Getting from Volos to Ithaca

If you are heading to Ithaca from Volos you are making your way from a city on the Pagasetic Gulf at the foot of the Pelion peninsula 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 Volos to Ithaca. No mainland Aegean port is connected by sea directly to any Ionian island. Getting there means driving from Volos west across central Greece 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 Volos to Astakos takes around 3.5 to 4 hours via Trikala, Karditsa and Agrinio, avoiding Athens entirely.

Getting there by air

Ithaca has no airport. The nearest airport is Kefalonia. Volos has a small airport at Nea Anchialos with limited connections from Athens. Driving from Volos to Athens and flying from 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 5 to 6 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Drive from Volos west to Astakos via Trikala, Karditsa and Agrinio for the direct ferry to Ithaca. At around 5.5 to 6.5 hours total it avoids Athens entirely and is the most natural western Greece approach. Having a car makes this route straightforward. If you prefer to fly, drive to Athens and fly to Kefalonia then take the short ferry across to Ithaca from Sami.