Getting from Alonissos to Ios

If you are heading to Ios from Alonissos you are making your way from the most remote of the Sporades group to an island in the southern Cyclades, on the opposite side of the Aegean. It has some of the finest beaches in the Cyclades on its south coast and a Chora above the port that comes alive in the evening.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Alonissos to Ios. The two islands are in completely different parts of Greece with no sea connection between them. Getting there means taking the ferry from Alonissos to Skiathos, flying to Athens and then taking the Piraeus to Ios ferry, which runs multiple times daily in summer and takes around 4 to 8 hours depending on the vessel. Alternatively, fly to Santorini and take the short ferry from Santorini to Ios, which takes around 35 minutes.

Getting there by air

Ios has no airport. The nearest airport is Santorini. Alonissos has no airport either. Taking the ferry from Alonissos to Skiathos, flying to Athens and then Athens to Santorini, followed by the short ferry to Ios, gives a total journey time of around 6 to 7 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Alonissos to Skiathos, fly to Athens and then fly to Santorini and take the short ferry across to Ios. It is the most time efficient approach. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Alonissos to Volos, drive to Piraeus and board the conventional Piraeus to Ios ferry, which takes your vehicle directly to the island.