Getting from Agios Efstratios to Ikaria

If you are heading to Ikaria from Agios Efstratios you are making your way from a small island in the northern Aegean to one of the world's Blue Zones, a mountainous island in the eastern Aegean where people live measurably longer than almost anywhere else on earth and the local explanation tends to involve sleeping late, eating well and ignoring schedules.

Take the ferry

There is a seasonal direct ferry connection from Agios Efstratios to Ikaria, operating on the wider mainline route and stopping at Lemnos and other islands along the way. The service runs a limited number of times per week in summer so check the schedule carefully. A more reliable approach is to take the ferry from Agios Efstratios to Lemnos, fly to Athens and then take the Piraeus to Ikaria ferry, which runs 1 to 2 times daily in summer and takes around 6 to 8 hours. Ikaria has two ports, Agios Kirikos in the south and Evdilos in the north, so check which port your ferry arrives at before booking accommodation as the mountain road between them takes well over an hour.

Getting there by air

Ikaria has its own small airport with connections from Athens and Lemnos. Taking the ferry from Agios Efstratios to Lemnos and then flying directly to Ikaria is the most practical approach if a direct Lemnos to Ikaria service is available for your dates. Total journey time via this route is around 3 to 4 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Agios Efstratios to Lemnos and check whether a direct Lemnos to Ikaria flight is available for your dates. If not, fly to Athens and take the Piraeus to Ikaria ferry. Build flexibility into your plans once you arrive. Ikaria runs on its own schedule and that is entirely the point.