Getting from Antipaxos to Astypalaia

If you are heading to Astypalaia from Antipaxos you are making your way from a tiny island in the Ionian Sea to a butterfly-shaped island sitting between the Cyclades and the Dodecanese, on the opposite side of Greece. It has a Chora topped by a Venetian castle that is one of the finest in the Aegean.

Take the ferry

There are no scheduled ferries from Antipaxos to Astypalaia. Antipaxos has no ferry port of its own and is accessible only by sea taxi from Gaios on Paxos. Getting to Astypalaia by sea means taking the sea taxi from Antipaxos to Paxos, the ferry from Paxos to Igoumenitsa, traveling to Piraeus and boarding the Piraeus to Astypalaia ferry, which runs around 5 times a week and takes around 8 to 12 hours depending on the route and vessel.

Getting there by air

Astypalaia has its own small airport with connections from Athens. Antipaxos has no airport either. Taking the sea taxi from Antipaxos to Paxos, the ferry from Paxos to Corfu and flying to Athens and then Athens to Astypalaia takes around 1 hour in the air. Total journey time is around 7 to 8 hours. Check the schedule carefully as flights run a limited number of times per week. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the sea taxi from Antipaxos to Paxos, the ferry from Paxos to Corfu, fly to Athens and then fly to Astypalaia. It is the fastest and most practical approach. Give yourself at least three nights on Astypalaia as the island rewards those who stay long enough to explore both its Cycladic and Dodecanese sides. If you are traveling with a car, take the sea taxi from Antipaxos to Paxos and drive to Piraeus for the overnight Piraeus to Astypalaia ferry, which takes your vehicle and arrives in the morning.