How to Get to Sarti from Thessaloniki: Car, Bus and Transfer

Most guests reach Sarti through Thessaloniki "Makedonia" airport (SKG) or by staying in the city first. The village is further than many people expect, and some websites say it is about an hour away. It is not. This guide gives the realistic journey time, the route by car, how the KTEL bus works, and what to know about taxis, car hire and parking once you arrive.

How long does it take?

Plan on about two hours. From Thessaloniki Airport to Sarti the road distance is about 130 km, a drive of about 125 minutes in free-flowing traffic. From the city centre it is about 141 km and about 137 minutes. Free-flow means no traffic, no stops and no summer queues.

Depending on your exact starting point and route, you will see figures between about 130 and 145 km. The simple summary is about 130 to 145 km and about two hours.

Approximate drive times from Thessaloniki to other points on the way: Metamorfosi 95.1 km (1:12), Nikiti 102 km (1:20), Vourvourou 117 km (1:32), Neos Marmaras 122 km (1:34), Toroni 141 km (1:55) and Sarti 144 km (1:57). It is a useful reminder that Sarti is at the far end of the peninsula. For how Sarti sits in the wider region, see our complete guide to Sarti and our Chalkidiki overview. If you are coming from further afield, see how to get to Chalkidiki for flights, buses, ferries and driving.

By car from the airport or the city

The airport lies about 13 km from the centre of Thessaloniki, and it handled 7,982,798 passengers in 2025. The route to Sithonia leaves Thessaloniki on the A24 motorway towards Nea Moudania. (You may also see the Chalkidiki motorway called the A25.)

The route in outline

The drive runs as follows:

1. Skip the airport exit and continue about 80 km on the expressway towards Chalkidiki.
2. Take the road signed for Sithonia at the crossroads before Nea Moudania. The A24 has an exit signed "Nea Moudania east / Sithonia / Polygyros".
3. The first Sithonia settlement is Metamorfosi. From there, follow the signs south and east towards Sarti.

There are few rest areas on the way, and speed limits are enforced. Thessaloniki to Nea Moudania is about 60 km and around 50 minutes, usually without a toll, but check a live map for tolls and roadworks on the day.

In summer

The A24 is the main route to Sithonia but gets congested on summer weekends. Allow extra time in July and August, and treat the 125 minutes as a floor, not an estimate. Our guide to Sarti in July and August says more about what to expect in peak season.

By KTEL Chalkidikis bus

KTEL Chalkidikis (ΚΤΕΛ Χαλκιδικής) is the intercity bus operator for Chalkidiki. Its official site is ktel-chalkidikis.gr (opens in a new tab), with a hyphen.

Where the bus leaves from

Buses to Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos, Sarti included, leave only from the KTEL Chalkidikis station at the east exit of Thessaloniki, not from KTEL Macedonia. To reach the station, city bus line 45 runs from KTEL Macedonia along Egnatia Street, which is easier with luggage. Alternatively, take lines 2K or 3K to the IKEA terminal and then line 36.

The station is at km 9 of the National Road. From the airport you can take OASTH bus 79 to the IKEA stop and then bus 36, or a taxi, which cost about EUR 10 to 15 in 2022. Airport city bus lines 01X and 01N serve the airport, but they go to the city, not to Chalkidiki. City bus numbers change, so check OASTH before you go.

Tickets, times and fares

Tickets can be bought at the station counter or on the official website. In autumn 2026 there were three buses a day each way between Thessaloniki and Sarti, calling at Nikiti and Neos Marmaras, with the same pattern on weekdays and weekends. The journey from Thessaloniki to Sarti takes about 3 hours 25 minutes to 3 hours 50 minutes, and the other way a little less. The full one-way fare from Thessaloniki to Sarti was EUR 22.00, with reduced fares of EUR 11.00 and EUR 16.50 and a return at EUR 39.60.

Departure times change with the season, and the summer schedule can differ, so check the timetable and fare for your date on the official KTEL Chalkidikis site before you plan around the bus. Plan on reaching the station by city bus or taxi rather than catching the KTEL at the airport.

By transfer or taxi

A pre-booked transfer is the easiest option after a flight. Some 2022 examples for the airport to Sarti (about two hours):

• Halkidiki.Taxi: EUR 100 to 160.
• Lion Transfer: EUR 115.
• Hellas Chauffeur: about EUR 115.

In the same year the airport to Nikiti was EUR 70 to 135 and to Neos Marmaras at EUR 85 to 135, with the range depending on the vehicle. These are examples, not recommendations, and the prices are from 2022. Get a quote for your date, and ask for the all-in price to Sarti.

Car hire

Many rental companies operate at Thessaloniki airport, from budget to luxury. Prices vary a lot by season, so compare offers before you fly. Our article on renting a car and driving in Chalkidiki covers the driving side. A car or motorbike is the best way to get around Sithonia: once in Sarti, most beaches and villages are a drive away.

Parking in Sarti

Old Sarti has a pedestrian zone and parking is difficult. New Sarti has easy parking. Sarti beach is about 2.5 km long, and parking is easier at the New Sarti end. If you are staying with us, there is free parking at Sarti Thea Boutique Rooms, in Achlada on the hill above Sarti harbour, so you can leave the car on site; dates are on our booking page.

Which option suits you?

In our view, the facts above point one way.

• Self-drive suits anyone who wants to see more than the village. Sithonia's beaches and villages are spread out, so a car or motorbike makes life much easier. It also gives you control over the stops, which matters on a two-hour drive after a flight.
• A transfer suits travellers who land late or tired, or who do not want to drive abroad. You pay for the convenience, and the 2022 examples show how wide the range is, so compare quotes for your date.
• The bus can work for a light-luggage traveller without a car, but it takes about 3.5 hours, the summer timetable can change, and a city bus connection is needed to reach the station first, so it is the option that needs the most homework. If you choose it, confirm every leg in advance. For life in the village without a car, see getting around Sarti without a car.

Planning your arrival day

A few practical thoughts.

First, add the airport formalities to the drive. The 125 minutes begin when you are in the car, not when the plane lands. Second, remember that the route has few rest areas, so fill the tank and stock up on water before you leave the Thessaloniki area. Third, check-in at the hotel is from 14:00 and reception is open 09:00 to 21:00, so if you expect to arrive after 21:00, let us know your time in advance. Finally, park at the hotel, where parking is free; if you drive into the village later, leave the car in New Sarti where parking is easy, then walk into the older part.

A note on the numbers

Every distance and time on this page is a planning aid. Drive times assume free-flowing traffic, and the taxi and bus figures are examples. Where the exact kilometres vary by route, we give a range. Roads, bus numbers and prices change, so check each item that matters to your trip close to the date.

Leaving at the end of your stay

Allow for the two-hour drive when you plan your flight. Check-out is by 11:00. For a morning departure, check whether you are happy with an early start, and for an evening flight consider the summer traffic on the A24. If you plan a city visit before flying, our guide to a day trip to Thessaloniki covers it from the Sarti side.

Quick comparison

Practical info

• Distance: about 130 km from the airport and about 141 km from the city centre.
• Time: about two hours, not one.
• Road: the A24 towards Nea Moudania, then the Sithonia exit via Metamorfosi.
• Bus: from the KTEL Chalkidikis station; three a day each way in autumn 2026, about 3 h 25 to 3 h 50, EUR 22.00 one way; check the summer schedule.
• Transfers: 2022 price examples only; get a current quote.
• Parking: free at the hotel; easy in New Sarti, difficult in Old Sarti.
• Check before travelling: KTEL times and fares for your date, tolls, car hire availability and current transfer prices.