Getting from Astakos to Thassos

If you are heading to Thassos from Astakos you are making your way from a port town on the western coast of central Greece to the northernmost island in Greece, in the northern Aegean close to the Macedonian coast. It is green and forested with good beaches and ancient ruins from one of the most prosperous cities of the ancient Greek world.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Astakos to Thassos. Thassos is connected only to Kavala and Keramoti on the northern mainland. Getting there means driving northeast from Astakos via Ioannina and the Egnatia motorway to Kavala, which takes around 5 to 6 hours and avoids Athens entirely, followed by the ferry across to Thassos taking around 1 hour 30 minutes.

Getting there by air

Thassos has no airport. The nearest airport is Kavala. Astakos has no airport either. Driving from Astakos to Athens and flying to Kavala, then taking the ferry across to Thassos gives a total journey time of around 6 to 7 hours. The direct drive northeast via Ioannina and the Egnatia motorway to Kavala is more 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 and take the ferry across to Thassos. It avoids Athens entirely and with ferries running almost hourly from Kavala in summer you rarely need to book the final crossing in advance. If you are traveling with a car the ferry from Kavala takes your vehicle directly to Thassos.