🇬🇷 Same-country drive · Greece
Driving from Kozáni to Thessaloníki
A practical guide for driving the 125 km route from the mountainous interior of Kozáni to the coastal hub of Thessaloníki via the Egnatia Odos.
- Drive time
- 1h 30m
- Distance
- 125 km
- Same day?
- Yes, half day
- under 4 h
- Fuel cost
- ≈ €21
- petrol · diesel ≈ €17
- Tolls
- ≈ €9
- per-km
- EV charging
- Plenty fast
- 14 of 27 ≥50 kW
On this page
Route map
Route options
Other paths OSRM found between the two cities — handy when traffic, tolls, or scenery matter more than raw speed.
Avoids motorways
+54m- Distance:
- 136 km (+11 km)
- Duration:
- 2h 25m
Via: ΕΟ4 · ΕΟ1 · ΕΟ2 · ΕΟ1; ΕΟ2
How else can you make this trip?
Driving is the focus of this guide; here's how cycling, coach, and (soon) train and plane stack up for the same pair.
1h 30m
125 km · €21 fuel
See details ↓
8h 9m
137 km · Climb 1.418 m
8 km on EV11 East Europe Route
See details ↓
No direct service
Our coach data (FlixBus + BlaBlaCar) doesn't list a direct service for this pair. National operators (e.g., National Express in the UK, Eurolines feeders) may still cover it — check their site directly.
What the drive is like
Drafted from the route's computed data on October 11, 2026 and reviewed against the route summary card. Read our methodology.
You leave Kozáni by joining the A2 motorway, pushing east across the high plains of Western Macedonia. The route begins with a climb into the rugged terrain that separates the interior from the coast, reaching an elevation of over 800 meters. While the A2 is a modern, high-standard road, be prepared for sharp temperature drops and potential snow or freezing rain if you are passing through during the winter months. The engineering here is impressive, with long tunnel sequences cutting through the mountain chains, requiring you to remain alert as you transition from bright daylight into artificial lighting. As you descend from the heights, the road begins to open up toward the Vermio mountains. You will eventually merge onto the A1 heading toward the Thermaic Gulf. This transition marks the shift from the sparse, rocky interior to the dense suburban traffic surrounding Thessaloníki. Be ready for a significant increase in vehicle density as you approach the city limits, particularly if you are hitting the outskirts during morning or evening peak hours. Remember that tolls are managed on a distance-based system throughout this drive, so keep a payment method ready at the various booths along the A2 and A1. While Greek speed limits are generally generous, stick to the posted limits through the tunnel segments, as cameras are active and strictly enforced. Once you reach the Thessaloníki area, low-emission zones are not as restrictive as in central Europe, but navigation through the city center can be complex, so relying on real-time traffic data is essential for the final leg of your drive.
Route highlights
- The engineering of the A2 tunnels through the mountain ranges
- The panoramic descent from the Macedonian interior toward the Thermaic Gulf
- The transition from the open A2 motorway to the high-traffic A1 approach to Thessaloníki
Trip plan
How to think about the drive: one day, split, or overnight.
Short hop
Under two hours behind the wheel. Grab a coffee, set the playlist, done before lunch.
- Distance:
- 125 km
- Duration:
- 1h 30m (free-flow, no traffic)
Key moves
Things to know before you set off — borders, sides of the road, tolls.
Tolls on motorways in GR
Budget for motorway tolls — France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal charge per-km, Croatia and Greece by section. Contactless cards work almost everywhere; have one loaded.
Long rural stretch on Α2 Εγνατία Οδός
Plan for about 83 km of two-lane country roads. Slower than motorway, but often the pretty part — fewer overtakes after dark.
Long rural stretch on Α1; Α2 Εγνατία Οδός
Plan for about 23 km of two-lane country roads. Slower than motorway, but often the pretty part — fewer overtakes after dark.
Must-know before you go
The things a driver from another country wouldn't think to ask about — fines, stickers, payment cards, opening hours.
