TRAVEL
By plane
The easiest way to reach Ioannina is by plane via Athens. On a daily basis three flights connect Athens airport with Ioannina. The flight duration is approximately 1 hour. Flights are usually heavily booked, so booking in advance is recommended. For your booking, visit the Aegean air and Olympic airlines web pages.
An alternative, but less straightforward, path is to travel from Athens to Preveza by plane (flight duration about 50 minutes) and then from Preveza, reach Ioannina by bus (it is a one-hour bus ride). The Preveza airport is served by Olympic airlines.
By bus
There are nine daily bus connections (departure times: 6:00, 8:00, 9:30, 11:00, 13:00, 15:30, 17:00, 21:30, 22:30) from Athens to Ioannina. The trip duration is about 6.5 hours and the bus fare is approximately 30 Euros (one way). If you have decided to reach Ioannina by bus, from Athens airport you should go to the Athens central long-distance bus terminal (named Kifissos terminal). You may either get a taxi (cost about 30 Euros) or use the X93 express bus line (bus fare 3.90 Euros).
Ioannina is also accessible by bus from Thessaloniki (departure times: 07:30, 11:00, 13:30, 15:00, 18:00, 21:30; trip duration about 5 hours). If you arrive to Thessaloniki by plane you should use the Number 78 bus line that connects the airport with Thessaloniki's central long-distance bus terminal.
By boat
The port of Igoumenitsa is connected with several major Adriatic Sea Italian ports (Trieste, Venice, Ankona, Brindisi, Bari). Then from Igoumenitsa, Ioannina is a 1.5-hour bus ride, and less than one hour if you decide to drive.
By car
You may rent a car in the arrivals area of Athens airport. From the airport, take Attiki Odos motorway and follow the signs to ATHENS and then ELEUSINA. After Eleusina, keep driving on Greek National Road 8A (sometimes called National Road 8) westbound, until you reach Rio Junction. Pass the Rio-Antirio bridge, and then follow National Road 5 northbound. National Road 5 ends at downtown Ioannina.
The easiest way to reach Ioannina from Igoumenitsa is by driving on Via Egnatia, a.k.a. European Route E-90/E-92 (eastbound).
Driving directions from Thessaloniki to Ioannina: drive in the direction of Athens following National Road E-75/A1 for while, which later becomes E-90 and E-75. Continue until you reach the intersection which takes you to Veria. Make a right towards Veria and Kozani. Now you are on E-90/A2 freeway (a.k.a Via Egnatia). Do not enter Veria. Make a left towards Kozani and stay on E90/A2 until Grevena. You go through Grevena and on A2 you follow the signs to Ioannina, Metsovo and Milia. The road goes through the mountains and you pass the villages of Kipourio, Krania, and Milia. After Milia, follow the signs to Metsovo and Ioannina. Do not enter Metsovo; just drive on the road that becomes E-92, following the signs to Ioannina.
All participants who plan to drive to Ioannina from abroad are requested to contact LOC in advance.