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This route is widely perceived to be difficult. If you are lucky it can be easy if you get to a Turkish truck. Take bus #27 from the centre (e.g. Kamara) until the very end of the line. [UPDATE: bus #83 no longer starts where bus #27 finishes. Instead ask your #27 bus driver where to get off for bus #83] Switch to bus #83 and go a few stops until you see the motorway. Get off when you see a JetOil rest area on the other side of the motorway. Just follow the bus and go under the motorway to reach the other side. Once you are there, rally the gas station personnel to help you (they are very nice!). Show them your Istanbul (or Kavala or whatever) sign and ask them to tell you if they notice someone going to Turkey. Be prepared to convince the paranoid drivers that you are not wanted by the police and show them your passport. Getting a ride can take anything between one minute and five hours. If it just does not work at the gas station see the options below (thumbing up on the road etc). Also, there should be a toll station (peage) about [http://hitchwiki.org/maps/?place=6374 15 km east of Lagynas], near Analipsi (where bus #83a is supposed to go). When you get to the border you might want to switch to a passenger car because the truck could be stuck in customs for a while.
Another optionThis route is widely perceived to be difficult. If you are lucky it can be easy if you get to a Turkish truck. Take bus #27 from the centre (e.g. Kamara) until the very end of the line. [UPDATE: Bus bus #83 goes all no longer starts where bus #27 finishes. Instead ask your #27 bus driver where to get off for bus #83] Switch to bus #83 and go a few stops until you see the way to Lagkadasmotorway. If Get off when you stay see a JetOil rest area on the other side of the motorway. Just follow the bus until it reaches this small townand go under the motorway to reach the other side. Once you are there, rally the petrol station personnel to help you (they are very nice!). Show them your Istanbul (or Kavala or whatever) sign and ask them to tell you if they notice someone going to Turkey. Be prepared to convince the paranoid drivers that you are not wanted by the police and show them your passport. Getting a ride can try hitching out in take anything between one minute and five hours. If it just does not work at the petrol station see the options below (thumbing up on the direction road etc). Also, there should be a toll station (peage) about [http://hitchwiki.org/maps/?place=6374 15 km east of KavalaLagynas], Istanbul, etcnear Analipsi (where bus #83a is supposed to go). When you get to the border you might want to switch to a passenger car because the truck could be stuck in customs for a while.
*"I've also followed the intructions and waited several hundred meters after JetOil. It wasn't railly easy to hitchike in a freezing weather and nobody has stoped for about 2 hours than a turkish truck driver stopped and we've driven to the direction of Malaka.So what I can HİGH recommend you isAttention: Go to the Truck Station in Thessaloniki, where you can also drive by 83. There The Jetoil rest area is certainly some turkish trucks who drives now rebranded to the direction of Turkey. BUT on the board because of the strikes or controls you might have to wait more than 7 hours. There I'd advice you to pass the bridge with a truck from the front of the queue. If it is evening mostly the drivers would sleep BP Oil' in Keşan. So just try to speak to car drivers on the turkish boardgreen colour. 2012 Arsen
*''I followed Another option: Bus #83 goes all the instructions and went way to JetOil and got Lagkadas. If you stay on the personnel to helpbus until it reaches this small town, but it turned you can try hitching out to be quite hard to get a ride going east. Even though a lot in the direction of cars and trucks do stop there, the cars appeared to be going local and the trucks were heading towards Athens. After half an hourKavala, I decided to move on and got a short ride to the highway. After 5 minutes a truckerIstanbul, who was on his way to Iran, stopped for meetc. So even though I do not recommend thumbing up on the highway, it does work some time. December 2010, Lana''
*''I tried the recommended way of asking around at the JetOil trying to get out of Thessaloniki, with no luck. It seemed all the truckers were either sleeping, local, or going to Athens. Also, they were not that keen on taking hitchhikers anyway. After a few hours, I went to the highway right next to the station (there is an opening in the fence, you just have to look for it), and got a ride halfway to Istanbul within 10 minutes. It surprises me how closedminded the original post is, being that it is entirely possible, and quite easy to get a ride on the highway. Just a lesson that you should never take anyone's recommendation as absolute truth. I would personally recommend getting the gas=== North-pumpers at the station West to ask around for you [[Skopje]] (they were incredibly friendly[[North Macedonia]]), and stay within clear sight on the highway in case they get you a ride before you do. February 2011, Jon''===
