Getting from Arki to Naxos

If you are heading to Naxos from Arki you are making your way from one of the smallest inhabited islands in the Dodecanese to the largest island in the Cyclades, on the opposite side of the Aegean. It has a medieval Venetian town above the port, long sandy beaches on the west coast and a mountainous interior of marble villages.

Take the ferry

There is a seasonal direct ferry from Arki to Naxos running in summer on the wider Blue Star route that connects the Dodecanese with the Cyclades. The service runs a limited number of times per week and takes many hours with stops along the way through multiple islands. A more practical approach is to take the ferry from Arki to Leros, fly to Athens and then either fly to Naxos or take the Piraeus to Naxos ferry, which runs up to 7 daily departures in summer and takes around 3.5 to 5.5 hours.

Getting there by air

Naxos has its own small airport with connections from Athens. Arki has no airport either. Taking the local ferry from Arki to Leros, flying to Athens and then Athens to Naxos takes around 40 to 45 minutes on the second leg. Total journey time is around 4 to 5 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the local ferry from Arki to Leros, fly to Athens and then either fly to Naxos or take the Piraeus to Naxos ferry. The ferry from Piraeus delivers you directly to Naxos Town port with the Portara temple doorframe visible from the water as you arrive. Check the ferry schedule from Arki carefully before booking your flights as services run only a limited number of times per week. If you are traveling with a car, take the seasonal direct ferry from Arki to Naxos when the schedule works, or take the ferry from Arki through the Dodecanese network to Piraeus and board the conventional Piraeus to Naxos ferry.