Fuel stations
Contactless cards work at virtually every motorway pump
TipMajor brand stations (Shell, Total, BP, Repsol, Cepsa, OMV, Eni, Esso) take Visa and Mastercard contactless without an issue. American Express and Diners are spotty south of the Alps. A €100 pre-authorisation hold is normal — it releases within 5 days. Carry €50 cash for the rare independent station.
Money & connectivity
EU roaming covers calls, texts and data at no extra cost
TipYour home EU SIM works at home rates across every EU member, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The "fair use" cap on data only applies if you're abroad more than four months. For a 2-week road trip, just use your phone normally — but switch off "data roaming" if you're leaving the EU into UK / CH for any segment.
Emergency & breakdown
112 works everywhere in the EU and continental neighbours
TipSingle number for police, ambulance, fire — works from any phone, any network, any country. On motorways, the orange SOS pillars every 2km connect direct to the regional traffic control centre and pinpoint your location. Use them over your phone if you can — it speeds the response.
Rules, fees, and thresholds change. Always verify against the official source the day before you drive — this page is a checklist, not a legal reference.
Main roads
The highways this route spends the most kilometres on.
-
Α2 Εγνατία Οδός83 km
-
Α1; Α2 Εγνατία Οδός23 km
-
Α1 Δυτική Είσοδος Θεσσαλονίκης5 km
-
ΕΟ1α Παλαιού Σταθμού3 km
Route character
How much of the drive is motorway vs. secondary vs. rural.
Rural-road drive — narrow roads, small towns, patience required.
- Motorway
- 0%
- Secondary
- 0%
- Other / rural
- 100%
Drive difficulty
At-a-glance feel: how demanding is this drive for one driver?
Overall
Easy
Straightforward drive. One driver, one day, little to worry about beyond fuel and a toilet stop.
- About 111 km on non-motorway roads where speeds and conditions vary.
Elevation profile
Highs, lows, and the total climb / descent along the route.
- Lowest point
- -2 m
- Highest point
- 816 m
- Total ascent
- ↑ 188 m
- Total descent
- ↓ 877 m
Fuel & tolls
Rough cost expectation for a typical EU passenger car. Treat as an estimate — pump prices change weekly.
Petrol (RON 95)
≈ €21
9.4 L × €2.21 / L · 7.5 L/100 km
Diesel
≈ €17
7.5 L × €2.22 / L · 6 L/100 km
Electric (DC fast)
≈ €11
22 kWh × €0.50 / kWh · 17.5 kWh/100 km
Public DC fast charging — slower AC charging at home or hotels typically costs about half.
Motorway tolls & vignettes
≈ €9
- GR — €0.07/km on the motorway network (≈ 125 km in-country ≈ €9)
Prices last refreshed 2026-09-28.
Fuel and EV charging along the route
Stations within a few kilometres of the road, sampled at evenly-spaced waypoints.
Fuel stations
Most common brands
Sample of stations along the route
- Avin ~0 km
- Avin ~0 km
- Independent ~0 km
- Ελινοιλ ~0 km
- Aegean ~0 km
- Jetoil ~0 km
- Shell ~0 km
- Avin ~0 km
- Jetoil LPG ~0 km
- Shell ~0 km
- Eko LPG ~0 km
- Eko ~0 km
- Jetoil ~0 km
- Aegean ~0 km
- Απ ~0 km
- Jetoil ~0 km
EV charging
14 at 50 kW or above (fast / ultra-fast).
Fastest first
- BP Sidiropoulou — Veroia 150 kW
- Scania Savatis - BYD - Isuzu - Mercedes Benz — Ευοσμος 120 kW
- Sklavenitis — Κοζάνη 60 kW
- SHELL — Κοζάνη 60 kW
- ELINoil — Κοζάνη 60 kW
- AVIN Sindos — Σίνδος 60 kW
- Shell — Thessaloniki 60 kW
- Adamidis A.E. 60 kW
- Chliapas JEToil — Κοζάνη 50 kW
- BP Calipso Veria — Veria 50 kW
- Platanos M.S.S. (eastbound) — Platanos 50 kW
- Platanos M.S.S. (westbound) — Platanos 50 kW
Weather by month
Average daytime high / overnight low and typical monthly rainfall, over the past five years.