*"Don''First of all: it's not easy at all t bother to hitchhike in Greece btw Thessaloniki. We spent one day and two hours the next day in that area to get a hitch hike in the direction to turkey. If you take the bus #83 from town be prepared that it DOESNT stop on the highway. we drove to the next station and waited for the bus #86 to drive back. the whole in the fence is an option but a bad one because the cars are driving fast and they have almost no space to stop. we got a hitch at the drive-up, direction kavala. it is wide and the cars are driving slow. if you come with the bus and go under the highway you'll find it on your left hand side. 250m to walk from the JetOil. Good Luckborder!!! July 2011, Timo''
*''In Thessalonıkı Kamara you can take bus 83. There ıs no need to take is a free bus 27 and change from the city centre to 83. The rıde towards the HH poınt takes about 20 border! These buses belong to 30 mınutes. The bus wıll drıve on the hıghway. Stay on casinos you can find at the bus untıll ıt leaves the hıghway and contınue for about 5 mınutes on the local roadborder just before Gevgelija. Leave the bus when you see a petrol statıon You can find theses buses on your rıghtTsimiski street. Walk for 100 metres untıll the traffıc lıght where you wıll fınd some shade from trees. It ıs so hot between 12 and 4. 500 metres further from the traffıc lıght ıs the hıghway. I fırst trıed there but all the traffıc was headıng for Thessalonıkı. So I went back to the traffıc lıght. The cars They are local but there are several trucks goıng to Turkey. They take the natıonal road easy to avoıd recognize (the tollcosts from name of the hıghway. Try to get casino is printed on the attentıon of the trucks. I used a cardboard wrıtten Kavala-Turkeybus, and it is written "free shuttle"). The truck took me to the border buses leave at 17:00 and there I slept ın the truck wıth the drıver. At the border change 21:00 though, so it might be quicker to a car. The waıtıng tıme for hit the truck was about 40 mınutes. The waıtıng tıme for road directly, but more comfortable taking the car was 5 mınutes. Good Luck. May 2012bus. Len''
=== North-West to [[Skopje]] (FYROM) ===
Don t bother to hitch hike to the border!!!There is Take a free bus #8 (or #31?) from Egnatias street in the city center centre to the border!! Theses buses belong to the casinos you can find at the border just before GevgelijaKTEL (last stop). You can find theses buses on Tsimiski streetalso take bus #45 which goes between KTEL Makedonia and KTEL Halkidiki (you want to go to ''Makedonia''). They are easy Then switch to recognize (the name of the casino is printed bus #81 which you can find on the busupper platform. Afterwards, and it is written "free shuttle")you can do different things. I didn t take it but I was picked up by a guy working You can get off at a casino first bus stop after you gave me drive over the informationhighway Athens-Skopje - [http://g. Another nice information: co/maps/3qj6m here]. Be careful, the first big crossing you can eat and drink for free at going to come to is the crossing with the casino!! Apparently ring road (you can just show up at are going to driver underneath it) while only the next on is the reception, one you need (you are going to drive above it). Then you register, they will give have to walk almost 2km backwards (if you a card with points walk fast it takes 20 minutes) and you can use hitch on the points junction to enjoy buffet food and drinks for free!! I did! (You might need not the highway to look like a hitch hiker to muchSkopje... It was ok for me because I was with However, if the guy working bus goes into Agios Athanasios you can better get off and find your way from there, but (it might not work if seems that this bus goes differently depending whether it is obvious that #81 or #81A and depending on some external stuff; you are not a client..can talk to the driver to make sure).) Anne-laure, may 2013"
Take a bus #8 (or #31?) from Egnatias street in the centre to KTEL (last stop). You can also take bus #45 which goes between KTEL Makedonia and KTEL Halkidiki (you want to go to ''Makedonia''). Then switch to bus #81 which you can find on the upper platform. Afterwards, you can do different things. You can get off at a first bus stop after you drive over the highway Athens-Skopje - [http://g.co/maps/3qj6m here]. Be careful, the first big crossing you gonna come to is the crossing with the ring road (you are going to driver underneath it) while only the next on is the one you need (you are going to drive above it). Then you have to walk almost 2km backwards (if you walk fast it takes 20 minutes) and you can hitch on the junction to the highway to Skopje. However, if the bus goes into Agios Athanasios you can better get off and find your way from there (it seems that this bus goes differently depending whether it is #81 or #81A and depending on some external stuff; you can talk to the driver to make sure).
