Is an International Driving Permit required at Thessaloniki Airport SKG? How far is Thessaloniki Airport from Kassandra, Sithonia, and Ouranoupoli? Should I choose CDW, SCDW, FDW, or zero excess? Can I pick up a car and drive to Ammouliani the same day? Which operators are easiest for airport pickup in Halkidiki? Related guides Airport Landing at Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG), also called Thessaloniki International Airport Makedonia, puts you on the fastest road link to the Halkidiki / Chalkidiki peninsula, including Kassandra, Sithonia, Ouranoupoli, Ammouliani, Kallithea, Hanioti, Pefkohori, Afytos, Nikiti, Neos Marmaras, Sarti, Vourvourou, Psakoudia, and Polygyros. The pickup process at SKG is usually simple: some operators use a counter in the arrivals hall on the ground floor of Terminal 1 or Terminal 2, while others use a meet-and-greet point with a shuttle bus to an off-airport office near Parking No. 5. Thessaloniki Airport SKG uses a two-terminal layout with Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, and rental handover usually starts in the arrivals hall on the ground floor or at a pre-arranged outdoor meeting point. The practical difference is simple: an on-airport desk means you walk to the counter and sign the rental agreement, while an off-airport supplier means a staff member meets you and transfers you by shuttle bus or direct delivery. ✅ On-airport desk — Brands such as Sixt, Hertz, Avis, and Budget may operate from an arrivals-hall counter, and the vehicle is usually parked in a nearby airport lot after paperwork is complete. ✅ Shuttle-bus pickup — Local firms such as 4rent Thessaloniki, SKG Rent A Car, and some branches of Hellascar or Cosmorent may meet you at a marked point and drive you to an office a few minutes away. ✅ Meet-and-greet delivery — Companies such as Haniotis Cars, DRIVE4U, and Chalkidiki Rent a Car (Nikiti) may bring the car to the airport or a hotel, which is useful if you are heading directly to Kassandra or Sithonia. The pickup model matters because SIXT, Budget, Hertz, Avis, Haniotis Cars, DRIVE4U, and other operators do not all use the same desk, shuttle, or delivery workflow at Thessaloniki Airport. For comparison, a typical economy booking may show €18/day for a Hyundai i10 manual with unlimited kilometers, CDW, and TP, while a small automatic may be €26/day for a Toyota Yaris Auto with excess/deductible protection added separately. Company Pickup Type Location & Instructions Sixt On-airport desk Counter in the arrivals hall on the ground floor, with collection instructions usually printed on the voucher. Hertz On-airport or shuttle Pickup may be at the terminal counter or a short transfer point depending on the season and vehicle class. Avis On-airport or shuttle Confirm the voucher because Avis may use a desk in one period and a shuttle bus in another. Budget Off-airport shuttle A representative may meet customers near the departures exit before a short transfer to the office. SKG Rent A Car Off-airport shuttle Shuttle meeting point may be Parking No. 5 near Terminal 1. 4rent Thessaloniki Off-airport shuttle Free shuttle bus is often used, and some bookings include hotel or Airbnb delivery. Haniotis Cars Meet-and-greet Airport pickup may be arranged directly, which is convenient for routes toward Kassandra and Pefkohori. DRIVE4U Meet-and-greet Airport delivery is commonly available, with many bookings including a minimum rental period. Chalkidiki Cars Local operator Service can be arranged for airport collection or destination delivery in Halkidiki / Chalkidiki. Chalkidiki Rent a Car (Nikiti) Local operator Useful for travelers whose final stop is Nikiti, Neos Marmaras, or Sarti. 💡 Tip: If your trip ends in Vourvourou, Sarti, or Mount Athos / Agion Oros, ask for the operator’s exact handover location before booking so the vehicle can be released without delay. Compare Car Rental Deals The main driver at Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG) should carry a valid license, a passport or national ID, and a credit card in the driver’s name because the operator will usually place a preauthorisation for the deposit. A common price structure is €200-€1,200 preauthorisation, depending on car class, age of driver, and whether the booking includes CDW (Collision Damage Waiver), SCDW (Super CDW), FDW (Full Damage Waiver), TP (Theft Protection), or a zero excess package. Full valid driving licence Most operators require at least 1 year of licence holding time, and some fleets such as Hyundai i10 Auto, Peugeot 208, or Toyota Yaris Hybrid may require a longer minimum for automatic vehicles. Passport or national ID card Rental desks in the arrivals hall use this for identity checks and contract matching. Credit card in the main driver’s name The card is typically used for the deposit preauthorisation, franchise, and any optional extras such as child seats or additional drivers. A frequent document issue concerns the International Driving Permit (IDP), and Law 