Getting from Thassos to Ithaca

If you are heading to Ithaca from Thassos you are making your way from the northernmost island in Greece to an island in the Ionian Sea, on the opposite side of the country. 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 Thassos to Ithaca. No mainland Aegean port is connected by sea directly to any Ionian island. 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 Kefalonia and taking the short ferry from Sami to Ithaca, which takes around 20 to 30 minutes, or driving west via the Egnatia motorway and Ioannina to Astakos for the direct ferry to Ithaca, which takes around 2 to 2.5 hours and runs daily. The drive from Kavala to Astakos takes around 5.5 to 6 hours via the Egnatia motorway, avoiding Athens entirely.

Getting there by air

Ithaca has no airport. The nearest airport is Kefalonia. 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 Kefalonia, followed by the short ferry from Sami to Ithaca, 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 Kefalonia and take the short ferry across to Ithaca from Sami. It is the most practical approach. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Thassos to Kavala and drive west via the Egnatia motorway and Ioannina to Astakos for the direct ferry to Ithaca, which avoids Athens entirely and keeps the journey on some of the finest driving roads in northern and western Greece.