Getting from Arki to Schinoussa

If you are heading to Schinoussa from Arki you are making your way from one of the smallest inhabited islands in the Dodecanese to one of the Small Cyclades, on the opposite side of the Aegean. It has more than 18 beaches scattered around a coastline that you can walk across in an afternoon.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Arki to Schinoussa. Arki is connected to Patmos, Leros, Lipsi, Kalymnos and occasionally Rhodes and Samos, with services running a limited number of times per week. Getting to Schinoussa means taking the ferry from Arki to Leros, flying to Athens and then flying to Naxos and taking the local Express Skopelitis ferry to Schinoussa, which takes around 2 hours and runs almost daily in summer. Alternatively, fly to Athens and take the Piraeus to Schinoussa ferry, which runs around 3 times a week and takes around 7 to 9 hours.

Getting there by air

Schinoussa has no airport. The nearest airport is Naxos. Arki has no airport either. Taking the local ferry from Arki to Leros, flying to Athens and then Athens to Naxos, followed by the local ferry to Schinoussa, gives a total journey time of around 6 to 7 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 fly to Naxos and take the local ferry across to Schinoussa. It is the most practical approach. Check the ferry schedule from Arki carefully before booking your flights as services run only a limited number of times per week. Give yourself at least two nights on Schinoussa and come with everything you need as facilities on the island are limited.