Getting there · Ferries & Flights
The back story
Island hopping is one of the great travel experiences, and it is easy once you understand the system.
Piraeus is the main port, with ferries to the Cyclades, Crete, the Dodecanese and the Saronic islands. Rafina, near the airport, is the quickest port for Andros, Tinos and Mykonos. Lavrio, near Sounion, serves Kea, Kythnos and some other routes.
Conventional ferries are larger, slower, cheaper and steadier in rough seas. Fast boats and catamarans are quicker but more expensive, can be uncomfortable in wind, and are more often cancelled when the meltemi blows.
The ferry is part of the holiday: stand on deck as the island appears.
Timetables are usually published in spring. Compare routes on operator websites or on a comparison site such as Ferryhopper, and book early for July and August.
In summer, the meltemi can cancel fast boats. Build flexibility into your plans.
Our advice: plan a route that follows the ferry lines (for example Piraeus–Paros–Naxos–Santorini), book key legs early, arrive 30–45 minutes before departure, and never plan an island ferry on the same day as an international flight.
Why it's on our list
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Island hopping 101: how the ferries work before you go.
Typical journey times on direct sailings from Piraeus, with the feel of each island and how long we would stay. Times are approximate and seasonal: they vary with the boat, the number of stops and the weather.
| Island | Fastest boat | Conventional ferry | Vibe | Suggested stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santorini | about 4¾–5 h | up to about 9½ h | Caldera views, sunsets, wine; very busy | 3–4 nights |
| Mykonos | about 2 h 40 min | about 4½–6 h | Glamour, beach clubs, nightlife, Delos | 2–3 nights |
| Paros | about 2 h 35 min | about 4 h | Lively harbours, golden beaches, easy-going | 3–4 nights |
| Naxos | about 3 h 20 min | about 4–5½ h | Long beaches, mountain villages, great food | 3–4 nights |
| Milos | about 2 h 35 min | about 6½ h | Colours, sea caves, boat trips | 3–4 nights |
| Sifnos | about 2 h 30 min | about 5 h | Food, pottery, walking; calm | 3 nights |
| Folegandros | about 4 h | about 9½ h (a few times a week) | Clifftop Chora, quiet, unspoilt | 2–3 nights |
| Ios | about 4 h | about 7 h | Golden sand, famous nights | 2–3 nights |
| Syros | about 2 h | about 3½–4 h | Neoclassical capital, real island life | 2 nights |
| Tinos | about 2 h 45 min | about 5 h | Marble villages, pilgrimage, food | 2–3 nights |
| Amorgos | about 5½ h | about 8½–9 h | The Big Blue, monasteries, walking | 3 nights |
Approximate and seasonal 2026 figures from operator timetables (Blue Star Ferries, Seajets and others) as shown on Ferryhopper; always check the live timetable before you book. Fast boats cost more and are more often cancelled in strong wind. Mykonos and Tinos are also served from Rafina, near Athens airport, often more quickly.
Three tried-and-tested routes that follow the main ferry lines. Add a night in Athens at either end, and leave a spare day before an international flight.
7 days
The easiest introduction to the Cyclades: two big, friendly islands a short hop apart, then the drama of the caldera.
7–8 days
Three dramatic volcanic islands: the coloured rocks and sea caves of Milos, the clifftop village of Folegandros and the caldera of Santorini.
7 days
The western Cyclades at a slower pace: hilltop villages, pottery and some of the best cooking in the islands, ending on Milos.