Getting from Rhodes to Ithaca

If you are heading to Ithaca from Rhodes you are making your way to an island in the Ionian Sea, on the opposite side of Greece. It is the legendary home of Odysseus with a deep central bay at Vathy that is one of the most beautiful natural harbours in the Ionian.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Rhodes to Ithaca. Getting there means taking the overnight ferry from Rhodes to Piraeus and then travelling by road to Astakos or Patras for the onward ferry to Ithaca, making the total journey the better part of two days.

Getting there by air

Ithaca has no airport. The nearest airport is Kefalonia, which has connections from Athens. Flying from Rhodes to Athens takes around 1 hour and then Athens to Kefalonia takes around 50 minutes, followed by the short ferry from Kefalonia to Ithaca taking around 20 to 30 minutes. Total travel time is around 3 to 4 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Fly to Kefalonia via Athens and take the short ferry across to Ithaca. It is the most time efficient approach. If you are travelling with a car, the overnight ferry from Rhodes to Piraeus is the practical choice, then drive to Kylini and take the ferry to Kefalonia, followed by the short crossing to Ithaca.