Greece - Korina Miller [614]
For more general information on this region Click here.
Return to beginning of chapter
IONIAN ISLANDS
Corfu, Kefallonia and Zakynthos have airports; Lefkada has no airport, but Aktion airport, near Preveza on the mainland, is about 20km away. The four airports have frequent flights to/from Athens. There are interisland connections between Corfu and Preveza, Preveza and Kefallonia and between Kefallonia and Zakynthos.
KTEL long-distance buses connect each major island with Athens and Thessaloniki, and usually also with Patra or Kyllini in the Peloponnese. Buses to Corfu, Lefkada, Kefallonia, Ithaki and Zakynthos depart from Athens’ Terminal A bus station.
The Peloponnese has two departure ports for the Ionian Islands: Patra for ferries to Corfu, Kefallonia and Ithaki; and Kyllini for ferries to Kefallonia and Zakynthos. Epiros has one port, Igoumenitsa, for Corfu (island) and Paxi; and Sterea Ellada has one, Astakos, for Ithaki and Kefallonia (although this service is limited to high season).
For more general information on this region Click here.
Return to beginning of chapter
NORTHEASTERN AEGEAN ISLANDS
The northeastern Aegean Islands are fairly well connected to various ports in mainland Greece and other island chains (notably the Cyclades and the Dodecanese) though not all of them have airports. However, they are not all well interconnected among themselves and here especially travellers will need to take a patient and flexible approach when planning trips. Budget in a few extra days to be on the safe side, especially when setting sail for the smaller and more remote islands. Services out of summer can be much reduced and, when the weather is stormy, result in delays.
Just five of the northeastern Aegean Islands have airports – though none is very large. From these airports (Samos, Chios, Lesvos, Limnos and Ikaria) you can fly directly to Athens and Thessaloniki. While interisland flights are possible, most go via Athens. However, the new carrier Sky Express has several direct flights to the islands.
Although they enjoy a plethora of ferry connections, the northeastern Aegean Islands can be very vexing to circumnavigate. The northernmost of them, Thasos and Samothraki, are currently only accessible via the northern Greece mainland, while other islands too sometimes fall victim to the grand wars of one-upmanship between Greece’s shipping barons that continue to wreak havoc with ferry schedules. New lines and companies spring up, others shut down, and unscheduled ‘ghost ships’ set sail in the early morning hours. No surprise, therefore, that the crafty pirates of the Aegean found these islands so attractive for centuries.
The northeastern Aegean Islands are also significant for their frequent boats to various resorts and historical sites on the Turkish coast; for details boxed text Turkish Connections. For information on other excursion boats and special short-haul lines, see the specific island sections in the northeastern Aegean Islands chapter, Click here.
Return to beginning of chapter
NORTHERN GREECE
Getting to the islands from northern Greece is possible by flying (usually via Athens) and by boat. However, the great distances between northern ports and most of the Greek islands mean that it’s a long, tiring and relatively expensive haul (with the notable exceptions of Thasos and Samothraki). However, if you need to take a vehicle from the mainland to an island, travelling by boat becomes the only option.
While ferries to Thasos and Samothraki are frequent and reliable in summer, boats to more far-flung destinations are less frequent and prone to unexpected changes, so always check well in advance.
For more general information on this region Click here.
Return to beginning of chapter
PELOPONNESE