How to Get to Ioannina: From Athens, Thessaloniki and Nearby Airports

Table of Contents

• How to Get to Ioannina from Athens
• How to Get to Ioannina from Thessaloniki
• Flying Directly to Ioannina Airport
• Aktion Airport: A Useful Alternative for International Flights
• Thessaloniki Airport as a Gateway to Ioannina
• What About Corfu Airport?
• Can You Travel to Ioannina by Train?
• Do You Need a Car to Visit Ioannina?
• Which Route to Ioannina Is Best?
• Getting to Ioannina Is Easier Than It Looks

Getting to Ioannina is easier than its mountainous location in north-western Greece might suggest. The city has its own airport, direct intercity buses from Athens and Thessaloniki, and good motorway connections with the rest of mainland Greece.

For international travellers, however, the best route depends heavily on where you are arriving in Greece. Athens offers both a direct flight and long-distance bus connections, while Thessaloniki is close enough that driving or taking the bus usually makes more sense than flying.

There is also a useful third option during the warmer months: Aktion Airport near Preveza. It handles seasonal international flights from numerous European cities and can be a convenient gateway to Ioannina if the flight schedule works for your trip.

This guide explains how to get to Ioannina from Athens, Thessaloniki and the main nearby airports, including realistic journey times and which option makes the most sense for different travellers. Once your transport is sorted, our complete guide to the best things to do in Ioannina will help you plan what to prioritise when you arrive.

How to Get to Ioannina from Athens

Athens is the main gateway to Ioannina for travellers arriving in Greece from outside Europe or from destinations without direct seasonal flights to western Greece.

You have three practical choices: fly, take the KTEL intercity bus or drive.

Athens to Ioannina by Plane

Flying is the quickest way to travel from Athens to Ioannina and is particularly convenient if you are already arriving at Athens International Airport.

AEGEAN currently sells direct Athens–Ioannina flights, with the route continuing into the 2026–27 schedule. The scheduled flight itself is normally a little over an hour.

The major advantage is that you avoid travelling into central Athens before continuing to Ioannina. For international passengers with a sensible connection, this can make the journey considerably easier.

The disadvantage is price and schedule flexibility. Airfares vary significantly depending on the date and how early you book, while the number of daily departures is much smaller than on heavily served domestic routes such as Athens–Thessaloniki.

If your international flight arrives several hours before an Ioannina departure, flying onward is usually the most comfortable option.

Athens to Ioannina by KTEL Bus

The direct intercity bus is the most straightforward public-transport alternative to flying.

KTEL Ioanninon operates services from Athens’ Kifissos Intercity Bus Station to Ioannina. The operator currently lists a journey time of approximately 5 hours 30 minutes and a standard one-way fare of €46.20.

At the time of checking in August 2026, the published timetable showed several departures spread across the day. Schedules can change seasonally or around public holidays, so travellers should check KTEL Ioanninon before departure rather than relying on an old timetable.

The main consideration for passengers arriving at Athens Airport is that the bus does not leave from the airport. You first need to travel to Kifissos Bus Station.

For this reason, a cheap flight to Athens followed immediately by a bus is not always as convenient as it initially appears. Allow plenty of time between your flight arrival and bus departure.

Driving from Athens to Ioannina

Driving gives you considerably more freedom, especially if Ioannina is the starting point for a wider journey around Epirus.

The road distance from Athens is approximately 410 km, with a typical driving time of around 4 hours 15 minutes before substantial breaks or traffic delays.

The modern motorway route has made this journey much easier than it was in the past. The northern section uses the Ionia Odos motorway, which runs from Antirrio towards Ioannina.

You should still budget for tolls and fuel. For a single traveller, the bus or a reasonably priced flight may make better financial sense. With two or more people — particularly if you intend to visit Zagori, Dodoni or other places outside the city — a rental car becomes much more useful.

If you are still deciding how much time to allocate to the city before continuing into Epirus, see our guide to guide to choosing the right length of stay.

