Getting from Antiparos to Ikaria

If you are heading to Ikaria from Antiparos you are making your way from a small quiet island in the Cyclades 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 from Antiparos to Ikaria running in summer on the wider Blue Star route that connects the Cyclades with the eastern Aegean. The service runs a limited number of times per week and takes around 6 to 10 hours with stops along the way. The more practical approach for most travelers is to take the short ferry from Antiparos to Paros, make your way to Piraeus and fly to Ikaria via Athens. 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. Antiparos has no airport either. Taking the short ferry from Antiparos to Paros, making your way to Piraeus and flying to Ikaria via Athens 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 short ferry from Antiparos to Paros, make your way to Piraeus and fly to Ikaria via Athens. 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 short ferry from Antiparos to Paros, drive to Piraeus and board the overnight Piraeus to Ikaria ferry, which takes your vehicle and arrives in the morning.