Getting from Thassos to Ioannina

If you are heading to Ioannina from Thassos you are making your way from the northernmost island in Greece to a city in the mountains of Epirus in northwestern Greece, on the western shore of Lake Pamvotis with the Pindos range behind it and the Vikos Gorge, one of the deepest in the world, an hour away.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Thassos to Ioannina. Ioannina is an inland city with no sea connection. Getting there means taking the ferry from Thassos to Kavala, which runs almost hourly in summer and takes around 1 hour 30 minutes, and then driving or taking the bus west across northern Greece to Ioannina, which takes around 4 to 4.5 hours via the Egnatia motorway. This avoids Athens entirely and is the most natural cross-country approach.

Getting there by air

Ioannina has its own airport with connections from Athens. Thassos has no airport. The nearest airport is Kavala. Taking the ferry from Thassos to Kavala and flying from Kavala to Athens and then Athens to Ioannina gives a total journey time of around 5 to 6 hours. However the drive from Kavala to Ioannina via the Egnatia motorway is a realistic alternative given the direct motorway connection.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Thassos to Kavala and drive west via the Egnatia motorway to Ioannina. At around 5.5 to 6 hours total it avoids Athens entirely and is the most direct cross-country approach. Having a car makes this route straightforward and the drive through Macedonia and Epirus via the Egnatia motorway is a scenic one. If you prefer not to drive the full distance, take the ferry to Kavala and fly from Kavala to Athens then Athens to Ioannina.