Getting from Tinos to Ithaca

If you are heading to Ithaca from Tinos you are making your way from the most venerated pilgrimage island in the Cyclades 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 Tinos to Ithaca. No Cycladic island is connected by sea to any Ionian island. Getting there means taking the ferry from Tinos to Piraeus, which runs daily and takes around 2.5 to 4.5 hours, and then driving to Astakos for the direct ferry to Ithaca, which takes around 2 to 2.5 hours and runs daily, or continuing to Patras for the ferry via Kefalonia. The drive from Athens to Astakos takes around 3.5 to 4 hours via the E65 motorway and Agrinio.

Getting there by air

Ithaca has no airport. The nearest airport is Kefalonia. Tinos has no airport. The nearest airport is Mykonos. Taking the short ferry from Tinos to Mykonos, flying from Mykonos to Athens and then Athens to Kefalonia, followed by the short ferry from Sami to Ithaca taking around 20 to 30 minutes, 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 short ferry from Tinos to Mykonos and fly from Mykonos to Athens, then fly from Athens to Kefalonia and take the short ferry across to Ithaca from Sami. It is the most practical approach. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Tinos to Piraeus and drive to Astakos for the direct ferry to Ithaca, or continue to Kyllini for the ferry via Kefalonia.