🇬🇷 Kozáni
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9°
1°
|
10°
1°
|
14°
4°
|
17°
6°
|
20°
11°
|
28°
17°
|
32°
20°
|
30°
18°
|
25°
15°
|
19°
10°
|
13°
5°
|
9°
2°
|
| 69mm | 32mm | 63mm | 67mm | 86mm | 33mm | 8mm | 18mm | 59mm | 35mm | 100mm | 96mm |
hot mild cold
🇬🇷 Thessaloníki
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12°
4°
|
13°
4°
|
17°
8°
|
20°
10°
|
23°
15°
|
31°
21°
|
35°
24°
|
33°
22°
|
28°
19°
|
23°
13°
|
17°
9°
|
13°
5°
|
| 60mm | 24mm | 68mm | 73mm | 102mm | 37mm | 35mm | 30mm | 38mm | 33mm | 102mm | 126mm |
hot mild cold
Next 5 days at Thessaloníki
Live forecast — refreshes every few hours.
-
Sun 11
🌧️
17° / 17°
16.3mm
-
Mon 12
⛅
22° / 16°
22.1mm
-
Tue 13
🌧️
15° / 13°
76.4mm
-
Wed 14
⛅
17° / 13°
—
-
Thu 15
☀️
18° / 13°
0.1mm
Forecast: MET Norway
Directions
Turn-by-turn summary of the main manoeuvres, generated by OSRM.
Show all 14 manoeuvres
- Πλατεία Λασσάνη 0.1 km
- Κοζάνης - Πτολεμαΐδας (ΕΟ3)
- Κοζάνης - Πτολεμαΐδας (ΕΟ3)
- Κοζάνης - Πτολεμαΐδας (ΕΟ3)
- Κοζάνης - Πτολεμαΐδας (ΕΟ3)
- Κοζάνης - Πτολεμαΐδας (ΕΟ3)
- Παράπλευρη Οδός
- Κοζάνη - Πτολεμαΐδα - Νίκη (Α27) 0.8 km
- Εγνατία Οδός (Α2) 83 km
- Εγνατία Οδός (Α2) 1 km
- Εγνατία Οδός (Α1; Α2) 23 km
- Δυτική Είσοδος Θεσσαλονίκης (Α1) 5 km
- Παλαιού Σταθμού (ΕΟ1α) 3 km
- Μοναστηρίου (ΕΟ2)
Cycling from Kozáni to Thessaloníki
Touring-pace bicycle route generated by BRouter, with elevation gain and matched against the EuroVelo cycle network.
- Distance
- 137 km
- vs 125 km driving
- Riding time
- 8h 9m
- Touring pace; experienced riders cut this 20–30%.
- Total climb
- ↑ 1.418 m
Routed on the BRouter trekking profile — balanced for paved leisure tourers; gravel and fast-bike profiles produce different lines.
On the EuroVelo network
Sections of this route follow signed EuroVelo cycle routes — well-maintained, signposted, and bike-friendly:
- EV11 East Europe Route · 8 km
Total: 8,0 km on EuroVelo (6% of the route).
Show route on map
Frequently asked
Is the route from Kozáni to Thessaloníki mountainous?
Yes, you cross through the interior mountains of Western Macedonia. The road reaches peaks above 800 meters, which can result in challenging driving conditions during winter weather.
How are tolls handled on this Greek route?
Greece uses a distance-based toll system on its motorways. You will encounter several toll stations along the A2 and A1 where you can pay by cash or card.
Do I need a vignette for driving in Greece?
No, there is no vignette system in Greece. You pay for the specific motorways you use via toll booths stationed along the route.
How this page is built
Compiled by COD Solutions Oy from open European data — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for the route geometry, BRouter for the bicycle route, EuroVelo GPX (ODbL) by the European Cyclists' Federation for the cycle-network overlay, Open-Meteo for monthly climate normals, OpenTopoData SRTM 30m for elevation, OpenStreetMap via Overpass for fuel stations, Open Charge Map for EV charging stations, and Google Gemini drafts the narrative and FAQ from the computed route data. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.