Getting from Chania to Kavala

If you are heading to Kavala from Chania you are making your way from the most intimate of Crete's three main cities 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.

Getting there by air

Kavala has its own airport with connections from Athens. Chania has an international airport with connections from Athens. Flying from Chania to Athens and then Athens to Kavala takes around 1 hour on the second leg. Total journey time is around 4 to 5 hours. Kavala Airport is around 30 kilometres from the city so factor in a taxi on arrival. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Chania to Kavala. Getting there by sea means taking the overnight ferry from Chania to Piraeus, which takes around 8 to 9 hours, and then driving or flying northeast to Kavala, which takes around 7 to 8 hours from Athens by road. The total journey takes the better part of two days. Flying is considerably more practical for most travelers.

Your best option

Fly from Chania to Athens and then fly to Kavala. It is the fastest and most practical approach. 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. If you are traveling with a car, take the overnight ferry from Chania to Piraeus and drive northeast via the E75 and Egnatia motorway to Kavala.