*''My girlfriend and me stood at the junction just next Bus 81A from KTEL busstation to Agios Athanasios. Got off when it turns from the old paytoll, which seemed highway. From there hitched to be the best place since cars were going rather slowly. After 10-15 minutes we were picked up by a Macedonian woman who brought us Polykastro and another ride got me to the border. A week later I hitchhiked alone from At the same spot and was picked up after 40 minutes and got to border asked the junction with Polykastro before car in front of me for a ride, which the highway goes into one line for 500 metres. On that spot I thumbed and got me to Skopje. Standing on the border after another 40 minutes. December 2011highway there, [[User:Rozwal|Rozwal]]''it was very quiet
*''My friend and I (two guys) stood here for 4 hours and despite many cars passing only one Macedonian guy stopped but he asked for money. Then we put up our tent in the nearby field and tried our luck the next day. After another 2 hours we got picked up by Albanian workers that took us === South to Polykastro. There are no gas stations or shops nearby, so bring food and water just in case! August 2012, [[User:Chaba|ChabaAthens]]''===
AlternativelyTake Buses #31, #12, #8 or #78 to the bus station called KTEL. From there take bus #80 or #80A to the village called ''Malgara''. You can go down on the station "''25 Martiou''" which is the closest to the tolls (in Greek ''ikostis pemptis martiou'' if you want to ask the driver). There you can get off [http://mapsask and find the toll station (in Greek ''diodia'') easily.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Thessalonikis-Edessas%2F%CE%98%CE%B5%CF%83%CF%83%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%BD%CE%AF%CE%BA%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%88%CE%B4%CE%B5%CF%83%CF%83%CE%B1%CF%82%2FRoute+You'll have to walk about 2&daddr=Leoforos+Konstantinou+Karamanli%2F%CE%9B%CE%B5%CF%89%CF%86%CF%8C%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%82+%CE%9A%CF%89%CE%BD%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%AF%CE%BD%CE%BF%CF%85+%CE%9A%CE%B1%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%BB%CE%AE&hl=en&ie=UTF8&sll=40km to find it, but then there is a possibility to get a ride even straight to Athens.692744Before you enter the motorway where the toll station is,22you will have to go through some fields.819805&sspn=0.090979If it's night be careful,0.209255&geocode=FaD1bAIdtpZcAQ%3BFaD1bAIdtpZcAQ&vpsrc=0&mra=mift&mrsp=1&sz=13&t=m&z=13 here] which just before the motorway there is a small ridge that is reported to be a better place for cars bit steep and there is water flowing down, you need to stopfind your way around it. But there If it's day, from the fields you have can see a lot of cars going small canteen on the motorway, head to the Westthat direction, while if you come can bypass the previous stop ridge there very easily and also you don't need to jump the fence (easy to jump though) because there is an entrance/exit for the canteen. From the canteen you will have cars going only towards Polykastro or see the bordertolls, they are less than 50 m away.
*''I took [edit] First of all, it appears greek bus 81A from KTEL busstation to Agios Athanasiosstops do have several names. Got off when "25 Martiou" is written on the roadsign but on the bus, it turns from the highway's announced differently. From there hitched I messed up because of that various times so always be sure to Polykastro and another ride got me ask the driver to the bordersignal your stop. At Finding the border asked the car in front canteen is a bit of me for a ridetrial and error, which got me to Skopjebut still easily possible. Standing on In case you don't find the highway theretoll station, it was very quietfrom the canteen go right (following the "Athen" roadsign) for about 1, 5km to find a small (but I was very lucky as an Austrian car passed and got me straight to Belgradepicturesque) side stop (August 2017). January 2011, Lana''
=== South to [[Athensedit]] ===Some of these buses don't go all the way to Malgara so you have to get out at one stop in the middle of nowheren before the bus turns back to Thessaloniki and wait for another bus with the same or different number that goes to Malgara. It can be a little confusing so the best way is to tell someone on the bus where you want to go and let them tell you when to get off for the next bus and the station ''ikostis pemptis martiou''. (September 2019)
Take Buses #31, #12, #8 or #78 For those not wanting to the bus station called KTEL. From there take a bus #80 or #80A want to the village called ''Malgara''. You can go down on the station "''25 Martiou''" which is the closest hitch closer to the tolls city (in Greek ''ikostis pemptis martiou'' if you wan ask the driver). There you can ask and find the toll station (in Greek aren''diodia'') easily. You'll have t scared to walk about 2 km to find it), but then there is a possibility to get a ride even straight go to the the A1 motorway going towards Athens. Before you enter It runs right beside the motorway where city centre. Starting from near the toll train station is, after walking 2kms you will have to go through some fieldsarrive at the international bus station. If From there it's night be careful, just before a 6km walk along the motorway there is a small ridge that to where the E90 highway joins on to the A1 road to Athens. This is a bit steep and there is water flowing down, you need good spot due to find your way around it. If it's day, the high amount of Turkish trucks coming straight from the fields you can see a small canteen on border and bypassing the city as well as any traffic coming from the motorway, head to that direction, you can bypass north. Stand at the ridge there very easily and also you don't need to jump end of the fence (easy to jump though) because onramp where there is an entrance/exit a shoulder for the canteen. From the canteen traffic to pull over and you will see the tolls, they are less than 50 m awaycan get a ride to Larissa or even Athens.
