Information about Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki also known in English as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece.
Thessaloniki is Greece’s second major economic, industrial, commercial and political centre, and a major transportation hub for the rest of southeastern Europe; its commercial port is also of great importance for Greece and the southeastern European hinterland. The city is renowned for its festivals, events and vibrant cultural life in general, and is considered to be Greece’s cultural capital. Events such as the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair and the Thessaloniki International Film Festival are held annually.
Thessaloniki enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate. Especially during summer, the weather is generally hot and dry, with an average daily high temperature of 30°C. Locals and visitors can enjoy during this period not only the long waterfront of the city, but also the nearby beaches. Weather updates for Thessaloniki can be found here.
Useful Links
- Visit Thessaloniki
- The ultimate guide for Thessaloniki
- Thessaloniki Tourism: The tourism guide for official travellers
- Experience and Explore Thessaloniki
- Why you should visit Thessaloniki
- Best Free Things to Do in Thessaloniki
- Thessaloniki Tourism Organization
Visa Information
Conference travellers are urged to consider whether they need a visa to travel to Greece. Any foreign citizen who in accordance with the law does not need a permit to enter the country may stay in Greece for no more than 90 days in a period of six months. Greece has been part of the Schengen zone since 2000.
A country-specific visa information (requirements by country registry) is provided at the Greek Government website:
https://www.mfa.gr/en/visas/visas-for-foreigners-traveling-to-greece/
Venue
The International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) Networking 2024 Conference (NETWORKING 2024) will be held in the Aristotle University premises in Thessaloniki, Greece, in particular at the Research Dissemination Center which is placed at September 3rd - Panepistimioupoli.
Transportation
The International Airport ‘Macedonia’ (SKG), which has been recently renovated, is located 16 km outside the city and served by many major airlines (https://www.skg-airport.gr). Visitors can travel from Thessaloniki airport to the city centre using two different means of transport:
- Bus: The airport is served by the 24-hour bus line 78 (or 78N during night) from OASTH. Line 78 starts from Macedonia Central Bus Station, stops at the Railway Station of Thessaloniki and arrives to the airport through the city center. Line 78A travels the same route with the difference, that it makes an additional stop at the A.S. IKEA bus station. At the Railway Station and A.S. IKEA bus stops, passengers can find many connections with many other major bus lines.
- Taxi: The fastest transport option from the airport to the city centre is getting a taxi. Taxis are available at the arrivals area between T1 and T2 (between exit 3 and 4) and take around 25-30 minutes to reach the city centre.
The conference venue can be reached on foot, by car or by public transport
- Βus numbers 2, 7,14,58 Bus Stop University of Macedonia
- Bus numbers 17,24,37 Bus Stop Fititiki Leschi
- Bus numbers 10,31 Bus Stop Agia Foteini - University of Macedonia
- Bus numbers 27,28,83 End of lines
Details on the bus routes are available at the OASTH web site (Thessaloniki Urban Transport Organization)
The cost for a regular OASTH bus ticket is 0.90 euro and it is valid for a single, one-way route.
For more information regarding all the available types of tickets and cards, their fares and discounts, click here. You can purchase your tickets from: 1) the ticket booths of OASTH at various spots around the city (you can find them here ), 2) certain traditional Greek kiosks and 3) certain small grocery stores. You can also issue the main types of tickets directly on the bus by using the automatic, coin-operated vending machines (first select your ticket and then insert at least the exact amount of coins – no change is given).