Syvota Transfers

Syvota transfers are private car, minivan and taxi rides that collect travellers at Igoumenitsa port, Preveza Aktion Airport, Ioannina or a hotel and drive them to Syvota, the resort village on the coast of Thesprotia in Epirus, or back. Bookable routes also link Syvota with Meteora and Athens. Greece Tours lists the transfers that start in Greece.

This page covers the pickup points, each port and airport, the long-distance routes, journey times, vehicles, booking, the bus, taxi and hire car options and the boats to Corfu and the Blue Lagoon, with links to the rest of Syvota tours. The transfers below are checked on GetYourGuide and Viator.

What are Syvota transfers?

Syvota transfers are private rides booked in advance by car, minivan or taxi that carry one party door to door between Syvota, the resort village in Thesprotia, Epirus, and a ferry port, an airport or another town, one way or as a return trip.

Syvota, also spelled Sivota, is a coastal village on a small bay in the south of Thesprotia. Within the municipality of Igoumenitsa it is a municipal unit, made up of four main settlements: Syvota, Argyrotopos, Faskomilia and Plataria. The village has no airport and no train station, so travellers who arrive by air or ferry finish the trip by road, and Syvota transfers cover that final stretch.

A private transfer carries one group only, whether a couple, a family or a party of colleagues. Door to door means the driver collects passengers at the agreed point and sets them down at their own hotel, apartment or villa. Taxis, minivans and minibuses come from local firms, and you can book Syvota transfers one way, as a return or by the hour.

Syvota transfers suit ferry passengers who reach Igoumenitsa from Italy or Corfu and want to skip the logistics of a rental car, and visitors who prefer to avoid unfamiliar mountain roads. One Syvota operator also carries students, older travellers and passengers with disabilities, giving each rider the care the trip needs.

Where do Syvota transfers pick up and drop off?

Syvota transfers pick up and drop off at the guest’s own address: a hotel by the harbour, an apartment near the beaches of Mega Ammos, Zavia or Bella Vraka, or lodging in Plataria, the coastal village that serves as the seat of the municipal unit.

Inside the village, Syvota transfers stop at the guest’s lodging or on the harbour front. The harbour lies within a small bay scattered with islets, chief among them Agios Nikolaos, Mavro Oros and Mourtemeno, and its waterfront is lined with cafes, bars and restaurants. In summer the marina fills with sailing yachts, so crews coming ashore can be collected at the quay.

• Mega Ammos: one of the largest beaches in the area, minutes from the village and beside Mikri Ammos, which cars reach easily.
• Zavia: a small, calm cove with easy access.
• Bella Vraka: the shore facing the islet of Mourtemeno, which bathers reach on foot through shallow water, so the car stops on the mainland side.

Plataria sits on its own bay south of Igoumenitsa, on the coastal road to Syvota. The bay runs from close to the western end of the Egnatia motorway and ends near Syvota, so Syvota transfers from the port or from Ioannina pass Plataria first: Ioannina Airport lies 94 km from Plataria and 105 km from Syvota. Local drivers also serve nearby Perdika.

Which Syvota transfers run from Igoumenitsa port?

Syvota transfers from Igoumenitsa port, the top request among ferry visitors, cover 24 km south along the coastal road through Plataria, meeting arrivals from Italy at the International Port and from Corfu or Paxos at the Northern Port beside the city centre.

Igoumenitsa is the capital of Thesprotia and the main harbour of Epirus, and only Piraeus moves more passengers through a Greek port than its New Port does. Ships sail in from Ancona, Bari, Brindisi and Venice, and frequent ferries shuttle to Corfu, so arrivals by sea begin their Syvota transfers on this waterfront.

The port has two separate areas. Corfu and other Ionian ferries use the Northern Port, or Old Port, next to the town centre, while ships for Italy use the International Port, or New Port, further south. A booking for Syvota transfers names the right area and, for arrivals from Italy, the ship and the ferry company, since one line can sell tickets for another.

Late-night arrivals are common on the Italy ferries, and the port has no fixed metered taxi rank: a handful of cabs wait near the terminal exit, with no guarantee of a free one. Pre-booked Syvota transfers remove that gamble. The full range of rides from the quay appears under Igoumenitsa port transfers, and the same local firms also run Igoumenitsa tours.

Which Syvota transfers run from Preveza Aktion Airport?

Syvota transfers from Preveza Aktion Airport cover 94 km: the car leaves the airport on the Aktion Peninsula, runs through an undersea tunnel beneath the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf to Preveza, then heads north along the Ionian coast road to Syvota.

