How to travel to Thassos. Thassos, also known as the Emerald Island, is a popular tourist destination in Greece. With its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and picturesque villages, it’s no wonder why visitors flock to this beautiful island.
If you’re planning to visit Thassos, it’s important to know how to get there. In this ultimate guide, we’ll walk you through the different means of transportation available and help you decide which option is the most convenient and affordable for you. We’ll also provide you with some tips on how to navigate the island once you arrive.
By Plane
how to travel to Thassos. The island doesn’t have its own airport, but it is served by the International Airport of Kavala, also known as the “Alexander the Great” airport. From Athens, there are several scheduled flights to Kavala every day, with a 50-minute flight time.
The airport is 30 km east of Kavala and offers flights and charters to and from major European cities several times a week. From the airport, you can take a bus, rent a car, or take a taxi to get to the ferry port town of Keramoti, which is 18 km away. From Keramoti, you can take a 35-minute ferryboat ride to Thassos Town.
Alternatively, you can fly to the airport in Thessaloniki, Macedonia International Airport, which has several flights and charters every day to and from Athens and many cities across Europe. From Thessaloniki, you can take a bus, rent a car, or take a taxi to get to Kavala or Keramoti, and then take a ferryboat to Thassos.
By Car
How to Travel to Thassos. Thassos is easily accessible by car, with excellent road connections to all the towns and cities in the region. From Thessaloniki, it takes about two and a half hours to reach Keramoti, and about the same amount of time to reach Kavala.
From the final major Greek city to the east, Alexandroupolis, it takes about two hours to reach Kavala and a little less time to reach Keramoti. From Kavala or Keramoti, you can take a ferry to Thassos.
Traveling to Thassos
If you’re driving from Greece, Bulgaria, or Romania, here are some approximate routes and distances along the major roads and highways that are best to take for extensive driving:
Traveling within Greece:
- From Thessaloniki to Kavala: 172 km
- From Alexandroupolis to Kavala: 166 km
- From Athens through Thessaloniki to Kavala: 673 km
Traveling from Bulgaria:
- From Sofia directly to Kavala: 343 km
- From Plovdiv through Sofia to Kavala: 486 km
- From Plovdiv through Edirne, Alexandroupolis to Kavala: 473 km
- From Varna through Edirne, Alexandroupolis to Kavala: 674 km
Traveling from Romania:
- From Bucharest through Sofia (Bulgaria) to Kavala: 745 km
- From Timisoara through Belgrade (Serbia), Skopje (F.Y.R.O.Macedonia), Thessaloniki to Kavala: 939 km
- From Galati through Edirne (Bulgaria), Alexandroupolis to Kavala: 1001 km
By ferryboat and hydrofoil
Thassos can be reached from Kavala and Keramoti. The island is well-connected with daily ferryboat and hydrofoil services. The ferryboat between Keramoti and Thassos takes only 35 minutes, while the ferryboat between Kavala and Prinos takes 75 minutes.
The hydrofoil between Kavala and Thassos Town takes only 45 minutes. Thassos Ferries is the main operator of ferry services to and from the island.
For ferryboat and hydrofoil schedules, visitors can contact the local port authorities at the following numbers:
- Thassos Port Authority: +30 25930 22106
- Prinos Port Authority: +30 25930 71290
- Kavala Port Authority: +30 2510 224472
- Keramoti Port Authority: +30 25910 51204
How to travel to Thassos by Bus (Coach)
How to travel to Thassos. Visitors can also reach Kavala by coach or bus from Athens, Thessaloniki, or Alexandroupolis through Kavala Bus Services, also known as KTEL. Upon arrival in Kavala, visitors have several options available to them depending on the time they arrive.
They can catch a flying dolphin (hydrofoil) to either Thassos Town or Skala Prinos. The port is just a short walk from the bus station. Alternatively, regular ferries are available on the other side of the port from the dolphins that can take visitors to Skala Prinos.
It’s important to note that there are fewer ferries running from Kavala to Thassos compared to those from Keramoti, so it’s best to check the schedule before arriving.
For bus schedules and information, visitors can contact the following numbers:
- Athens Office: +30 2105129407
- Thessaloniki office: +30 2310595422
- Kavala office: +30 2510223593
By Train
The Hellenic Railway can also be taken to travel to the city of Drama, which takes about 8 hours from Athens. Visitors can also use the train to come from Thessaloniki, but it costs more than the bus and takes almost 1.5 hours longer. For more information, visitors can contact the following numbers:
- Athens Office: +30 2105240647
- Thessaloniki office: +30 2310517517
When visitors arrive in Drama, they can take the bus to Kavala, which departs every half hour.
By Ship
Coastal lines connect Kavala and the North Aegean islands throughout the year, while in the summer months, Kavala is connected with all the islands in the Aegean Sea.
On the Island
Once visitors have arrived on Thassos Island, daily bus routes serve all of the coastal towns and villages as well as many of the mountain villages. For more information, visitors can contact KTEL Thassos office at +30 2593022162.
The 100 km long road network that circles the island is in good condition, and driving on it is smooth, although it has some very sharp turns. Cars and motorbikes are available for hire on the island as well.
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