Getting from Antikythera to Ikaria

If you are heading to Ikaria from Antikythera you are making your way from one of the most remote islands in Greece 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 no direct ferry from Antikythera to Ikaria. Antikythera's ferry connections are limited to Kythira, Piraeus, Kissamos in Crete and occasional ports on the southern Peloponnese. Getting to Ikaria by sea means taking the overnight ferry from Antikythera to Piraeus and then boarding the Piraeus to Ikaria ferry, which runs around 3 times a week and takes around 7 to 11 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 running around 3 times a week. Antikythera has no airport, only a helipad. Taking the ferry from Antikythera to Kythira, flying to Athens and then Athens to Ikaria takes around 50 minutes on the second leg. Total journey time is around 6 to 7 hours. Check the schedule carefully as flights are limited. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Antikythera to Kythira, fly to Athens and then fly to Ikaria. Check the schedule carefully as flights are limited and do not run daily. Build flexibility into your plans once you arrive. Ikaria runs on its own schedule and that is entirely the point. If you are traveling with a car, take the overnight ferry from Antikythera to Piraeus and board the overnight Piraeus to Ikaria ferry, which takes your vehicle and arrives in the morning.