Getting from Chios to Nafplio

If you are heading to Nafplio from Chios you are making your way from one of the most overlooked islands in the northeastern Aegean to a neoclassical town on the Argolic Gulf in the Peloponnese, the first capital of modern Greece with the Venetian fortress of Palamidi above it and Mycenae, Epidaurus and Tiryns all within easy reach.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Chios to Nafplio. Getting there by sea means taking the overnight Chios to Piraeus ferry, which runs around 3 times a week and takes around 9 hours, and then driving or taking the KTEL bus south through the Peloponnese to Nafplio, which takes around 2 to 2.5 hours from Athens via Corinth. The total journey takes the better part of two days by sea.

Getting there by air

Nafplio has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Chios has its own airport with daily connections from Athens. Flying from Chios to Athens and then driving or taking the KTEL bus to Nafplio, which takes around 2.5 hours from Athens Kifissos terminal, gives a total journey time of around 4 to 5 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Fly from Chios to Athens and drive or take the KTEL bus south to Nafplio. The KTEL bus from Athens Kifissos terminal runs several times daily and takes around 2.5 hours. Nafplio rewards at least two nights and is an excellent base for exploring Mycenae, Epidaurus and Tiryns. If you are traveling with a car, take the overnight ferry from Chios to Piraeus and drive south through the Peloponnese to Nafplio via Corinth.