Getting from Thassos to Meteora

If you are heading to Meteora from Thassos you are making your way from the northernmost island in Greece to one of the most extraordinary places in the country, a complex of Byzantine monasteries built on top of rock pillars in the plain of Thessaly in central Greece, relatively close in geographic terms given both sit in the northern part of the country.

Take the ferry

There is no ferry to Meteora. It is an inland destination 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 southwest via the E75 motorway and Thessaloniki to Kalambaka, the town at the base of the Meteora rocks, which takes around 3.5 to 4 hours from Kavala. This avoids Athens entirely and keeps the journey within northern and central Greece. Note that as of 2026 the direct train service between Athens and Kalambaka remains suspended due to track damage and the KTEL bus is currently the main public transport option from Athens.

Getting there by air

Meteora has no airport. The nearest town is Kalambaka, around 3.5 to 4 hours by road from Kavala. Thassos has no airport. The nearest airport is Kavala. The drive from Kavala to Kalambaka is considerably more practical than flying for this connection given the direct road link through Thessaloniki.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Thassos to Kavala and drive southwest via the E75 motorway and Thessaloniki to Kalambaka. At around 5 to 5.5 hours total it avoids Athens entirely and is the most natural northern Greece approach. The KTEL bus from Kavala to Kalambaka via Thessaloniki is a good alternative if you are traveling without a car. Plan at least two nights in Kalambaka as the monasteries and viewpoints deserve more than a rushed visit. The combination of Thassos and Meteora in the same trip makes for one of the great northern Greece itineraries.