Getting from Thessaloniki to Ithaca

If you are heading to Ithaca from Thessaloniki you are making your way from the second largest city 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.

Getting there by air

Ithaca has no airport. The nearest airport is Kefalonia. Thessaloniki has an international airport with connections to Athens and seasonal direct flights to Kefalonia. Flying from Thessaloniki to Kefalonia and then taking the short ferry from Sami to Ithaca, which takes around 20 to 30 minutes, gives a total journey time of around 3 to 4 hours. Check the Thessaloniki to Kefalonia schedule as direct flights are seasonal. Alternatively fly from Thessaloniki to Athens and then Athens to Kefalonia.

Take the train, bus or drive

Thessaloniki is connected to Athens by train, taking around 4 to 5 hours, and by KTEL bus, taking around 5 to 6 hours. From Athens you can drive to Astakos for the direct ferry to Ithaca, which takes around 2 to 2.5 hours and runs daily, or drive to Patras for the ferry via Kefalonia. The drive from Thessaloniki to Astakos takes around 6 to 7 hours via Athens and Agrinio, avoiding the need to fly entirely.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Thessaloniki to Ithaca. No mainland Aegean port is connected by sea directly to any Ionian island. Getting there by sea means taking the overnight ferry from Thessaloniki to Piraeus and then driving to Astakos or Kyllini for the ferry to Ithaca.

Your best option

Fly from Thessaloniki to Kefalonia when the direct seasonal service is running and take the short ferry across to Ithaca from Sami. When direct flights are not available, fly from Thessaloniki to Athens and then Athens to Kefalonia. If you are traveling with a car, drive from Thessaloniki to Astakos via Athens and Agrinio for the direct ferry to Ithaca, which avoids any additional ferry connections.