Getting from Thessaloniki to Kylini

If you are heading to Kylini from Thessaloniki you are making your way from the second largest city in Greece to a port town on the northwestern Peloponnese coast, on the opposite side of the country. It has a long sandy beach and the medieval castle of Chlemoutsi nearby, one of the best preserved Frankish fortifications in Greece.

Getting there by air

Kylini has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Thessaloniki has an international airport with daily connections to Athens. Flying from Thessaloniki to Athens and then driving west to Kylini, which takes around 3 to 3.5 hours from Athens via Corinth and Patras, gives a total journey time of around 5 to 6 hours. Having a car is essential for the Athens to Kylini leg as public transport connections are slow and infrequent.

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 Kylini takes around 3 to 3.5 hours via Corinth and Patras. The drive from Thessaloniki to Kylini takes around 8 to 9 hours via the E75 motorway and Athens, which is the most practical option for travelers with a car heading to the Zakynthos or Kefalonia ferries.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Thessaloniki to Kylini. Getting there means traveling to Athens and then driving west to Kylini.

Your best option

Drive from Thessaloniki to Kylini via the E75 motorway and Athens. At around 8 to 9 hours it is a long day but avoids the need to fly. Having a car makes this route straightforward and puts you at the departure point for ferries to Zakynthos and Kefalonia. If you prefer to fly, fly from Thessaloniki to Athens and rent a car for the drive west to Kylini.