First Time in Greece: Thessaloniki First, Then Athens (2026 Guide)

If this is your first trip to Greece, you probably have the same questions as everyone else: how do I get a visa, how do I get from the airport into town, will my card work, will my phone work, what will I eat? This guide answers them in order, starting with Thessaloniki and then Athens. Some parts are written for travellers from Türkiye, our largest group of visitors. Prices and opening hours were compiled in October 2026. Check official sources once more before you travel.

In short

• Turkish citizens need a Schengen visa for Thessaloniki and Athens. The visa fee for adults is €90.
• In Thessaloniki, the airport bus to the centre costs €2 and a taxi about €25. In Athens, the airport metro costs €9 and taxis charge a flat fare.
• Since 27 August 2026 the Thessaloniki metro also runs to Kalamaria. A ticket costs €0.60.
• Gyros and souvlaki are usually made with pork or chicken. Say "kotopoulo" for chicken.
• The house where Atatürk was born, in Thessaloniki, is open to visitors and free to enter.

Before you go: visa and entry

Turkish citizens need a Schengen short-stay (type C) visa to enter Greece. The visa fee is €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6–12. Applications go through the service provider authorised by Greece, which charges its own service fee on top.

• Apply no earlier than 6 months and no later than 15 days before you travel. A decision normally takes 15 days but can take up to 45.
• You need travel medical insurance with at least €30,000 of cover.
• Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after your return date and must have been issued within the last 10 years.
• Since 10 April 2026 Europe's new Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully in operation. Your fingerprints and photo are taken on your first entry, so passport control may take a little longer.

The visa on arrival offered on some Aegean islands does not cover Thessaloniki or Athens. It applies only on 12 islands (such as Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Rhodes and Kos), allows a stay of up to 7 days, and does not allow travel to the mainland.

If you hold a Golden Visa residence card, you enter Greece without a visa. You can also stay up to 90 days in any 180 in the other Schengen countries.

Getting there from Türkiye

• By air: There are direct flights from Istanbul to Athens and Thessaloniki. Schedules change with the season, so check the current timetable with the airline.
• By bus: Several buses a day run from Istanbul's Esenler bus station to Thessaloniki. The trip takes about 9–11 hours including the border crossing.
• By car: The land border crossings are Ipsala–Kipoi and Pazarkule–Kastanies. Before you leave, ask your insurer whether your car insurance (green card) covers Greece.

Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki is a city where visitors from Türkiye quickly feel at home. It has a long seafront, a walkable centre, good-value food and a lively student scene. For many Turkish visitors it also matters that Atatürk was born here.

From the airport to the city

• Bus: Line 01X (night line 01N) goes to the centre, the New Railway Station and the intercity bus station (KTEL Makedonia). Line 2X goes to Nea Elvetia and 3X to Mikra, both metro interchanges. The stop is in front of Exit 4 of Terminal 1. A ticket costs €2 and is valid for 70 minutes. Buy it from the booth or a ticket machine. The ride to the centre takes about 40–50 minutes depending on traffic.
• Taxi: The fare to the centre is €25, or €35 at night (00:00–05:00). In September 2026 a rise to €28 and €38 was announced. Confirm the fare with the driver before you get in.

There is no metro to the airport yet.

Getting around

• Metro: It opened in November 2024 and runs between the New Railway Station and Nea Elvetia. Its central stations are Venizelou, Agias Sofias and Sintrivani. Since 27 August 2026 it also runs on the Kalamaria branch (Nomarchia, Kalamaria, Aretsou, Nea Krini, Mikra). The metro opens at 05:15 every day. It runs until 00:30 from Sunday to Thursday and until 02:00 on Friday and Saturday.
• Tickets: A single ride costs €0.60, a 10+1 ticket €5.80 and a 24-hour ticket €2.50. Paper tickets were withdrawn on 1 January 2026. The ThessTicket card is sold at ticket machines, which accept bank cards and contactless payment.
• Bus: A ticket costs €0.60 and allows transfers within 70 minutes.
• Taxi: The FreeNow and Uber apps book licensed taxis. The minimum taxi fare is €4.

