South from Macedonia to the capital on the A1, with Mount Olympus off to the right early in the drive. Past Katerini, Larissa, Lamia and Thebes — a private car from your Thessaloniki hotel, the station or the airport to your Athens hotel, Piraeus port or Athens Airport.
Close to 500 km and around 5h 45m of driving from central Thessaloniki to central Athens, before traffic or breaks. Private transfer priced on request per vehicle, door-to-door — tell us your pickup in Thessaloniki, where you need to be in Athens, any ferry or flight time, and the stops you would like on the way south.
Pickup anywhere in Thessaloniki, at the railway station or at Thessaloniki Airport (SKG). The route leaves the city on its western side and joins the A1 heading south.
The Archaeological Park of Dion and the town of Litochoro lie close to the motorway, with Mount Olympus rising to the west. Either makes an early break; mention it in your request.
The A1 bypasses this gorge in northern Thessaly; seeing it means a detour on the old road. Add it to your request if you want to go through.
The motorway bypasses Larissa and continues south to Lamia — either makes a natural place for a comfort stop.
The ancient pass lies beside the A1 south of Lamia, before the last stretch past Thebes to Athens.
Drop-off at your hotel or address in Athens — Syntagma, Plaka, Monastiraki or elsewhere — at Athens railway station, at Piraeus port or at Athens Airport (ATH).
Per vehicle, not per person. Every quote includes tolls, fuel, assistance with loading and unloading luggage, and child seats available on request.
Picked up and dropped off at your exact address
Motorway tolls covered, no extras
Short photo stops may be included where operationally possible
Professional, local, English-speaking driver
Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) lies south-east of the city. If you fly in and want to go straight on to Athens, we start at the terminal — mention the airport pickup and your flight number in your request. Airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting.
From Athens we also drive to Delphi, about 178 km to the north-west.
Starting in Athens? Athens to Thessaloniki covers the drive north from your Athens hotel, Piraeus or the airport.
Athens → Thessaloniki →The drive south leaves Thessaloniki by its western entrance and follows the A1 Athens–Thessaloniki motorway for almost the whole journey: past Katerini, through northern Thessaly by Tempi, around Larissa, on to Lamia and past Thermopylae and Thebes into Athens. It is about 499 km and 5h 45m of driving to central Athens, before traffic and breaks.
Hellenic Train runs direct trains between Thessaloniki and Athens, and KTEL coaches leave from the Thessaloniki (Macedonia) bus station for Athens; check the current timetable before travelling. A private transfer is the option when you want to stop at Dion or Thermopylae, when you are heading straight for a ferry at Piraeus or a flight from Athens Airport, or when you have luggage you would rather not carry between stations.
This is a domestic journey inside Greece with no border, on motorway almost all the way. The times on this page are free-flow driving times; the approach into Athens can be slow at busy hours. On a drive this long a comfort stop can be planned on request — tell us where you would like to break the journey.
We pick up from hotels and addresses in Thessaloniki, from the railway station and from Thessaloniki Airport (SKG). Address pickups include 15 minutes of free waiting, airport pickups 60 minutes. In Athens we drop off at your hotel or address, at Athens railway station, at Piraeus port (about 12 km from central Athens by road) or at Athens Airport (ATH).
Everything specific to this route.
About 499 km, roughly 5h 45m on the A1 motorway without traffic or stops. Allow extra time for breaks and for traffic coming into Athens.
Yes. Hellenic Train runs direct trains between Thessaloniki and Athens; check the current timetable before travelling.
Yes. KTEL coaches leave from the Thessaloniki (Macedonia) bus station for Athens; check the current timetable before travelling.
Yes. Piraeus port is about 12 km by road from central Athens. Tell us your sailing time so the departure from Thessaloniki leaves enough margin.
Yes. Dion and Litochoro lie just off the A1 south of Thessaloniki, with Mount Olympus to the west. Mention the stops in your request and add the time you want to spend at each.
Yes. We start at Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) if you are flying in, with 60 minutes of free waiting. Send your flight number with your request.
This route is priced on request. We quote per vehicle, not per passenger, for your date, group and any stops, and you receive the quote in writing before anything is confirmed.
Request this transfer with your date, pickup point or flight number in Thessaloniki, where you need to be in Athens, any ferry or flight time, group size and the stops you would like. We reply during our working hours with a written quote per vehicle.
More from Thessaloniki: See all Thessaloniki private transfers →