PVK, the airport on the Aktion Peninsula in Acarnania that locals also call Preveza Airport, takes the flights for Preveza and Lefkada; travellers heading for the island book Lefkada airport transfers there. At 94 km by road it lies closer to Syvota than Ioannina Airport at 105 km, which makes Syvota transfers from PVK the shorter mainland airport run.

The first stretch passes through the Aktio-Preveza Undersea Tunnel, a toll road tunnel 1,570 metres long under the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf and the only undersea tunnel in Greece. Beyond Preveza, Syvota transfers follow the Igoumenitsa to Actium national road up the Ionian Sea coast. Local operators also carry bicycles through the tunnel for cyclists.

Booking platforms list a private transfer from Aktion Airport to Parga, the Acheron Springs and Sivota, with an English-speaking driver in a luxury vehicle, a private group and free cancellation. Syvota transfers also start from the yacht marinas of Cleopatra, Aktio and Ionion, which local operators group with the airport at the same 94 km.

Which Syvota transfers run from Corfu Airport and Corfu port?

Syvota transfers from Corfu join three legs: a short drive from Corfu Airport to the ferry quay in Corfu Town, a crossing to Igoumenitsa with Kerkyra Lines or Kerkyra Seaways, and the final 24 km by road from Igoumenitsa port to Syvota.

Corfu International Airport Ioannis Kapodistrias, code CFU, lies around 2 km south of Corfu Town, and the road distance to the city is 2.7 km. It takes scheduled and charter flights from European cities. Operators in Igoumenitsa arrange both road legs of Syvota transfers, airport to port on Corfu and port to village on the mainland, as one booking.

Kerkyra Lines and Kerkyra Seaways run the Corfu Town to Igoumenitsa ferry, a crossing of around 70 to 90 minutes on conventional ships. Travellers staying in the south of Corfu, around Lefkimmi or Kavos, can sail from Lefkimmi instead, where Sarris Lines runs a direct crossing of about 50 minutes. Either way, Syvota transfers resume on the mainland quay.

Operators ask for a heads-up as soon as the ferry ticket is bought, so the mainland driver can match the sailing at the Northern Port, where Corfu ferries dock beside the centre of Igoumenitsa. Travellers already on the island start their Syvota transfers at Corfu port and skip the airport leg. For rides that stay on the island, see Corfu airport transfers.

Which Syvota transfers run from Ioannina Airport and Ioannina?

Syvota transfers from Ioannina cover 105 km from King Pyrrhus airport or the city, heading west on the Egnatia Odos motorway to its western end at Igoumenitsa, then turning south along the coast road through Plataria to the village in one drive.

With IOA, the King Pyrrhus airport, only 4 km from the centre of Ioannina, Syvota transfers from the city and from the airport follow one route, which local operators put at 105 km. Booking platforms list a private transfer from Ioannina city to Syvota, which suits guests who stay in the city before heading to the sea.

Numbered A2, the tolled Egnatia Odos has two lanes each way, begins at the port of Igoumenitsa and passes Ioannina, with a link to the city’s airport. The EO6 national road also joins Igoumenitsa and Ioannina. Once on the coast, Syvota transfers pass Plataria, 94 km from the airport, before reaching Syvota at 105 km.

Public transport between Syvota and the Ioannina or Preveza airports is very limited, so a pre-booked ride is the dependable way to reach a flight. Syvota transfers in this direction suit guests flying home from Ioannina after a stay on the coast. For rides from the terminal to other parts of Epirus, see Ioannina airport transfers.

How do Syvota transfers avoid mixing up Syvota in Epirus with Sivota on Lefkada?

Syvota transfers avoid the mix-up by naming Thesprotia or Igoumenitsa next to the village, because Syvota in Epirus sits 24 km from Igoumenitsa port while Sivota on Lefkada is a bay on the island’s south-east coast, 150 km away by road.

Both villages carry the same Greek name, and English spellings switch between Syvota and Sivota for each. The Lefkada village lies about 32 km south of Lefkada town, around a narrow inlet shaped like a fjord that gives yachts a safe anchorage. The Epirus village is a mainland resort within the municipality of Igoumenitsa.

The clash reaches booking systems. Transfer platforms list Sivota Lefkada among the island’s villages, with Aktion Airport as its airport, and the same airport serves Syvota transfers to Epirus. A request that reads only Sivota from PVK can send a driver to either village. Igoumenitsa operators list Sivota Bay on Lefkada at 146 km from the port, against 24 km for Syvota.

Travellers who do want the island village will find it under Sivota on Lefkada. For the Epirus resort, three details keep Syvota transfers on the right coast, and guests confirm each of them with the operator or driver when they book:

• The regional unit: Thesprotia for the Epirus resort, Lefkada for the island village.
• The postcode: 46100, which Syvota shares with Igoumenitsa.
• A local landmark, such as the harbour, Plataria or one of the beaches.

