FERRIES

TIPS FOR TRAVELLING TO GREEK ISLANDS

CROSSINGS BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY
There are six crossing points between the Greek Islands and Turkey.

• Samos - Kusadasi *
• Kos - Bodrum
• Rhodes - Marmaris *
• Rhodes - Fethiye*
• Chios - Cesme
• Lesbos - Ayvalik

*The three most popular routes are either via Samos or Rhodes.

Approximate Hours

From
Samos To Kusadasi 1 hour 15 minutes
Mykonos 3 hours 20 minutes
Paros Between 4 and a half and 7 hours
Piraeus 10 hours 20 minutes

From
Paros To Ios Between 1 and 4 hours
Santorini 4 hours 30 minutes
Piraeus 3 hours 30 minutes
Naxos 30 minutes to an hour

From
Ios To Santorini 40 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes

From
Santorini To Ios 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes
Mykonos 2 hours 35 minutes

From
Piraeus To Samos 10 hours
Kos 9 hours 40 minutes
Chios 7 hours 30 minutes
Mykonos 5 hours 15 minutes
Santorini Between 5 hours and 8 hours
Crete 7 hours
Rhodes 13 hours 10 minutes

From
Corfu To Italy 10 hours 45 minutes
Patras 6 hours

* Ferry times may vary

Travel Tips
- There are also new fast ferries, which take half the time of the regular ferries but cost twice the money.
- P.S. Be careful of national holidays, as ferries may be on a limited schedule then.
- Make sure you have good maps if you set to explore on bikes, mopeds, or foot.
- Make reservations at hostels/pensions as they will be complete in the summer, and they will pick you up at the port.
- At the ports, you will be greeted by people offering accommodation. Make sure you look carefully at what they offer you and where it is located; otherwise, you might end up in the middle of nowhere!

General Information
- Schedules from each Island will vary depending on how busy they are, so expect waits on less touristy islands.
- The Cycladic Island group is the most visited; traveling between the other islands is easy once you reach a Cycladic island.
- All islands have good connections to Athens.
- Paros has great connections everywhere.
- Rhodes has good connections to Crete (in summer, a ferry goes to Santorini) and Athens. Greek islands information
Below, you can find some short descriptions of the various Greek Islands that are reachable by ferry. You can find some of the highlights of each Island mentioned, which could inspire your next excursion on a sunny Greek holiday.

RHODES
The Island of Rhodes is one of the most popular islands in the country. Here are some of the most famous European beaches and fantastic culinary locations with plenty of Mediterranean specialties. Half a dozen historic castles are scattered across the Island, including that of the Knights of the Round Table. Additionally, many religious and sacred churches are found in Rhodes, all of which tell their own story of the old Island. The Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Panteleimon, and the Agios Nikolaos Fountain are among them.

KOS
The history of this Island dates back to its origins in 366 BCE, and in those millennia, you can be sure it has accumulated tons of things to see. Amongst the many sights and landmarks, the Asklepion, Eleftherias Square, Casa Romana, and Plaka Forest are some of the more interesting ones to visit. Like all Greek beaches in Kos, you can find some tranquil and picturesque island beaches worth visiting for beach enthusiasts. Consider spending a morning at Agios Fokas Beach, Lagada Beach, or Kamari and Limnionas Beaches.

LESBOS
Situated in the northern Aegean Sea region, the waters here are exceptionally inviting and offer a new variation from the typical Mediterranean beaches in most other Greek Islands. Also the birthplace of the ancient Greek poet Sappho, this Island is full of art history and an excellent location for cultural immersion. You can tour around the Island and the famous blue Village Train that rolls around smoothly to take in the fantastic landscape views. The Petrified Forest of Lesbos, Commander of Lesbos Monastery, and Panagia Agia Sion are exciting landmarks.

CREATE
Interestingly, Crete is considered the birthplace of the Greek God Zeus. The historically renowned capital of the Island, Heraklion, is home to its local museum that hosts many ancient Minoan artifacts that illustrate in fine detail the cultural history of the Island of Crete. There are a couple of waterparks on this Island if you are interested and beaches like Elafossini Beach if you prefer saltwater. Other landmarks should be seen on the famous olive farms, Old Venetian Harbor, Rethymnon Old Town, and the gorges of Imbros and Theriso.

SYMI
As part of the Dodecanese island group chain, Symi hosts a yearly music festival for which it is famous for its rather more festive activities and younger crowds that gather at some of the many music bars on the Island. Apart from its party reputation, the Island is also home to many famous cultural and religious monuments, such as the Panormitis Monastery. If you are looking for lovely beaches with beautiful views, consider stopping by one of the many renowned beaches: Nanou Beach, Marathounda Beach, St. Nicholas Beach, Agiou Georgiou Beach, and Pedi Beaches. Kali Strata is a landmark known for its lovely shops to walk down on its winding road full of shops selling excellent collectible goods.

SAMOS
Samos is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Greece. Known for its amazing beaches, the Island is often packed with sun-loving travelers lounging between the lush greenery and the turquoise waters. Sightseers have plenty to explore on this Island that has left traces from many past civilizations, including various monasteries. There are plenty of historic villages and iconic landmarks to research on the Island, such as the temple Heraion, named after the Greek goddess Hera and the statue of Pythagoras. Prepare to kick back on one of the plentiful sandy beaches along the coastline of Samos.

MYKONOS
Although the Island of Mykonos is renowned for its nightlife, luxurious standards, and amazing beaches, plenty of ancient monuments are scattered across the Island, such as the famous windmills of Mykonos built in the 16th century by the Venetians. Some of the more famous beaches include 'Paradise Beach'; even this party island accommodates a relaxed atmosphere. The Island also has many archaeological and historical attractions and romantic boulevards such as 'Little Venice,' one of Europe's most photographed places. Mykonos is often referred to as the Ibiza of Greece, and for a good reason, as many scenic locations on the Island have been converted to

PAROS
Paros is another excellent destination on the Greek islands. It is located in the center of the Cyclades island chain. This Island's location makes it easy to hop on to one of the neighboring islands, Santorini and Mykonos, making for good day trips or combined holiday itineraries. Many iconic villages are scattered across Paros, such as Parikia and Naoussa. Some of the most popular beaches on the Island include Santa Maria, Kolimbithres, and Parasparos.

IOS
Like Mykonos, Ios is famous for its party atmosphere from early June until the end of August. The Island is known for attracting a younger crowd, and its mesmerizing beaches are typically jam-packed during the day. The Island is reachable by ferry from many neighboring islands and is good to visit for a weekend, a week, or a month during the summer season, as this is when the blue Aegean Sea is most inviting.

SANTORINI
Santorini is one of Greece's most famous islands if not the whole world. Renowned for its fantastic wine, scenery, restaurants, beaches, and active volcano, the Island is tough to beat. There are so many attractions to choose from in Santorini, so much so that it is hard to decide how to spend one's time. Some of the more popular attractions of the Island include the white Caldera view from the stacked houses on the coastline overlooking the Aegean Sea. The famous beaches include Kamari, Perissa, Red Beach, Koloubos, Caldera, and Vlichada.

CORFU
One of the more historic islands on this list, the Island of Corfu, was once occupied by the French, the British, and the Venetians. With such a rich background, the cultural scene in Corfu leaves a lot to discover and enjoy; with a diverse culinary influence, some of the best restaurants in Greece can be found here. Due to its Western influence, Corfu is home to many famous museums, historical structures and art galleries worth visiting, such as the Byzantine Museum, the Archaeological Museum, and the Museum of Asian Art.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask us. Our team would be happy to help you create your travel plans!