Getting from Thessaloniki to Kefalonia

If you are heading to Kefalonia from Thessaloniki you are making your way from the second largest city in Greece to the largest of the Ionian islands, on the opposite side of the country. It is mountainous with dramatic cliffs, turquoise bays and some of the finest beaches in Greece.

Getting there by air

Kefalonia has an international airport with connections from Athens and seasonal direct flights from Thessaloniki in summer. When the direct service is running the flight takes around 1 hour making it one of the most convenient connections from Thessaloniki to any Ionian island. Check the schedule carefully 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 the drive to Kyllini on the northwestern Peloponnese coast takes around 3 to 3.5 hours via Corinth and Patras, and the ferry from Kyllini to Kefalonia takes around 1 hour 30 minutes and runs up to 4 daily crossings. The drive from Thessaloniki to Kyllini takes around 8 to 9 hours via Athens, or around 7 to 8 hours via the Egnatia motorway and Ioannina avoiding Athens entirely.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Thessaloniki to Kefalonia. No mainland Aegean port is connected by sea directly to any Ionian island. Getting there by road means driving to Kyllini or Patras for the ferry to Kefalonia.

Your best option

Fly directly from Thessaloniki to Kefalonia when the seasonal service is running. It is the fastest and most practical approach. 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 via the Egnatia motorway and Ioannina to Patras and then to Kyllini for the ferry across to Kefalonia, which avoids Athens entirely.