What to see

• The house where Atatürk was born: At Apostolou Pavlou 75, inside the grounds of the Turkish Consulate General. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00–17:00, and entry is free. It reopened in November 2025 after 11 months of restoration. Its three floors cover the history of the house, an ethnographic section and Atatürk's years in Thessaloniki. On busy days visitors are let in in groups. Bring your ID.
• White Tower: Open every day until 21:00 until 1 November 2026. The view of the bay from the top is excellent.
• The seafront (Nea Paralia) and the Umbrellas: The promenade from the White Tower towards Kalamaria is the city's walking and cycling route. George Zongolopoulos's Umbrellas sculpture is the favourite spot at sunset.
• The Rotunda, Hagia Sophia and the Arch of Galerius (Kamara): Roman and Byzantine landmarks in the city centre, all within walking distance of each other.
• Ano Poli (the Upper Town) and Heptapyrgion: Narrow streets, old houses and the city walls. Heptapyrgion (Yedikule) is closed on Tuesdays.
• Ladadika and the Modiano and Kapani markets: Go to Ladadika for dinner, and to the markets for shopping and street food.

What to eat in Thessaloniki

• Bougatsa: Thessaloniki's breakfast. A filo pastry with custard or cheese, dusted with icing sugar and cinnamon.
• Gyros and souvlaki: A gyros pita costs about €3.50–6 in Thessaloniki. It is usually made with pork (hirino) or chicken (kotopoulo). If you want chicken, just say "kotopoulo".
• Coffee: A freddo espresso costs €2.80–3.30 on average. Greek coffee (ellinikos kafes) is very close to Turkish coffee.

If you are looking for halal food, options in Thessaloniki are limited. Search "halal" on a map and always ask where the meat comes from.

Athens

Athens is bigger, busier and more expensive than Thessaloniki. With its ancient sites, the beaches of the Athens Riviera and the port of Piraeus, there is a great deal to see. Three or four days is a good start for a first visit.

From the airport to the city

• Metro (line 3): €9 one way and €16 return to Syntagma Square. The trip takes about 35–45 minutes. A standard city ticket is not valid to or from the airport.
• X95 bus: Goes to Syntagma and costs €5.50. It runs 24 hours. The trip takes 45–75 minutes depending on traffic. Line X96 goes to Piraeus.
• Taxi: A flat fare applies to the centre. For a long time it was €40 by day and €55 at night. In September 2026 a rise to €50 and €65 was announced. Confirm the flat fare before you get in.

Getting around

• Tickets: A ticket valid for 90 minutes on the metro, buses, trams and trolleybuses costs €1.20. A 24-hour ticket costs €4.10 and a 5-day ticket €8.20. Children under six travel free.
• Metro: The most useful central stations are Syntagma, Monastiraki, Akropoli and Omonia. Watch your wallet and phone on crowded trains and in tourist areas.
• Taxi: As in Thessaloniki, you can book licensed taxis with FreeNow and Uber.

What to see

• The Acropolis: A ticket costs €30, with reductions for students and young people. Timed entry is required all year, and tickets are sold on the official site, hhticket.gr. The Acropolis is open 08:00–19:30 in summer and 08:00–17:00 in winter. The early-morning and last evening slots sell out first. In July 2024 and 2025 it was closed at midday on extremely hot days. If you go in summer, take the first slot of the morning.
• The Acropolis Museum: Needs a separate ticket. The price varies by season and is about €20. It stays open late on Friday evenings.
• Plaka and Monastiraki: The old neighbourhoods at the foot of the Acropolis. Best seen on foot, and very lively in the evening.
• Lycabettus Hill: The highest viewpoint in the city. Go at sunset.
• The Athens Riviera: The beaches of Glyfada, Voula and Vouliagmeni are about half an hour from the centre by car. The tram goes there too, but more slowly.
• Piraeus: The port for ferries to the islands. Its fish restaurants at Mikrolimano are well known.

Mosque and halal food in Athens

Athens's official mosque is at Iera Odos 144 in Votanikos and opened in 2020. Ask in advance about visiting or attending prayers. The area around Omonia has many halal restaurants and kebab shops.

