonia (SKG), and the same rules apply as everywhere in Greece: a full licence held for a year, a credit card in the driver's name and a minimum age of 21. Thessaloniki is compact and walkable along its waterfront, so a car is not needed for the city itself. A car earns its place on the day trips out of town. This guide covers pickup, whether you need a car and where a car takes you.
- Airport
- Thessaloniki (SKG)
- Car in the city?
- Not needed
- Best for
- Day trips
- Drive on the
- Right
Do you need a car in Thessaloniki?
You do not need a car for Thessaloniki itself. Thessaloniki is compact and walkable along its waterfront, so a car is not needed for the city itself. What a car buys you is the day trips: the three peninsulas of Halkidiki, the villages of Mount Pelion, the monasteries of Meteora and the slopes of Mount Olympus. Hiring at the airport lets you drive straight out without returning to the city first.
If you are staying in town before heading off, our Halkidiki guide helps you choose where to base yourself.
Where to pick up a car in Thessaloniki
You can collect a car at Thessaloniki Makedonia (SKG), where the rental desks sit close to arrivals, and at offices in the city centre. Book ahead for the summer, when demand from both tourists and locals is high, and check the excess and insurance before you pay.
Our car hire requirements guide sets out the documents, deposit and insurance in full, and the same terms apply at the airport counters.
Driving from Thessaloniki
Greece drives on the right, and the roads out of Thessaloniki are modern and well signed. The city centre is busy and parking is limited, so a car earns its keep on the roads out to Halkidiki and the north. The route to the Halkidiki peninsulas is straightforward and toll-free.
For the rules, road signs, tolls, fuel and parking across the country, see our driving in Greece guide.