* ''On bus #85 the driver asked for tickets before leaving the station, I simply said (in English) that I had no money and where I was going, and he let me ride the bus anyway. September 2012, Alnair''== Shower ==
== Shower ==I took one shower in one hospital 500 metres from the television broadcast antenna. There are three hospitals close to each other and I just tried one. After walking around in the hospital and talking friendly to some nurses I was able to take a shower and shave. May 2012. Len There is also the "national swimming pool" which is open to the public for some hours during the day. Swimmers have to take a shower before entering the pool and nobody checks who enters them, so you might grab the chance for a bath there. It is located in the center of the city, near the University. Location on map: https://goo.gl/maps/q9XRl (Jan 2015) Last time checked, the national swimming pool was out of service. It worths to ask around about it first if it's still not in use. (July of 2018)
I took one shower ın one hospıtal 500 metres from One even safer option is the televısıon broadcast antennastudent residence. There are three hospıtals close to eachother Noone here checks who enters. Ever. Even if they see you like a complete stranger with a tons of baggage and I ask you anything, just trıed onetell them that you are visiting a friend or whatever. After walkıng around ın the hospıtal and talkıng frıendly to some nurses I was able you enter, go upstairs to take a shower any floor and shaveyou'll find common baths everywhere. It is located near the swimming pool at the city center. You can enter 24h. May 2012Location on map: https://goo. Lengl/maps/H8WZU (jan 2015)
This might not be true anymoreAlternative entrance: when you are there look to your right. At the end of the grass there is a stair case, have heard that this year they started checking for a student passyou can go up directly to the dining hall. * You're right, since September 2010 they started checking. But I don't be scared, just ignore them, they donthink you really need this because it't insist! Myself, although I have a student card, I refuse s very is easy to show it, many students do so out of solidarity. Tidy looks always helpenter trough the main door.
* Actually they don't check anymore. Barely anyone was showing their IDs when they started checking so they gave up. Nobody cares now. Go early if you want choice of foods. Sometimes they run out of the nicest meal or of the dessert and they give you the other one and an orange instead of the baklava or rice pudding. You can easily ask for seconds and thirds.== Trashwiki & Nomadwiki ==
* They don't even look at you, so there is no such thing as "checking". You can just go there and eat. (april, 2012)[[nomad:Thessaloniki]] [[trash:Thessaloniki]]
* '''My friends were there (1st week of September 2012) and they were asked about student cards, so they replied that "we are from erasmus and still waiting for Greek ones, but of course we have our normal"... ok! ok! com'on, there is no problem, so U only have to say "I am a student" if any doubtful problem occur'''
[[trash:Thessaloniki]]
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{{Infobox Italian Location
|country = Greece
=== East towards Kavala and [[Istanbul]] ([[Turkey|TR]]) {{E|90}} ===
=== West to [[Igoumenitsa]] {{E|90}} ===
Go to the train station, which is also the inner-city bus station. From here, take bus 8 KTEL (the KTEL are the blue and white buses) to Makedonia bus station. From there, you can catch the bus #80 to the end of the line, then follow motorway signs walking (approx. 2km) to the [[toll station]]. Or rather than taking bus #80, just walk across the road (roundabout) till you come to an [[on-ramp]] where, according to [[User:Liva|Liva]], is a a pretty good spot to stop cars.
In [[Igoumenitsa]] you can get a ride with trucks over the sea to [[Italy]].