4850/2021 (ΦΕΚ A 208) recognizes certain non-EU licenses without an IDP for visitors from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Gibraltar. An IDP can still help with a desk-level dispute, especially if a staff member follows an outdated internal rule, and the cost is usually around $20 at AAA in the US or £5.50 at a UK Post Office. For local driving rules and insurance wording, see our guide on Greek driving rules for foreign drivers. ⚠️ Warning: A rental agent may block pickup if the card is debit-only, the name on the card does not match the main driver, or the booking was made under a different passport spelling. Insurance at Thessaloniki Airport is usually sold as a layered product: CDW reduces the collision liability, SCDW lowers the excess/deductible, FDW can remove most damage liability, TP covers theft, and some suppliers add WUG (Wheels, Undercarriage, Glass) protection for pothole and stone-chip risk on peninsula roads. A typical add-on might cost €8-€22/day for SCDW, while a fuller package may be €15-€35/day for zero excess or full coverage on a small car such as a Seat Ibiza, Hyundai i20, or Opel Corsa. Insurance term What it usually covers Typical note at SKG CDW Collision damage with a remaining excess/deductible Commonly included in base rates. SCDW Reduces the franchise/excess Often sold as an upgrade at the counter. FDW Broad damage waiver with fewer exclusions May still exclude tyres, glass, or underbody. TP Theft protection Usually paired with CDW. WUG Wheels, undercarriage, glass Important for rough parking or road debris. Zero excess No deductible payable for covered damage Usually the highest-priced option. RentSafe / rentacar-halkidiki.com, Eco-Motion, Egorentals, Alphadrive, Rideanddrive, and Grcrentals often present multiple coverage tiers, so compare the exact exclusion list before accepting the counter offer. If you plan to drive to Mount Itamos, Holomontas, or remote beaches near Sithonia, a package with WUG plus low or zero excess can be more practical than a cheaper base rate. A realistic pickup window at Thessaloniki International Airport SKG is 45-90 minutes from touchdown to driving away, and a late-summer arrival can stretch longer if several flights land together. The usual time blocks are 15-30 minutes for immigration, 15-25 minutes for baggage claim, 5-10 minutes to find the desk or meeting point, 5-15 minutes for shuttle transfer, and 15-20 minutes for paperwork and vehicle inspection. Stage Typical time Practical note Immigration 15-30 minutes Non-Schengen queues can be longer in July and August. Baggage claim 15-25 minutes A delayed belt can add extra waiting time. Desk or meeting point 5-10 minutes Follow the voucher instructions carefully. Shuttle transfer 5-15 minutes Off-airport offices near the airport keep the transfer short. Contract and inspection 15-20 minutes Photos of scratches and fuel level reduce disputes later. Tourist Police Polygyros and Hellenic Consumers' Ombudsman (Συνήγορος του Καταναλωτή) both handle consumer complaints in Greece, so a clear photos-and-signature handover helps if you later dispute a damage charge. The practical exception is peak turnover days, when one late aircraft or a queue at the ground floor desk can add 20-30 minutes beyond the usual estimate. The most direct airport exit from Thessaloniki Airport SKG follows the A24/A25 corridor and then the Egnatia Odos (E90) network toward Nea Moudania, where the road splits for Kassandra, Sithonia, and the eastern routes to Mount Athos / Agion Oros. The common routes are signed clearly, and the airport-to-peninsula drive is usually toll-free until you leave the Thessaloniki metro area. Destination Approx. distance Typical drive time Useful road note Kallithea, Kassandra 75 km 60-75 minutes Good first-night base for west-coast beaches. Hanioti / Pefkohori 85 km 70-90 minutes Drive via Nea Moudania and the Kassandra loop. Nikiti, Sithonia 90 km 75-90 minutes Convenient for ferry-free access to central Sithonia. Neos Marmaras 120 km 95-120 minutes Best reached after a fuel stop near Nea Moudania or Nikiti. Ouranoupoli 140 km 2-2.5 hours Use this route for the Mount Athos Pilgrims' Bureau area. 💡 Tip: If your hotel is in Ammouliani, park near Trypiti and use the island ferry because Ammouliani Lines runs the short connection, which is usually easier than trying to drive every kilometer of the peninsula. ⚠️ Warning: The Thessaloniki Flyover roadworks and other temporary lane changes can affect the city exit, so allow extra time if your flight arrives during the morning or evening rush. Fuel prices can vary by village, and a station in Nea Moudania, Kallithea, Nikiti, Psakoudia, or Polygyros may be cheaper than a remote coastal pump by €0.03-€0.07 per litre. The legal toll picture is also simple for most first-time visitors: Law 5209/2025 (ΦΕΚ 100/Α/13-6-2025) continues to govern road-use penalties and enforcement, while the airport-to-Halkidiki route itself is usually toll-free unless you continue to other highways