Getting from Thassos to Ios

If you are heading to Ios from Thassos you are making your way from the northernmost island in Greece to an island in the southern Cyclades, on the opposite side of the country. It has some of the finest beaches in the Cyclades on its south coast and a Chora above the port that comes alive in the evening.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Thassos to Ios. 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 either flying from Kavala to Athens and then Athens to Santorini and taking the short ferry from Santorini to Ios, which takes around 35 minutes, or driving to Piraeus for the Piraeus to Ios ferry, which runs multiple times daily in summer and takes around 4 to 7 hours.

Getting there by air

Ios has no airport. The nearest airport is Santorini. Thassos has no airport. The nearest airport is Kavala. Taking the ferry from Thassos to Kavala, flying from Kavala to Athens and then Athens to Santorini, followed by the short ferry to Ios, gives a total journey time of around 6 to 7 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Thassos to Kavala and fly from Kavala to Athens, then fly from Athens to Santorini and take the short ferry across to Ios. It is the most practical approach. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Thassos to Kavala and drive to Piraeus for the conventional Piraeus to Ios ferry, which takes your vehicle directly to the island.