Discovering Thassos Island (also known as the Emerald Island) was one of our best experiences in Greece. Although it is a lesser known destination, Thassos amazed us by its unique landscapes, wonderful beaches, friendly people, delicious food and more!
In this article, we share with you essential tips for visiting Thassos!
Table of Contents
How to get to Thassos?
In order to reach Thassos Island, you should take the ferry from Kavala Port or Keramoti.
The nearest and cheapest airport to Kavala is Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) although there is an airport in Kavala. From SKG airport, you can drive for 2 hours (170 Km) or take the public bus from Macedonia Intercity Bus Station to reach Kavala. The roundtrip ticket costs around 30 euros. The bus takes around 3 hours since it stops in multiple villages along its way; but if you wish to save time, there are 2 or 3 express buses per day which go on the highway straight to Kavala. Once you reach Kavala, you have two options to reach Thassos Island:
Option 1: Kavala – Keramoti – Limenas
You can take from Kavala’s bus station, a bus to Keramoti port and then take the ferry from Keramoti to Thassos. The ferry stops at Limenas which is the main town of the island. The ferries are very frequent from Keramoti; there are approximately two departures per hour. The ferry costs 4 euros per adult, 2 euros per child above 5 years old and free for children under 5. You can buy your ticket directly from the kiosk next to the ferries. The journey takes around 40 minutes.
Option 2: Kavala – Prinos
From Kavala’s bus station, you can easily walk to Kavala’s port to take the ferry to Thassos. However, the ferry stops at Prinos and then you will have to take a taxi to Limenas. The ride is 20 minutes and it costs around 15 euros. In addition, there are only 3 departures per day from Kavala port at 7:15 am, 12:00 pm and 5:15 pm. The ferry costs 5 euros per adult, 2.5 euros per child above 5 years old and free for children under 5. The journey takes around one hour and a half.
On both ferries, you can take your car and motorcycle with you and the fee varies based on the type of your vehicle.
You can also spend half a day in Kavala to explore this beautiful seaside town! Check out here our ultimate Kavala travel guide!
When to visit and for how many days?
The best time to visit Thassos is during summer from June till August. However, it is also great to visit it in May or September when the weather is warm but not very hot and there are much less tourists even though the island rarely gets overcrowded. We visited Thassos many times in July, August and September and we loved the vibes, the vibrant streets and villages, the nightlife, and the fact that it is still a very lively place.
How to get around Thassos?
The best way to get around Thassos is by car, motorcycle or ATV. You can make a tour of the island with several stops in one day. However, we highly recommend spending 5 to 7 days to really enjoy and explore the island. Note that there are public buses on the island, the main bus station is located in Limenas next to the port. There are frequent departures and the buses can take you to the main attractions and beaches. However, the journeys in the buses take a lot of time since the bus has multiple stops.
Where to stay in Thassos?
One last tip for visiting Thassos is the accommodation. Limenas and Limenaria are the main towns of Thassos, it is where you will find plenty of hotels, Airbnbs, restaurants, pubs, and shops. Staying in Limenas may be your best option especially if you don’t opt to rent a car or a motorcycle. However, there are many other towns and villages located right next to the beach where you can also stay and find restaurants and shops such as Skala Potamias, Potos, Prinos, Chrysi Ammoudia etc.
Did you know?
Thassos Island earned its nickname since it is surrounded by incredible green forests and crystal waters. It is the northernmost island of the Aegean Sea and one of the most verdant Greek islands!
We hope that these tips for visiting Thassos will help you plan better your trip to the Island!
Now that you’re settled and have everything ready, let’s start exploring and having fun. What are the top things to do in Thassos Island and what are the best beaches? Check them out here!
Public transport is virtually non-existent. At least as far as our experience waiting for bus at Christi Amoudi that never turns up and never seen all the time we were there first week in August. Unfortunately you are best to get a taxi or hire a car. Travel reps please note!