such as the E75 or E65. A private transfer is the cleanest fallback when a flight lands late, when a traveler is exhausted, or when the group plans to collect a rental car the following morning rather than immediately at SKG. A realistic price example is €55-€90 for a sedan transfer to Kassandra or €95-€150 for a van transfer to Sithonia, and operators such as DRIVE4U, Hellascar, and Cosmorent can arrange the handover with your accommodation or a nearby office. Transfer option Best for Typical note Private sedan 1-3 passengers Fastest door-to-door option for a single hotel stop. Minivan 4-9 passengers Better for families with luggage and child seats. Next-day delivery Arrivals after midnight Useful when the driver wants a fresh start after rest. Haniotis Cars and Chalkidiki Auto & Moto both offer delivery-style arrangements in some cases, which can be useful if you stay in Kallithea, Hanioti, Pefkohori, or Afytos. If your plan includes Mount Athos / Agion Oros, remember that access rules are stricter and you may need to confirm permits before driving to the Mount Athos Pilgrims' Bureau area in Ouranoupoli. ⚠️ Warning: A late-night airport arrival can make counter pickup slower because some off-airport offices close earlier than the last scheduled flight, so pre-booking a transfer is often safer than relying on walk-up service. Item Direct answer Useful detail Desk location Arrivals hall on the ground floor Check whether your operator uses Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 access. Pickup method Counter, shuttle bus, or meet-and-greet Sixt often uses a counter, while Budget and SKG Rent A Car often use shuttle pickup. Documents License, passport/ID, credit card The credit card is used for preauthorisation and the rental franchise. Insurance CDW, SCDW, FDW, TP, WUG, zero excess Ask exactly what the excess/deductible is before signing. Timing 45-90 minutes Summer peaks can extend the process. Directions Follow A24/A25 toward Nea Moudania Continue toward Kassandra, Sithonia, or Ouranoupoli. 💡 Tip: If you are driving straight to Vourvourou, Sarti, or Neos Marmaras, pick up water, snacks, and fuel before leaving the airport zone because late-evening coastal services can be limited. ⚠️ Warning: If the contract does not list the exact excess/deductible, ask the agent to write it down before you sign, because verbal promises are harder to dispute with ECC Greece or the Hellenic Consumers' Ombudsman later. Is an International Driving Permit required at Thessaloniki Airport SKG? An International Driving Permit is not legally required for many visitors from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Gibraltar under Law 4850/2021, but some rental desks may still ask for one. The legal exception is specific to recognized national licences, and a common fallback cost is about $20 at AAA or £5.50 at a UK Post Office. If you are unsure, carry one anyway because an on-site agent can refuse service if the name format or licence class looks unclear. How far is Thessaloniki Airport from Kassandra, Sithonia, and Ouranoupoli? Thessaloniki Airport is about 75 km from Kallithea in Kassandra, 90 km from Nikiti in Sithonia, and 140 km from Ouranoupoli near Mount Athos / Agion Oros. That usually means 60-75 minutes to Kassandra, 75-90 minutes to Nikiti, and 2-2.5 hours to Ouranoupoli when traffic is normal. Delays from the Thessaloniki Flyover or summer congestion can add 15-30 minutes. Should I choose CDW, SCDW, FDW, or zero excess? A zero-excess or FDW package is the simplest option if you want the lowest possible out-of-pocket risk at pickup. Base rates often include CDW, while SCDW lowers the excess/deductible and zero excess removes it almost entirely, with typical add-on pricing of €8-€35/day depending on the car class and season. Tyres, glass, undercarriage, and wheel damage can still sit outside a basic package unless WUG is specifically listed. Can I pick up a car and drive to Ammouliani the same day? Yes, you can pick up a car at Thessaloniki Airport SKG and continue to Ammouliani on the same day if the ferry timing works. The usual route is SKG → Nea Moudania → Trypiti → Ammouliani Lines ferry, and the island transfer adds a small waiting buffer for the boat schedule. If you land late, a next-day pickup or hotel delivery can be easier than racing the last ferry. Which operators are easiest for airport pickup in Halkidiki? Sixt, Hertz, and Avis are often easiest for direct counter pickup, while Budget, SKG Rent A Car, and 4rent Thessaloniki are commonly used for shuttle transfers. Local operators such as Haniotis Cars, Chalkidiki Cars, DRIVE4U, Eco-Motion, and Lord of the Rental Car may offer meet-and-greet or hotel delivery, which is useful for Kassandra and Sithonia itineraries. Availability changes by date, so the voucher remains the final authority. ⚠️ Warning: Always confirm the exact pickup point in the voucher and keep your flight number updated, because a delayed arrival can change the meeting location or staff assignment.