General Note

Our wedding date falls within the summer holidays and therefore during the high season in Greece. We recommend booking your accommodation and flights early (ideally within 2025), as availability can become limited quickly.

Arrival

We recommend flying into Thessaloniki (SKG), as it is the nearest airport.

Accommodation

We recommend staying directly in Edessa to keep the travel distance to the wedding venue short and stress-free. From Edessa, you can reach the location most conveniently.

Most hotels in Edessa are simple, practical, and family-run—perfectly fine for a few relaxed days around the wedding. If you prefer something more individual or a bit more comfortable, there are also lovely Airbnb accommodations in and around Edessa.

We have a special arrangement for our guests with Hotel Alfa.
Hotel Alfa in Edessa is a very simply furnished hotel offering basic accommodation. It is a good option for anyone who prefers a straightforward and uncomplicated stay.

Hotel Alfa – Contact Details:
28 Egnatia Str., GR-58200 Edessa, Greece
Phone: +30 23810 22221
Fax: +30 23810 24777
Web: www.hotelalfa.gr
Email: [email protected]

Room Types & Prices:
Single room: €50
Double room: €65
Triple room (2 available): €80
Junior Suite (2 available): €130
Optional breakfast: +€5 per person/day
Mandatory accommodation tax: +€5 per room/night

About the breakfast:
Breakfast is also very simple and includes a basic continental selection: coffee, tea or juice, bread or rolls, ham and cheese, honey or jam, boiled eggs, some fruit, yogurt, cereal, and a small piece of cake. Ideal for guests who don’t expect anything too elaborate in the morning.

Important: When contacting or booking the hotel, please mention that you are reaching out
“on the recommendation of Nikolaos Kourgiantakis.”

If you need any additional information about accommodation options, feel free to contact us directly at any time.

Taxi Warning

In recent years, taxis in larger Greek cities have unfortunately become a bit of a tourist trap. It’s best to always insist on using the taximeter or to use apps like FreeNow or Uber, ideally with a fixed-price option.

You should never pay more than the agreed or displayed fare. Drivers sometimes ask for extra fees in cash — these should not be paid when booking or paying through an app.

Google Maps

In Greece, Google Maps generally works very well for longer routes, such as Thessaloniki – Edessa. However, in smaller villages, the app may sometimes direct you along narrow dirt roads or unpaved paths.

If the route seems unusual, it’s better to double-check and follow the road signs — they are often more reliable than the app in rural areas.

This way, you can avoid any unexpected surprises on remote roads.

Getting to Edessa

There are several ways to get from Thessaloniki to Edessa. The distance is about 95 km, and the drive takes around 1.5 hours.

Taxis are available but quite expensive – usually between €80 and €100 per trip. We therefore recommend renting a car. Keep in mind that rental cars in Greece are often in less-than-perfect condition compared to what you might expect in Germany. Among the providers, Hertz is generally considered one of the more reliable options.

Alternatively, the KTEL intercity bus runs regularly from Thessaloniki to Edessa. To take it, you’ll first need to get from Thessaloniki Airport to the KTEL bus station in the city – either by public bus or by taxi.

Using the Uber fixed-price option, a taxi to the KTEL bus station costs around €25.

Important: There are two KTEL bus stations in Thessaloniki. The KTEL Chalkidikis is the wrong one! The correct station is KTEL Makedonia.

When using Google Maps, make sure to double-check the destination – some entries mistakenly lead to the parking lot instead of the main terminal.

Rental Car

For the route from Thessaloniki to Edessa, a rental car is often the most convenient option, especially if you want flexibility during your stay. We have a personal contact through whom my brother has already rented once. His experience was positive – even though we do not have a long rental history with him yet.

Rental cars in Greece tend to be a bit more “used” compared to Germany – this is quite normal throughout the country.

Example Offer from Our Contact

• Mid-size car for 11 days
• Regular price: €627 (including insurance with €200 deductible)
• Special price for acquaintances: €495 – no deposit, but also no insurance
• Small scratches are no problem; major damage must be paid for or repaired at one of his workshops

For 7- or 9-seater vehicles, prices usually range between €80–120 per day, depending on availability – also without deposit and without insurance (damage must be paid in case of an incident).

Contact

Odysseas Oumountidis
+30 697 394 2253
Please refer to Nikolaos and Georgios Kourgiantakis.

Getting to the Location

Note: There are two places called Peraia in Northern Greece!

One is on the coast near Thessaloniki, the other is inland near Edessa. When entering the destination in your navigation app, please make sure to select the correct Peraia (Pella) near Edessa — otherwise you might end up at the sea instead of at the celebration!

To keep things simple, we’ve linked the correct location (and parking) below via Google Maps, so you can be sure you’re heading the right way.

Shuttle Service: There will be shuttles running at regular intervals from Florina and Edessa to the venue and back.

This is helpful for two reasons:

• You can relax, have a drink, and simply enjoy the time together.
• Driving at night in Greece can be challenging for those unfamiliar with the roads.