Getting from Anafi to Karpathos

If you are heading to Karpathos from Anafi you are making your way from one of the most remote islands in the Cyclades to a long mountainous island in the southern Dodecanese, on the opposite side of Greece. It has a strong local culture and the extraordinary village of Olympos in the north where centuries-old customs are still very much alive.

Take the ferry

There is a direct seasonal ferry from Anafi to Karpathos running in summer on the wider Blue Star route that connects the Cyclades with the Dodecanese. The service runs a limited number of times per week and takes around 8 to 12 hours depending on the vessel and stops. It is a good option if you want to travel by sea and avoid going through Athens entirely.

Getting there by air

Karpathos has its own airport with daily connections from Athens. Anafi has no airport. Taking the ferry from Anafi to Santorini, flying to Athens and then Athens to Karpathos takes around 1 hour 15 minutes on the second leg. Total journey time is around 5 to 6 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Anafi to Santorini, fly to Athens and then fly to Karpathos. It is the fastest and most practical approach. If you prefer to travel by sea, check whether the seasonal direct ferry from Anafi aligns with your dates as it avoids Athens entirely. If you are traveling with a car, take the overnight ferry from Anafi to Piraeus and board the Piraeus to Karpathos ferry, which takes your vehicle and arrives in around 13 to 20 hours depending on the route.