Getting from Volos to Halkidiki

If you are heading to Halkidiki from Volos you are making your way from a city on the Pagasetic Gulf at the foot of the Pelion peninsula to a three-pronged peninsula southeast of Thessaloniki in northern Greece, with Kassandra in the west for long sandy beaches, Sithonia in the middle for quieter waters and the monastic peninsula of Athos in the east, relatively close in geographic terms given both sit in the northern part of Greece.

Take the ferry

There is no ferry to Halkidiki. It is a mainland peninsula with no island ferry connections. Getting there means driving from Volos north via the E75 motorway to Thessaloniki and continuing to Halkidiki, which takes around 3.5 to 4 hours from Volos in total. This avoids Athens entirely and is one of the most natural connections from Volos given the shared northern Greek geography of the two.

Getting there by air

Halkidiki has no airport. The nearest airport is Thessaloniki, around 60 to 90 kilometres from the various parts of the peninsula. Volos has a small airport at Nea Anchialos with limited connections from Athens. Driving from Volos north to Thessaloniki and continuing to Halkidiki gives a total journey time of around 3.5 to 4 hours and avoids Athens entirely. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Drive from Volos north via the E75 motorway to Thessaloniki and continue to Halkidiki. At around 3.5 to 4 hours it avoids Athens entirely and is the most direct and natural road approach. A car is essential for getting around Halkidiki as public transport connections within the peninsula are limited. The drive north from Volos through Macedonia is a straightforward one.