Getting from Thessaloniki to Kavala

If you are heading to Kavala from Thessaloniki you are making your way from the second largest city in Greece to a port city in northern Greece on the Macedonian coast, relatively close in geographic terms given both sit in the northern part of the country. It has a Byzantine castle above the harbour, a Roman aqueduct running through the upper town and the archaeological site of Philippi just 15 kilometres inland.

Getting there by air

Kavala has its own airport with connections from Athens. Thessaloniki has an international airport with daily connections to Athens. However the drive from Thessaloniki to Kavala is considerably more practical than flying via Athens for this connection given the direct motorway link between the two cities.

Take the train, bus or drive

Thessaloniki is connected to Kavala by road, taking around 1.5 to 2 hours via the E90 motorway. The KTEL bus from Thessaloniki to Kavala runs several times daily and takes around 2 hours. The intercity train also connects the two cities. All three are practical options that avoid Athens entirely and keep the journey within northern Greece. It is one of the most natural connections from Thessaloniki given the shared northern Greek geography of the two cities.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Thessaloniki to Kavala. Both are mainland cities connected only by road and rail.

Your best option

Drive from Thessaloniki to Kavala via the E90 motorway. At around 1.5 to 2 hours it is the most direct and practical approach and avoids Athens entirely. The KTEL bus is a good alternative at around 2 hours. If you are planning to visit Thassos from Kavala, ferries to the island run almost hourly in summer and the crossing takes around 1 hour 30 minutes.