How to Get to Ioannina from Thessaloniki

For visitors already travelling in northern Greece, Thessaloniki is arguably the easiest major city from which to reach Ioannina.

The two cities are approximately 260 km apart and are connected largely by modern motorway. There is no need to fly between them.

Thessaloniki to Ioannina by KTEL Bus

KTEL Ioanninon runs direct buses from Thessaloniki’s Macedonia Intercity Bus Station to Ioannina.

The published journey time is approximately 3 hours 30 minutes, with a standard one-way fare of €30.40 at the time of checking.

The Macedonia bus station’s current timetable shows several Ioannina departures during the day, although exact frequencies differ depending on the day of the week.

For travellers without a car, this is usually the best way to reach Ioannina from Thessaloniki. The journey is direct, reasonably priced and avoids airport transfers.

If you are arriving at Thessaloniki Airport, remember that Macedonia Bus Station is on the western side of the city. Build the airport-to-bus-station transfer into your planning rather than treating the scheduled bus journey as your total travel time.

Driving from Thessaloniki to Ioannina

Driving is faster than the bus and particularly attractive for two or more travellers.

The road journey is approximately 260 km and usually takes around 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours, depending on traffic, weather and stops.

Most of the journey follows the A2/Egnatia Odos westwards across northern Greece.

The route crosses mountainous terrain, but it is very different from the slow mountain roads that once made travelling to Epirus difficult. Modern tunnels and motorway sections now make Thessaloniki–Ioannina a relatively straightforward drive.

Winter conditions still deserve respect. Heavy rain, fog and snow can affect parts of northern Greece, particularly if you later leave the motorway for Zagori or mountain villages. Seasonal conditions can also affect how you plan your stay, so check our guide to the best time to visit Ioannina before choosing your dates.

Flying Directly to Ioannina Airport

Ioannina has its own airport: Ioannina National Airport “King Pyrrhus” (IOA).

Its location is one of its biggest advantages. Unlike many regional airports serving broad holiday areas, Ioannina Airport is immediately outside the city, so the final transfer into central Ioannina is short.

For most international visitors, the practical route is to connect through Athens. AEGEAN currently operates the Athens–Ioannina route, and its published schedules show direct services available beyond summer 2026.

Do not assume Ioannina has an extensive international network simply because it has an airport. Direct international services are far more limited than at Thessaloniki or Aktion.

If you find a convenient Athens connection, however, flying directly into Ioannina is hard to beat for convenience.

Once you land, taxis are generally the simplest option if you have luggage. Local bus timetables can vary by season, and Ioannina’s urban bus operator publishes current schedules and live information online.

Aktion Airport: A Useful Alternative for International Flights

Aktion National Airport (PVK), commonly called Preveza Airport or Aktion Airport, is an important alternative for international travellers visiting Epirus.

It becomes particularly useful during the main European holiday season, when the airport receives direct services from numerous European cities. Current summer schedules include connections involving carriers serving destinations such as London, Amsterdam, Milan, Copenhagen, Stockholm and other European airports.

Ioannina is roughly a 1½-hour drive from the Aktion/Preveza area, depending on traffic and your exact starting point.

This can make Aktion surprisingly competitive. A direct flight from northern or western Europe to Aktion followed by a rental car may be simpler than flying to Athens, waiting for a domestic connection and then flying north again.

The weakness is seasonality. Aktion’s international network is much stronger in summer than in winter.

Public transport connections also require more planning than simply renting a car. KTEL Preveza operates connections to Ioannina, but timetables should be checked for your specific travel date.

Thessaloniki Airport as a Gateway to Ioannina

Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) is another useful international gateway, especially for visitors combining Ioannina with Thessaloniki, Halkidiki or northern Greece.

From the airport, however, there is little reason to try to fly onward to Ioannina. Air itineraries generally involve a connection rather than a useful nonstop journey, making them much slower than travelling overland.

