Getting from Chania to Kefalonia

If you are heading to Kefalonia from Chania you are making your way from the most intimate of Crete's three main cities to the largest of the Ionian islands, on the opposite side of Greece. It is mountainous with dramatic cliffs, turquoise bays and some of the finest beaches in Greece.

Getting there by air

Kefalonia has an international airport with connections from Athens. Chania has an international airport with connections from Athens. Flying from Chania to Athens and then Athens to Kefalonia takes around 45 minutes on the second leg. Total journey time is around 4 to 5 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Chania to Kefalonia. No Aegean island or port is connected by sea directly to any Ionian island. Getting there by sea means taking the overnight ferry from Chania to Piraeus, which takes around 8 to 9 hours, and then driving to Kyllini on the western Peloponnese for the ferry to Kefalonia, which takes around 1 hour 30 minutes and runs up to 4 daily crossings. The total journey takes the better part of two days.

Your best option

Fly from Chania to Athens and then fly to Kefalonia. It is the fastest and most practical approach. If you are traveling with a car, take the overnight ferry from Chania to Piraeus and drive to Kyllini for the ferry across to Kefalonia, which at around 1 hour 30 minutes is the shortest mainland to Kefalonia connection.