Getting from Astakos to Kavala

If you are heading to Kavala from Astakos you are making your way from a port town on the western coast of central Greece to a port city in northern Greece on the Macedonian coast, with a Byzantine castle above the harbour, a Roman aqueduct running through the upper town and the archaeological site of Philippi just 15 kilometres inland.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Astakos to Kavala. Astakos ferry connections are limited to Kefalonia and Ithaca. Getting to Kavala means driving northeast from Astakos via Ioannina and the Egnatia motorway, which takes around 5 to 6 hours and avoids Athens entirely. It is the most direct road connection between the two on the Greek mainland.

Getting there by air

Kavala has its own airport with connections from Athens. Astakos has no airport either. Driving from Astakos to Athens and flying to Kavala takes around 1 hour on the second leg. Total journey time is around 5 to 6 hours. The direct drive northeast via Ioannina and the Egnatia motorway is equally practical and avoids Athens entirely. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Drive from Astakos northeast via Ioannina and the Egnatia motorway to Kavala. It avoids Athens entirely and is the most direct road approach across northern Greece. Kavala Airport is around 30 kilometres from the city so if you fly factor in a taxi on arrival. If you are planning to visit Thassos from Kavala, ferries to the island run almost hourly in summer and the crossing takes around 1 hour 30 minutes.