Which Syvota transfers run to Parga, Preveza and Lefkada?

Syvota transfers run south along the Ionian coast to Parga, to Preveza town and its marinas, and on to Lefkada town, Nidri and Vasiliki on Lefkada island. Local operators drive these routes door to door by taxi, minivan or minibus, one way or return.

Parga is the shortest of these runs. Set between Preveza and Igoumenitsa on the Ionian coast, the town sits below a Venetian castle that resisted attack until 1819. Syvota transfers take the coastal road there, and local drivers also run private day trips to Parga. If Parga is your base rather than Syvota, see our Parga transfers page.

Preveza sits on the northern side of the Ambracian Gulf’s mouth, and the E55 national road connects it with Igoumenitsa. Syvota transfers drop off in Preveza town, at Preveza marina or at the Cleopatra, Aktio and Ionion marinas, and one operator runs shuttle services to the Preveza, Cleopatra and Lefkas marinas.

Although Lefkada is an island, Syvota transfers drive all the way: the road crosses to it over a causeway and a floating bridge, after passing under the sea between Preveza and Aktio in the immersed tunnel. Beyond the bridge, drivers carry on to Nidri, the island’s biggest resort, and 20 km south to Vasiliki, the port for the Kefalonia and Ithaca ferries.

Which Syvota transfers run to Meteora, Zagori and Athens?

Syvota transfers run inland to Meteora and the Zagori villages, and across Greece to Athens airport, the city centre and Piraeus port. Meteora and Zagori work as one-way drops or private day tours, while the Athens run suits an onward flight or ferry.

Meteora’s rock pillars stand on the north-western rim of the Thessaly plain, between Kalabaka town and Kastraki village. Of the monasteries built on the rocks, six still stand, and UNESCO added the site to its World Heritage List in 1988. Syvota transfers drop you there one way, and Viator sells a private one-day Meteora tour from Parga, Syvota and Igoumenitsa. For other routes, see our Meteora transfers page.

Zagori is a UNESCO World Heritage region of 46 villages in the Pindus mountains, once linked by arched stone bridges, with the Vikos Gorge inside one of its two national parks. Syvota transfers serve Monodendri, Vitsa and Papigo, and local drivers run private day trips to the Zagori villages. For guided days on the ground, see our Zagori tours.

Athens is the longest regular run on local transfer rate lists. Syvota transfers reach Athens airport or the city centre, and Viator lists a private transfer from Igoumenitsa, Parga and Syvota to Athens, Piraeus and the airport. Travellers flying out can also read our Athens airport transfers page. Thessaloniki and Volos airports are on the same lists.

How long do Syvota transfers take?

Syvota transfers take within an hour to Parga, about 35 minutes to the Acheron river and about 2.5 hours to Meteora. For longer runs, operators quote distances: 90 km to Preveza, 113 km to Lefkada, 156 km to Zagori and 519 km to Athens.

Coastal Syvota transfers are short. Parga lies 30 km away on the coastal road. The Acheron river is about 30 km from Syvota, and Ammoudia, the beach village at the river mouth, is 28 km and about 35 minutes away. The 5.5-hour kayak trip on the Acheron sold in Syvota offers pickup, so you can skip a separate transfer.

• Preveza town or marina: 90 km
• Cleopatra, Aktio and Ionion marinas: 94 km
• Lefkada town: 113 km; Nidri: 129 km; Vasiliki: 150 km
• Metsovo: 132 km
• Monodendri, Vitsa and Papigo in Zagori: 156 km
• Meteora: 185 km, about 2.5 hours by car
• Volos: 327 km; Thessaloniki: 371 km; Athens: 519 km

Treat these figures as a guide. One operator notes that its distances follow Google Maps and grow longer or shorter when a route changes. For Syvota transfers booked online, the TST Transfer form works out the total distance and the total drive time between your own pickup and drop-off points before you confirm.

Which vehicles do Syvota transfers use?

Syvota transfers use taxis for up to 4 people, minivans for up to 8, vans for up to 13 and minibuses for up to 19. Groups up to 50 travel by coach on request. Fleets include Mercedes E Class, V Class, Vito and Sprinter models.

The taxi class fits a couple or a family of four. Syvota transfers for larger families move up to a minivan, while sports clubs, travel agencies and hotels book the 13-seat van or the 19-seat minibus, so the whole group rides in one vehicle. Igoumenitsa Transfer, the regional operator, quotes special rates for these groups on request.

That operator has 35 years of experience with executive Mercedes cars and professional drivers, and it adds free Wi-Fi on board. In Syvota itself, the family-run TST Transfer runs taxis and minivans for up to 8 passengers and carries elderly travellers and people with disabilities with extra care on its Syvota transfers.

