Greece 2027 by Bus, Car or Plane: Costs for a Couple and a Family, Tickets, Fuel and Tolls
Which is cheaper for a Greek holiday in 2027: the bus, your own car or a flight? Agency bus fares from Belgrade, Nis and Novi Sad, fuel and official tolls to Halkidiki and the Olympic Riviera, ferries, direct flights and a ready calculation for a couple and a family of four.
Before choosing an apartment, it is worth deciding how you will get to Greece, because that also decides which resort makes sense. An agency bus, your own car and a flight cost completely different amounts for a couple and for a family of four, and the difference easily exceeds 200-300 EUR. This article uses the bus fares agencies published for the 2026 season, official tolls, October 2026 fuel prices and a ready calculation.
In short: what pays off for whom
- One or two people: the agency bus is the cheapest and simplest option for the Olympic Riviera and Halkidiki.
- Three or four in a car: the car is almost always cheaper than the bus and gives freedom on the spot.
- Islands without a land link (Rhodes, Crete, Corfu, Zakynthos): fly, usually as a package with accommodation.
- Thassos, Evia, Lefkada: by car or bus, with a ferry (Lefkada needs no ferry).
By bus: agency fares
Serbian agencies run buses straight to the resorts. The table shows return fares per person, transport only, from the published price lists of Viva Travel (28 January 2026) and Euroturs (27 August 2026). 2027 lists are only now coming out, so these are benchmarks.
| Destination | From Belgrade | From Nis | From Novi Sad | Journey (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halkidiki (Kassandra, Sithonia) | 70-80 EUR | 70 EUR | 85-100 EUR | 11-14 h |
| Paralia, Olympic Riviera | 70-80 EUR | 70 EUR | 85-100 EUR | 11-13 h |
| Thassos (ferry included) | 90-105 EUR | 95 EUR | 110-120 EUR | 13-15 h |
| North Evia (ferry included) | 105 EUR | 95 EUR | 110 EUR | long trip, check the timetable |
| Parga, Syvota | 80-105 EUR | 95 EUR | 110 EUR | long trip, check the timetable |
| Lefkada, Nidri | 80-90 EUR | - | about 110 EUR | 15-18 h |
The Belgrade range reflects the difference between two agencies. From Novi Sad some agencies run a transfer to Belgrade for a supplement. The bus station platform fee and insurance are usually extra. With Viva Travel, boarding along the way south of Belgrade does not reduce the fare.
Regular service to Thessaloniki: if you do not need transport to the resort itself, the scheduled Belgrade - Thessaloniki bus (Axios) costs 6,600 RSD one way and 10,800 RSD return, from Nis 9,600 RSD return, and takes about 9-11 hours. From Thessaloniki continue by local KTEL bus (prices in Greece transport prices).
Pros of the bus: no driving, no fuel or parking, and night departures mean you reach the sea in the morning. Cons: fixed departure days (usually for 7, 10 or 11-night stays), a long night journey, and no car once you are there.
By car: fuel and tolls
Tolls come from the official tariffs (Serbian roads from 1 July 2026, North Macedonia, Nea Egnatia Odos and Aegean Motorway for 2026), for a passenger car, one way:
| Section | One way |
|---|---|
| Serbia, Belgrade - Presevo | 18 EUR (2,060 RSD) |
| North Macedonia, Tabanovce - Bogorodica | 7 EUR (380 MKD) |
| Total to Halkidiki | 27.95-28.60 EUR |
| Total to the Olympic Riviera (Pieria) | 31.70-35.50 EUR |
The range depends on whether you use the Thessaloniki ring road and how far south you go on the Olympic Riviera. All toll stations and sources are on How much does it cost to drive to Greece. Paying in dinars and denars is slightly cheaper than in euros.
Fuel (early October 2026): in Serbia 207 RSD for petrol and 236 RSD for diesel (prices for 2-9 October), in North Macedonia 98.50 MKD for petrol and 97 MKD for diesel, and in Greece about 2.20 EUR per litre on average for both. Fuel is cheapest in North Macedonia, so fill up there in both directions. More in Greece fuel prices.
Example, Belgrade - Hanioti and back: about 1,500 km there and back, plus about 200 km of driving around Halkidiki. A car using 6.5 litres of petrol per 100 km burns about 110 litres, which, filling up mostly in Serbia and North Macedonia and partly in Greece, comes to about 190-220 EUR. Return tolls are about 56-57 EUR. In total about 250-280 EUR for the whole car, or about 65 EUR per person for four.
Pros of the car: you choose the day and time, carry as much as you like and explore beaches on the spot. Cons: driver fatigue, border queues on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings in July and August, and parking in places like Paralia and Parga. Routes and border crossings are in Driving to Greece.
