Getting from Tilos to Ithaca

If you are heading to Ithaca from Tilos you are making your way from a volcanic island in the Dodecanese to an island in the Ionian Sea, on the opposite side of Greece. It is the legendary home of Odysseus with a deep central bay at Vathy that is one of the most beautiful natural harbours in the Ionian.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Tilos to Ithaca. No Dodecanese island is connected by sea to any Ionian island. Getting there means taking the ferry from Tilos to Rhodes, flying from Rhodes to Athens and then driving to Astakos for the direct ferry to Ithaca, which takes around 2 to 2.5 hours and runs daily, or flying from Athens to Kefalonia and taking the short ferry from Sami to Ithaca, which takes around 20 to 30 minutes.

Getting there by air

Ithaca has no airport. The nearest airport is Kefalonia. Tilos has no airport. The nearest airport is Rhodes. Taking the ferry from Tilos to Rhodes, flying from Rhodes to Athens and then Athens to Kefalonia, followed by the short ferry from Sami to Ithaca, gives a total journey time of around 6 to 7 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Tilos to Rhodes and fly from Rhodes to Athens, then fly from Athens to Kefalonia and take the short ferry across to Ithaca from Sami. It is the most practical approach. Check the Tilos to Rhodes schedule before booking as departure days and times vary by season. If you are traveling with a car, take the overnight ferry from Tilos to Piraeus and drive to Astakos or Kyllini for the ferry across to Ithaca.