Money, cards and shopping

• The currency is the euro. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but carry some cash for small kiosks and some tavernas.
• ATMs: Use banks' own ATMs. Independent ATMs may charge extra. If a cash machine or card terminal offers to charge you in your own currency, decline and choose euros. The markup on this conversion can reach 13%. Your own bank may also charge fees and an exchange margin.
• Tax-free shopping: If you live outside the EU and are over 18, you can claim a VAT refund on purchases of at least €50 per receipt. Show your passport in the shop and ask for the form. The goods must leave the EU unused within 3 months. At the airport, get the customs stamp before check-in and collect the refund at the desk after security.
• Tipping: It is not compulsory. Rounding up in cafés and leaving 5–10% in tavernas is common. The "kouver" you may see on the bill is a charge for bread and water, not a tip.
• Sundays: Most shops are closed, except on a few Sundays set in advance. Plan your shopping for Saturday.

Phone and internet

A Turkish SIM is not covered by EU roaming rules, so your operator's international roaming rates apply in Greece. If you stay for more than a few days, a Greek SIM may be cheaper. Tourist packs from Cosmote, Vodafone and Nova cost about €15–18 for 10–20 GB over 30 days. You need your passport to register a SIM or an eSIM.

Health, safety and emergencies

• Emergency numbers: 112 (general emergency), 166 (ambulance), 100 (police), 199 (fire), 1571 (tourist police).
• Pharmacies on duty: Listed on vrisko.gr.
• Tap water: Considered safe to drink in Athens and Thessaloniki. On the islands, prefer bottled water.
• Smoking: Banned indoors, including restaurants, bars, public transport and taxis.
• Weather: In July and August temperatures in Athens can pass 35–40°C. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for sightseeing.

Turkish diplomatic missions

• Consulate General in Thessaloniki: Agiou Dimitriou 151. Phone +30 2310 965 070. Open weekdays 09:00–17:00.
• Embassy in Athens: Vasileos Georgiou B' 11. Phone +30 210 726 30 00.
• Consular Call Centre (24/7): +90 312 292 29 29.

A few useful Greek words

• Kalimera: Good morning
• Kalispera: Good evening
• Efharisto: Thank you
• Parakalo: Please / You're welcome
• Signomi: Excuse me / Sorry
• Ne / Ohi: Yes / No (careful: "ne" means yes)
• Poso kani?: How much is it?
• Ton logariasmo, parakalo: The bill, please
• Pou ine...?: Where is...?
• Milate Anglika?: Do you speak English?

If you speak Turkish, many words on the menu will look familiar: kafes (kahve), tsai (çay), yiaourti (yoğurt), tzatziki (cacık), keftedes (köfte), ntolmades (dolma), baklavas (baklava), loukoumi (lokum) and meze.

If you are coming to look at homes

If you are combining your trip with property viewings, plan two things in advance:

1. A Greek tax number (AFM): Required for the deed. You can get it in person at a tax office, through myAADElive (the Greek tax authority's video service), or through a representative you give power of attorney to. You are usually asked for your passport, your parents' names, your address abroad, your foreign tax number and a mobile number.
2. A Greek bank account: Banks ask for your passport and AFM. They often also ask for proof of address and documents showing where your money comes from. You will need to visit a branch at least once to sign.

We cover all the buying costs in The total cost of buying a home in Greece. You can compare areas in our neighbourhood guide and browse listings in our portfolio.

Sources

• European Commission: applying for a Schengen visa
• Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority: EES in full operation from 10 April 2026
• Euronews: Greece's visa on arrival for the Aegean islands (July 2026)
• Thessaloniki Airport: getting to the city
• Protothema: the Kalamaria metro extension opens (August 2026)
• Thessaloniki Travel: the residence of Kemal Atatürk
• Museum of Byzantine Culture: White Tower extended hours
• To Vima: airport taxi fares to rise (September 2026)
• Athens Tourism: from the airport to the city centre
• Athens Tourism: Acropolis tickets
• Turkish Consulate General in Thessaloniki: contact
• Turkish Embassy in Athens: contact

Prices, opening hours and rules were compiled as of October 2026 and may change. Check official sources before you travel.