Instead, rent a car and drive west, or transfer from Thessaloniki Airport to Macedonia Intercity Bus Station and take the direct KTEL bus.

The road journey from Thessaloniki itself is under three hours in normal conditions, so the airport can work very well if you find a substantially cheaper or more convenient international flight than one arriving in Athens.

It is particularly sensible for a trip combining Thessaloniki and Ioannina. Spend a few days in Thessaloniki first, then continue west rather than returning to the airport.

What About Corfu Airport?

Corfu can look deceptively close to Ioannina on a map, but it is rarely the most practical airport for reaching the city.

Corfu is an island, so reaching Ioannina requires travelling to Corfu’s port, taking a ferry to Igoumenitsa and then continuing by road or bus into Epirus.

This can make sense if Corfu is already part of your holiday. It makes far less sense to choose a Corfu flight solely because the straight-line distance to Ioannina appears short.

For an Ioannina-focused trip, Aktion, Thessaloniki or Athens are normally simpler gateways.

The same principle applies when comparing airfares: the cheapest flight is not necessarily the cheapest journey once ferry tickets, ground transfers, rental cars and extra travel time are included.

Can You Travel to Ioannina by Train?

There is no passenger railway station in Ioannina, and Greece’s current passenger rail network does not extend to the city.

Hellenic Train’s national services connect destinations including Athens, Thessaloniki, Larissa and other parts of central and northern Greece, but Ioannina is not among the stations on the operating passenger network.

Trying to combine a train with another long-distance bus rarely improves the journey.

From Athens, take the direct Ioannina bus or fly. From Thessaloniki, take the direct bus or drive.

This is one of those cases where building a complicated multi-stage public-transport itinerary creates more hassle without saving meaningful time.

Do You Need a Car to Visit Ioannina?

You do not need a car simply to visit Ioannina.

The historic centre, Ioannina Castle, Its Kale, the lakefront and the boats to Ioannina Island can all be explored without driving. Most of the main sights are concentrated closely enough that walking is the most practical way to explore central Ioannina.

Our Ioannina without a car guide explains what you can realistically see on foot and when local transport or a taxi becomes useful.

The calculation changes if you want to explore the wider region.

A car becomes particularly valuable for visiting Zagori, mountain villages, viewpoints and smaller archaeological or natural sites where public transport is limited or inconvenient.

It is therefore perfectly reasonable to arrive in Ioannina without a car, spend your first day or two exploring the city, and rent one only for the regional part of your trip.

This can also save you the inconvenience of finding parking while staying centrally.

Which Route to Ioannina Is Best?

For most travellers, the choice is fairly simple.

Flying into Athens? Check the Athens–Ioannina flight first. If the connection is poor or expensive, the KTEL bus is the main alternative.

Already in Athens? The bus is straightforward, while driving makes sense if Ioannina is part of a longer road trip.

Coming from Thessaloniki? Take the direct KTEL bus if you do not need a car. Drive if you plan to explore Epirus beyond the city.

Flying from Europe in summer? Check Aktion Airport as well as Athens and Thessaloniki. A convenient direct flight to Preveza can save a surprising amount of time.

Planning Zagori as well as Ioannina? Strongly consider having a car for at least the regional part of the trip.

Getting to Ioannina Is Easier Than It Looks

Ioannina may sit beyond the Pindus mountains in Greece’s north-west, but it is no longer an awkward destination to reach.

Modern motorways have made the journey from both Athens and Thessaloniki considerably easier, while direct Athens flights provide a fast option for travellers arriving through the capital. Thessaloniki’s direct KTEL connection is particularly practical, and Aktion Airport gives European visitors an additional seasonal gateway.

The best answer to how to get to Ioannina ultimately depends on what comes next. For a city break, plane and bus connections work well. For a trip that continues into Zagori and rural Epirus, arriving by car — or renting one in Ioannina — gives you far more flexibility.

Once you have chosen your route, start building your stay with our guide to the best things to do in Ioannina.