Getting from Chania to Thessaloniki

If you are heading to Thessaloniki from Chania you are making your way from the most intimate of Crete's three main cities to the second largest city in Greece, in the north of the country. It has a waterfront that stretches for kilometres past the White Tower, exceptional food and a history shaped by Byzantine, Ottoman and modern Greek influences.

Getting there by air

Thessaloniki has an international airport with daily connections from Athens and seasonal direct connections from Chania. Flying directly from Chania to Thessaloniki avoids Athens entirely and gives a total journey time of around 2 to 3 hours including transfers. When direct flights are not available, flying from Chania to Athens and then Athens to Thessaloniki takes around 55 minutes on the second leg with a total journey time of 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 Thessaloniki. Getting there by sea means taking the overnight ferry from Chania to Piraeus, which takes around 8 to 9 hours, and then traveling north to Thessaloniki by train or bus, which takes around 4 to 5 hours from Athens. The total journey takes the better part of two days.

Your best option

Fly directly from Chania to Thessaloniki when the seasonal schedule allows. It is the fastest and most practical approach and avoids Athens entirely. If no direct flight is available, fly from Chania to Athens and then fly to Thessaloniki. If you are traveling with a car, take the overnight ferry from Chania to Piraeus and drive north via the E75 motorway to Thessaloniki, which takes around 5 to 6 hours from Athens.