Getting from Thessaloniki to Nafplio

If you are heading to Nafplio from Thessaloniki you are making your way from the second largest city in Greece to a neoclassical town on the Argolic Gulf in the Peloponnese, the first capital of modern Greece with the Venetian fortress of Palamidi above it and Mycenae, Epidaurus and Tiryns all within easy reach.

Getting there by air

Nafplio 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 or taking the KTEL bus south through the Peloponnese to Nafplio, which takes around 2 to 2.5 hours from Athens via Corinth, gives a total journey time of around 4 to 5 hours.

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 KTEL bus from Kifissos terminal to Nafplio runs several times daily and takes around 2.5 hours. The drive from Thessaloniki to Nafplio takes around 6 to 7 hours via the E75 motorway and Athens, which is practical for travelers with a car.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Thessaloniki to Nafplio. Nafplio is accessible only by road.

Your best option

Fly from Thessaloniki to Athens and drive or take the KTEL bus south to Nafplio. Having a car makes this route considerably more practical as it gives you the flexibility to explore Mycenae, Epidaurus and Tiryns, all within easy reach of Nafplio. Nafplio rewards at least two nights and is one of the most rewarding overnight stops in the Peloponnese. If you are traveling with a car, drive from Thessaloniki to Nafplio via the E75 motorway and Athens, which takes around 6 to 7 hours.