Getting from Athens to Ioannina

If you are heading to Ioannina from Athens you are going to one of the most rewarding urban destinations in Greece. Ioannina sits on the western shore of Lake Pamvotis in Epirus, surrounded by the mountains of the Pindos range, and it has a character unlike any other Greek city. The old quarter inside the Itsale Kale fortress is Ottoman in feel, with mosques, a Jewish quarter and the house where Ali Pasha, the legendary Lion of Ioannina, was finally cornered and killed in 1822. There is a small island in the middle of the lake with monasteries, a taverna and the actual room where Ali Pasha met his end. The Vikos Gorge, one of the deepest in the world, is an hour away.

Getting there by air

Both Athens and Ioannina have airports. Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air operate daily flights from Athens to Ioannina taking around 50 minutes. The airport is just 4 kilometres from the city centre.

Take the train, bus or drive

There is no train service to Ioannina. The KTEL bus from Athens Kifissos terminal to Ioannina runs several times daily and takes around 6 to 7 hours, passing through Lamia and the mountains of Epirus. The drive from Athens takes around 5 to 6 hours via the E65 motorway and the Antirrio bridge, a good road through some of the finest mountain scenery in Greece.

Take the ferry

There is no ferry from Athens to Ioannina. It is an inland city in the mountains of Epirus with no sea connection.

Your best option

Fly from Athens. The 50-minute flight is the obvious choice and the airport is close to the centre. If you want to see the landscape of Epirus properly, the drive is worth doing at least one way. The road through the Pindos mountains on the approach to Ioannina is one of the best drives in Greece.