More cities in one trip from Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki (Greece) is a great base for seeing several cities in one trip: direct low-cost flights arrive from 54 airports, and FlixBus links it directly to 8 cities within about five hours. 4 of them are in another country (Bulgaria, Macedonia del Nord, Albania, Serbia). The most searched are Sofia, Skopje and Tirana; the quickest to reach is Sandanski, about 2 h away.
Updated on 28 October 2026
- 8 nearby cities by bus
- 54 airports with direct flights
- 5 countries
Nearby cities by bus from Thessaloniki
Cities with a direct FlixBus or FlixTrain connection, most searched first. The time shown is the fastest direct ride we found on a typical day: times are approximate, so check schedules and prices on the FlixBus website.
| City | Distance | Approx. time | Transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sofia · Bulgaria | 231 km | about 4 h 15 min | Bus or train |
| Skopje · Macedonia del Nord | 197 km | 4 h | Bus |
| Tirana · Albania | 273 km | about 5 h | Bus or train |
| Plovdiv · Bulgaria | 224 km | 8 h 10 min | Bus |
| Leskovac · Serbia | 275 km | about 5 h | Bus or train |
| Blagoevgrad · Bulgaria | 154 km | 3 h 40 min | Bus |
| Sandanski · Bulgaria | 107 km | about 2 h | Bus or train |
| Gevgelija · Macedonia del Nord | 67 km | 2 h | Bus |
“About”: there was no direct ride on the day we checked, so the time is estimated from the distance.
Saily →Airport transferHandy when you land at night or the airport is far from the centre.
Kiwitaxi →Luggage storage in ThessalonikiFor the hours between check-out and your flight home.
Radical Storage →Museums and attractions in ThessalonikiEntry tickets, often skipping the queue.
Tiqets →Direct low-cost flights to Thessaloniki
Airports with direct flights to Thessaloniki, by country. Some routes are seasonal only.
United Kingdom 3
Sweden 2
Austria 1
Bosnia & Herzegovina 1
Croatia 1
Denmark 1
Finland 1
Helsinki
France 1
Georgia 1
Hungary 1
Ireland 1
Israele 1
Malta 1
Romania 1
Slovakia 1
Switzerland 1
FAQ
Which cities can you reach by bus from Thessaloniki?
With a direct FlixBus or FlixTrain connection: Sofia, Skopje, Tirana, Plovdiv, Leskovac, Blagoevgrad, Sandanski and Gevgelija. Times are approximate, so check schedules and prices on the FlixBus website.
How long is the bus from Thessaloniki to Sofia?
About 4 h 15 min: it's 231 km, but there was no direct ride on the day we checked. Check schedules and prices on the FlixBus website.
Which airports have direct low-cost flights to Thessaloniki?
From 54 airports in 23 countries, including London, Paris and Bucharest. With a FlyDown watch you get an alert when a flight to Thessaloniki is cheap.