The Thessaloniki ring road is closed all weekend - here is how to get through

The Thessaloniki ring road is closed all weekend

If you are driving to Greece this weekend, here is something you need to know before you set off: the Thessaloniki ring road is fully closed from Friday at 23:00 until Sunday at 23:00, in both directions. The reason is the demolition of one arm of the bridge on the „Flyover“ project, the biggest road investment in northern Greece.

That means traffic heading to Halkidiki, to the airport and into central Thessaloniki will spill out onto the city streets. Greek police are already urging drivers to expect kilometre-long queues and to plan extra time.

How to get through without getting stuck

Instead of relying on a ring road that is closed anyway, you have two choices: either cut through central Thessaloniki on the alternative route, or set off at a time when there is no rush. Which of the two routes is faster right now depends on the hour, and that is exactly what you can check live.

In the Thessaloniki ring road guide you get both routes past the city on a live map, plus a clock showing when traffic is lightest. And for the border itself, the full Greece guide gives you live cameras and queues at Bogorodica, a checklist of what you must carry in the car, the fines under the new law, and the tolls. Get ready before you leave, not on the road itself.