Getting from Thessaloniki to Lipsi

If you are heading to Lipsi from Thessaloniki you are making your way from the second largest city in Greece to a small island in the northern Dodecanese group, on the opposite side of the country. It has a pretty harbour village, uncrowded beaches and an atmosphere of complete calm.

Getting there by air

Lipsi has no airport. The nearest airport is Leros. Thessaloniki has an international airport with daily connections to Athens. Flying from Thessaloniki to Athens and then Athens to Leros, followed by the short ferry from Leros to Lipsi taking around 20 to 40 minutes, gives a total journey time of around 5 to 6 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

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 overnight Piraeus to Lipsi ferry runs around 3 times a week and takes around 9 to 10 hours. Flying from Thessaloniki is considerably more practical than the combined train and ferry journey for most travelers.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Thessaloniki to Lipsi. Getting there by sea means traveling to Piraeus for the overnight ferry to Lipsi.

Your best option

Fly from Thessaloniki to Athens and then fly from Athens to Leros, then take the short ferry across to Lipsi. It is the most practical approach. If you are traveling with a car, drive from Thessaloniki to Piraeus via the E75 motorway and take the overnight Piraeus to Lipsi ferry, which takes your vehicle and arrives in the morning.