Ferries: Thassos and Evia
| Route | Duration | Adult | Car up to 4.25 m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keramoti - Thassos (Limenas) | 35-40 min | 6 EUR | 22 EUR |
| Kavala - Thassos (Skala Prinos) | about 75 min | 6.50-7 EUR | 22 EUR |
| Glyfa - Agiokampos (north Evia) | about 20 min | 4.60 EUR | 18.50 EUR |
| Arkitsa - Loutra Edipsou (Evia) | about 40 min | 6 EUR | 20.50 EUR |
One-way fares from the operators' websites (ANETH, Thassos Ferries, D Ferries, Ferries Edipsos), 2026 season. A car over 4.25 m to Thassos costs 27 EUR. No ferry booking is needed for Thassos; in summer boats leave Keramoti about every half hour. Lefkada is linked to the mainland by a causeway and bridge, so no ferry is needed.
By air: direct flights from Serbia
In the 2026 season there were direct flights from Belgrade to Thessaloniki, Athens, Corfu, Rhodes, Heraklion, Chania and Santorini (Air Serbia, plus Wizz Air to Chania from 8 June 2026), and agency charters to Kos, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Preveza (for Lefkada and Parga), Skiathos and, in packages, Kavala (for Thassos). From Nis, Air Serbia flew to Athens in summer; Ryanair's 2026 Nis - Corfu route is reportedly not planned for 2027.
- Fares: a Belgrade - Thessaloniki return off-peak is under 200 EUR, Belgrade - Athens about 120-190 EUR off-season, and Rhodes about 200-380 EUR at the start and end of the season. July, August and checked bags cost more.
- Charters are mostly sold only with accommodation, so for Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Kos and Skiathos an agency package is usually the only practical option.
- For northern Greece flying rarely pays off: Thessaloniki is close, but on top of the ticket you pay a transfer to Halkidiki, so a family by car comes out cheaper.
All airports and how to reach the resorts: Greek airports.
The maths: a couple and a family of four, Halkidiki, return
| How | Couple | Family of four |
|---|---|---|
| Agency bus from Belgrade (70-80 EUR per person) | 140-160 EUR | 280-320 EUR, no transport on the spot |
| Own car (fuel and tolls) | about 250-280 EUR | about 250-280 EUR |
| Flight to Thessaloniki + transfer | the most expensive; off-peak tickets under 200 EUR per person, plus transfer | the most expensive |
Conclusion: for a couple the bus is cheaper, for a family the car. With three in the car, car and bus are roughly equal, but the car lets you explore Sithonia or Athos. For islands without a land link, a flight and an agency package are the natural choice.
The border in 2027: what is new
- Since 10 April 2026 the EES has operated at the Greek border: entries and exits are recorded electronically, with a photo and fingerprints, instead of stamps. The first crossing may take a little longer, by car or by bus.
- ETIAS is not yet in force; no start date has been announced. Check the official EU page before you go.
- You need a biometric passport; an ID card is not enough for Greece.
- The longest queues are on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings from mid-July to mid-August. If you can, travel on a weekday.
Everything new for next year: Greece holiday 2027.
Frequently asked questions: getting to Greece in 2027
How much is the bus to Greece in 2027?
For the 2026 season an agency return fare from Belgrade to Halkidiki or Paralia was 70-80 EUR, and 90-105 EUR to Thassos including the ferry. Agencies publish 2027 fares from the autumn, usually in the same range.
Is it cheaper to go to Greece by bus or by car?
For one or two people, the bus. For three or four, the car, because fuel and tolls to Halkidiki and back come to about 250-280 EUR for the whole car.
How much are the tolls to Greece?
One way about 28 EUR to Halkidiki and 31.70-35.50 EUR to the Olympic Riviera for a passenger car: 18 EUR in Serbia, 7 EUR in North Macedonia and the rest in Greece.
Where is fuel cheapest on the way to Greece?
In North Macedonia. In early October 2026 petrol cost about 1.60 EUR per litre there, about 1.77 EUR in Serbia and about 2.20 EUR in Greece.
Are there direct flights from Belgrade to Greece?
Yes. Air Serbia flies to Thessaloniki, Athens and seasonally to Corfu, Rhodes, Heraklion, Chania and Santorini, and agencies run charters to Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Preveza, Skiathos and Kos.
How long does the bus take to Halkidiki?
About 11-14 hours, depending on the resort and the border. About 11-13 hours to Paralia and 13-15 hours to Thassos.
Next step
Once you know how you are travelling, pick the resort and accommodation: apartment prices by resort for 2027 and accommodation search, with your enquiry going directly to the owner, commission-free.
