The public transportation zones in Thessaloniki are divided into two main categories, Urban and Suburban, with a clear geographical designation of the areas they cover:

1. Urban Zone

The Urban Zone includes the central and immediate surrounding areas of Thessaloniki, as well as central municipalities. Specifically, the Urban Zone, as defined, covers:

• Municipality of Ampelokipoi - Menemeni

• Municipality of Delta (Municipal Unit of Echedoros)

• Municipality of Thermaikos (Municipal Units of Thermaikos and Michaniona)

• Municipality of Thessaloniki

• Municipality of Kalamaria

• Municipality of Kordelio-Evosmos

• Municipality of Neapoli - Sykies 

• Municipality of Pavlos Melas

• Municipality of Pylaia-Chortiatis

• Municipality of Oraiokastro (Municipal of Unit of Oraiokastro)

• Municipality of Thermi ( Settlements of Thermi & Triadi - Buses 66 & 67)

The following transfer stations are also within the Urban zone: “Ν. S. Stathmos (Railway Station)”, “Macedonia KTEL intercity bus station”, “Chalkidiki KTEL intercity bus station”, “Nea Elvetia”, “IKEA”.

   2.Suburban Zone

The Suburban Zone was defined by the Joint Ministerial Decision A/68587/5029/03/04.07.2003 (Government Gazette B' 934) and pertains to areas located on the outskirts of Thessaloniki and in more remote municipalities.

The areas comprising the Suburban Zone are:

• Municipality of Delta (Municipal Units of Chalastra and Axios)

• Municipality of Thermaikos (Municipal Unit of Epanomi)

• Municipality of Thermi - Excluding settlements of Thermi & Triadi (About  Buses 87 & 88)

• Municipality of Lagadas (Municipal Units of Koronia, Lagadas , Lachanas and Assiros)

• Municipality of Chalkidona

• Municipality of Oraiokastro (Municipal of Units of Kallithea and Mygdonia)

The inter-prefectural intercity bus routes, operated by KTEL Thessaloniki S.A., which are local feeder routes to the Lagadas Transfer Station or any other transfer station of OASTH, namely:

Lagadas – Asprovalta

Lagadas – Vertiskos

Lagadas – Sochos and their modifications,

as described in Law 3897/2010 and Ministerial Decision No. 62721/5875/22.03.2011, will have a fare of €0.80 exclusively using the old OASTH paper ticket (at the new prices).

After successfully submitting your application, you must wait. You will receive an e-mail message as soon as your card is issued, together with instructions on how to receive it.

This service is free of charge.

1. Currently, tickets and unlimited travel cards, separate for buses and the Metro are being developed.

2. The standard fare for buses is reduced from €0.90 to €0.60 for urban routes and from €0.90 to €0.80 for suburban routes.

3. The standard fare for the Metro is also set at €0.60.

4. Users of single tickets can transfer freely within the same mode of transport for a period of 70 minutes from the first validation.

5. To use both the Metro and buses in the same journey, a user must purchase two tickets—one for the Metro and one for the bus or buses—paying €1.20 or €1.40 in total, with eligible reduced-fare passengers paying 50% of these amounts.

6. A 10+1 ticket package to use either in the Metro and in the buses, costing €5.80 (or €7.80 for suburban routes).

7. The fare for special bus routes, namely the X1 (Airport), X2 (Airport), and the Cultural Line, is set at €2.00.

8. The unlimited day travel ticket for either the Metro or the buses is set at €2.50 but is not valid for the above-mentioned special bus routes.

9. Unlimited travel cards for the Metro and corresponding cards for all bus lines are priced at €16.00 for the monthly card, €45.00 for the 3-month card, and €85.00 for the 6-month card. All unlimited travel cards can be issued at any time and remain valid for the full period for which they are issued.

10. Eligible reduced-fare passengers pay 50% of the above amounts, except for the unlimited day travel ticket.

The new era for Thessaloniki’s public transport system is associated with the following developments:

1) The operation of the main Metro line.

2) The restructuring of several bus routes, in successive phases, to facilitate seamless integration between the Metro and buses.

3) The implementation of a new fare policy, initially with separate fares for the Metro and buses, and subsequently, after evaluating the new conditions, with a unified fare and/or continued separate fares.

4) The creation of bus terminals at the Metro's terminal stations (N. Elvetia, N.S. Station, and Mikra).

