Getting from Thassos to Paxos

If you are heading to Paxos from Thassos you are making your way from the northernmost island in Greece to a small island in the Ionian Sea, on the opposite side of the country. It has ancient olive groves, turquoise coves and a Venetian harbour at Gaios that is one of the most charming in Greece.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Thassos to Paxos. 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 driving west via the Egnatia motorway and Ioannina to Igoumenitsa, which takes around 4 to 4.5 hours from Kavala, for the car ferry to Paxos taking around 1 hour 30 minutes. This avoids Athens entirely and is the most natural cross-country approach at around 7 to 8 hours total.

Getting there by air

Paxos has no airport. The nearest airport is Corfu. 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 Corfu, followed by the ferry from Corfu to Paxos, gives a total journey time of around 6 to 7 hours. Note that the Corfu to Paxos ferry does not carry vehicles so Igoumenitsa is the only option for travelers with a car. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Thassos to Kavala and drive west via the Egnatia motorway and Ioannina to Igoumenitsa, then take the car ferry to Paxos. It avoids Athens entirely and is the most natural cross-country approach. If you prefer to fly, take the ferry from Thassos to Kavala and fly from Kavala to Athens then Athens to Corfu and take the ferry across to Paxos. Paxos rewards at least three nights and the journey from northern Greece is one worth taking slowly.