=== North-East to [[Sofia]] ([[Bulgaria|BG]]) ===
Take the bus #27 from the centre to it's final stop, where also other buses stop83 (any of them will get you need #85there, even the express). Then take bus #85from Aristotellous Square stop (A, B or Mon Egnatia Street) and you're already on your way. Ask You want to the driver to drop you get off at the junction Kombo Gerokomeiou exit (Google maps doesnt show the bus stops this far north, but on the opposite side of the highway to Serres (before taking the old motorwayis a gas station called Derveni Gas S.A.). From there just walk MAKE SURE you explain to the highwaybus driver you want to get off at this exit. Otherwise, there is turn, a he might not-so-bad spot, also there is a space on get off the side of highway here and the road where some trucks next stop, better ask themis too far to walk back from. When you ask Stand on the locals for the motorway use shoulder of the word "autobahn" instead of "motorway" ot "highway"ramp. The road There is E79 and it's not a motorway after the border. These city bus tickets cost only 50 cents (that lot of traffic here, so it might take you don't even have up to an hour to pay) and take you quite some kilometres out get a ride, but I think its worth it because most of the city towards all destinationscars going as far as Bulgaria will get on the highway here.Good luck!
=== North to [[Kilkis]] ([[Greece]]) ===
* This way is easier because you don't need to change bus stops, it is the way mentioned in the Northeast to Sofia section. Take the bus #27 or #27a from the centre the the final s top ''Platia Stavroupolis'' (Stavroupolis square). Then at the same place take bus #84 / #84a and you're already on your way.
Stay on bus #84 whilst it passes through 2 villages, Liti and Melissochiori. When it is out of Melissochiori, at one point the bus will cross the road going to Kilkis and you will see signs for Kilkis. When you are at the cross roads you can press the stop button on the bus and it will stop just after the cross. There is a bus stop there. Then you are at a great spot for hitching a ride to Kilkis, Gallikos or even North Macedonia(but not the most common way to Skopje. it is a different border).
== Sleep ==
There are many hospitality network members in the city, so try your luck there. [[User:Liva|Livas]] had luck once at sleeping in the train station. She asked the people on the train station if she could sleep there even though they where closed at night, and she could!
Some have had luck asking the good people at Mikropolis/Micropolis Social Space, (see [http://wikimapia.org/#lat=40.6360852&lon=22.939539&z=17&l=0&m=s&v=9&show=/13098671/Mikropolis]). They were very friendly and could advise on where to squat for the night.
=== Camping ===
The university campus in Thessaloniki is just in the city centre and it's the perfect place to sleep in your van/tent/sleeping bag, because it's the only green place in the city and because the police are not allowed to enter the university! There are few guards but don't have the right to touch you. It's generally safe, though perhaps not suitable for a single female.
It's not so safe anymore. The drug business moved there, as unbelievable as it sounds. People selling drugs and fighting over things related to them, passerbys get attacked.. If someone has a van maybe it's okay. But sleeping in a tent or sleeping bag is an invitation to get robbed. It's the worst place to sleep, really. Try Seih Sou, the forest on the hills above the city. Or any crowded place in the center.
We slept at a deserted camping space by the beach in Ag. Triada, which is really worth a visit. We even made a big fire at night and it didn't disturb anybody. This place is about 30km south of Saloniki and you can reach it within 1,5h by bus. From the famous ottoman tower take the bus to ikea. At the last stop ask for the bus to Perea and Ag. Triada. The last bus will pass by the airport and enter a cupple of villages before you get to Triada. Ask for the old camping at the beach, locals will guide you.
== Public Transport ==
The tickets for the buses in the city cost 0.80€ and sometimes 0.90€. Blackriding is possible. If you speak to the controller in a foreign language (showing that you're a tourist, not an illegal immigrant) they'll just leave you alone. If not, they first ask 30 Euros euro for the tax, you say you don't have. Then they ask your id card, you say you don't have it with you and then they'll just give you a paper to note your name and address, where you can write any fake name. Or even simpler you can give your real passport and they are supposed to send you the bill to your country. It's 100% SURE that they will not.
There were big movements in this city about not paying for public transport. Many people don't pay and controls are rare. Spent a whole month in this city taking buses daily and never got checked.
== Free food ==
Thessaloniki is perhaps the only place in the world where you can eat everyday for free easily. Next to the campus of Aristotles university, Egnatia street, after the crossroad with 3rd September street there is the university canteen. Ask anybody for ''fititiki leschi''/φοιτητική λέσχη. There you can find a free full meal twice a day. 12.00-15.00 and 18.00-20.00. These free meals are provided for the university students, but even if you're not one, you don't have to pay and you don't have to show a student ID or any document. Just follow the queue, take the food and eat it. There's never any checks. There's nothing to be afraid of, just try to look more or less like a student. Only disadvantage is that it is closed on weekends, summer holidays and not-working days for the university in general. Picture of the building [http://www.makthes.gr/filestore/modules/news/68918/lesxi.jpg here].
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