How do you book Syvota transfers?

You book Syvota transfers in advance, online or by phone, with a local operator or through Viator. Thesprotia taxis work mainly by pre-booking, not from metered ranks, and in high season one operator accepts only confirmed, pre-paid reservations.

Online forms make Syvota transfers quick to arrange. The TST Transfer form runs in four steps: ride details, vehicle choice, contact details and a booking summary. You enter the pickup and drop-off points, the date, any waypoint, one way or return, and the number of adults and children, then pay by PayPal or credit card.

Igoumenitsa Transfer takes bookings online or by phone, accepts cash, card payments by POS and online payment, and asks for a bank deposit when the pickup lies outside Thesprotia. Minivans and minibuses do not wait outside ports or airports, so book Syvota transfers in advance, and at least 24 hours ahead in July and August, when local taxis fill up fast.

Are Syvota transfers better than a taxi, a hire car or the KTEL bus?

Syvota transfers beat the KTEL bus for door-to-door travel, because the bus runs a morning and an afternoon service each way on weekdays. A local taxi also works by pre-booking. A hire car suits beach-hopping, but summer parking fills fast.

KTEL Thesprotia runs the Igoumenitsa–Syvota–Perdika line, and its official timetable lists a morning and an afternoon departure each way, Monday to Friday. The ride takes 30 to 40 minutes, and the line starts at the bus station in central Igoumenitsa. Coaches to Athens, Thessaloniki, Lefkada and Parga also leave from there, so Syvota transfers save a change of vehicle.

The Athens coach takes about 5.5 to 6 hours and ends at Kifisos bus station, and no bus reaches the stone villages of Zagori or the Acheron springs. Syvota transfers cover those places door to door, at a fixed price agreed before the ride.

In Thesprotia a taxi is a pre-booked ride, much like a transfer, and local drivers prefer cash. A hire car opens up beaches without bus links, yet the free car parks near Syvota marina fill up on summer mornings. One operator even offers free parking for your hire car when you book round-trip Syvota transfers.

Which boats link Syvota with Corfu and the Blue Lagoon?

Syvota transfers cover the road, and boats cover the sea: day cruises from Corfu Town, Gouvia Marina and Lefkimmi call at Syvota and the Blue Lagoon, and boats from Syvota harbour reach the lagoon in about 10 minutes, with longer trips to Paxos and Antipaxos.

The bestselling GetYourGuide cruise runs a 10 to 12-hour day from Corfu Town, with a swim in the Blue Lagoon, a call at Syvota and time in Parga’s old town. A private 8-hour boat from Gouvia Marina takes groups of up to 7 to the lagoon and Syvota, and Viator sells similar cruises from Corfu, one with a Syvota village stop.

From Lefkimmi, a 7-hour small-group cruise in Greek and English adds sea caves and free time in Syvota. Locally, shared boats leave Syvota harbour in summer for the Blue Lagoon, called Pisina, Greek for swimming pool, about 3 nautical miles away. Pair your Syvota transfers with a seat on our Sivota Blue Lagoon cruise, or hire a whole boat through our Sivota yacht charter.

By boat, Paxos lies about 20 nautical miles out, 1 to 1.5 hours away, and Antipaxos about 22 nautical miles, about 1.5 hours. Harbour operators rent smaller speedboats that need no licence, and a private speedboat runs from Syvota straight to Corfu in 1.5 to 2 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Syvota transfers carry bicycles and extra luggage?

Yes. Igoumenitsa Transfer runs a dedicated service for cyclists and their bicycles, and it carries bikes through the Aktio–Preveza undersea tunnel. On the TST Transfer form you set the number of suitcases, up to 12, in the vehicle filter before you choose a car or van.

Do Syvota transfers supply baby and child seats?

Yes. Baby and child seats come free on the Syvota transfers of Igoumenitsa Transfer, so families can leave their own at home. The same free list covers waiting time and a meet-and-greet service. When you book, tell the operator the number of children and their ages.

Do Syvota transfers run late at night?

Yes. Igoumenitsa Transfer works around the clock, and TST Transfer in Syvota takes rides day or night, every day of the week. Book night Syvota transfers ahead, as local drivers work mainly by appointment. Local operators also work all year, though availability is tighter outside the main season.

Can you cancel Syvota transfers?

Yes, within limits. Cancel a Syvota transfer with Igoumenitsa Transfer at least 48 hours ahead and the firm returns the deposit, though in high season it refuses cancellations made at the last minute. Fix your dates before you pay. The private Meteora day tour from Syvota sold on Viator also offers free cancellation.