Getting from Tilos to Thessaloniki

If you are heading to Thessaloniki from Tilos you are making your way from a volcanic island in the Dodecanese to the second largest city in Greece, in the north of the country. It has a waterfront that stretches for kilometres past the White Tower, exceptional food and a history shaped by Byzantine, Ottoman and modern Greek influences.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Tilos to Thessaloniki. Getting there means taking the ferry from Tilos to Rhodes, which takes around 1 hour 10 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes and runs 4 to 7 days per week, and then flying from Rhodes to Athens and then Athens to Thessaloniki. Alternatively take the overnight ferry from Tilos to Piraeus and drive or take the KTEL bus north to Thessaloniki, which takes around 5 to 6 hours from Athens via the E75 motorway.

Getting there by air

Thessaloniki has an international airport with daily connections from Athens. 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 Thessaloniki takes around 55 minutes on the second leg. Total journey time is around 5 to 6 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 Thessaloniki. It is the fastest and 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 north via the E75 motorway to Thessaloniki, which takes around 5 to 6 hours from Athens.