5) The 110 electric buses by the New OASTH, already in operation since May 2024, the upcoming deployment of 160 leased buses (either brand-new or nearly new), and the arrival of approximately 220 additional new electric buses in 2-3 years time (for a total of 330 electric buses).

6) The assignment of suburban public transport services (currently operated by KTEL) to a new contractor, who will provide 220 new buses, of which at least 62 will be electric (for a total of 550 new buses, approximately 400 of which will be electric).

7) The launch of operations for the Metro extension to Kalamaria in 2025.

• Travel on Special Bus Lines

Applies to travel on special bus lines: X1 (Airport), X2 (Airport), and the Cultural Route (No. 50).

Cost: 2€ (ανεξαρτήτως ζώνης).

• Travel with transfer (total duration up to 70 minutes, all points within urban zone)

  All transfer points and journey endpoints are within the urban zone.
  Cost: 0,60€.

  

• Travel with transfer (total duration up to 70 minutes, at least one point in suburban zone)

  The route includes at least one transfer point or endpoint in the suburban zone.

  Cost: 0,80€

  

• Travel within suburban zone

  Both endpoints of the journey are located within the suburban zone, regardless of the route length.

  Cost: 0,80€.

  

• Travel Between Urban and Suburban Zones

  One endpoint is within the urban zone, while the other is within the suburban zone.

  Cost: 0,80€.

  

• Travel within Urban Zone:

Both endpoints of the journey are located within the urban zone.

Cost: 0,60€.

The distinction between urban and suburban zones in Thessaloniki sets the ticket pricing and travel options between these areas. Starting from December 1, 2024, the ticket prices and fare types will be as follows:

Ticket Prices for Each Zone

• Urban Zone:

  • Standard urban zone ticket valid for 70 minutes: €0.60.

  • Package of 10+1 standard urban tickets valid for 70 minutes per ticket: 5,80€.

• Suburban Zone:

  • Standard suburban zone ticket valid for 70 minutes: 0,80€.

  • Package of 10+1 standard suburban tickets valid for 70 minutes per ticket: 7,80€.

  • Note: A suburban ticket (€0.80) can also be used on urban zone routes, provided it is within the 70-minute time limit.

• Special Bus Lines:

  • Ticket for Airport, Express, or Cultural Routes: €2 (regardless of zone).

These include lines X1 (Airport), X2 (Airport), and the Cultural Route (No. 50).

• Daily Ticket:

  • 24-Hour Unlimited Travel Ticket (excluding special lines): 2,50€.

• Reduced Fares

  • All eligible parties such as students, persons with disabilities (PwD), large families, retirees over 65, unemployed individuals, etc. prices are 50% of the standard fare. The only exception is The 24-hour unlimited travel ticket does not offer a discounted rate.

The electronic ticket provides flexibility in using and purchasing different types of tickets/fares and, in the future, enables the creation of new products, special offers, etc.

The electronic ticket system supports various categories of products, such as time-based products, monthly, 3-month, or 6-month cards.

There are several payment methods available for purchasing or reloading smart reloadable tickets and personalized cards, offering flexibility to passengers: 

Automated ticket vending machines, located across the city allow the purchase of smart reloadable tickets and the reloading of personalized cards using cash, debit, or credit cards. 

Onboard ticket vending machines, installed in the buses which accept payments only via debit or credit cards. 

OASTH ticket offices, enable passengers to purchase or reload smart reloadable tickets and personalized cards using cash only. However, monthly cards for December can also be purchased with a card. 

Mobile app purchases, allow passengers to buy digital tickets for buses through the official app, where tickets appear as QR codes for easy validation. 

OSETH portal and e-shop enable the purchase or reloading of personalized cards exclusively using debit or credit cards.

Citizens without an AMKA can issue a personalized card by visiting one of the card personalization ticket offices** and presenting their passport.

THE PERSONALIZATION OF BUS CARDS IN PERSON AT OASTH TICKET OFFICES WILL BEGIN ON DECEMBER 11, 2024.

**Card Personalization Ticket Offices

1. VENIZELOU, Venizelou 1 Mitropoleos 
2. N.S. STATHMOS, Monastiriou 28
3. A.S. IKEA, 12th km. Thessaloniki - Peraia
4. KTEL MACEDONIA, Giannitson 244
5. P.P. GERMANOU, Paleon Patron Germanou 46 (store)
6. ARISTOTELOUS, Vatikiotou 26
7. IHU SINDOS (University)
8. OASTH OFFICES, Papanastasiou 90