Getting from Astakos to Arki

If you are heading to Arki from Astakos you are making your way from a port town on the western coast of central Greece to one of the smallest inhabited islands in the Dodecanese, between Patmos and Lipsi in the northern Dodecanese. It has no cars, no proper roads and an atmosphere of complete isolation.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Astakos to Arki. Astakos ferry connections are limited to Kefalonia and Ithaca. Arki is connected to the wider network through Patmos and Lipsi, with local ferries calling a few times a week in summer. Getting to Arki means driving from Astakos to Athens, which takes around 3.5 hours, and then flying to Leros, followed by the local ferry to Arki via Lipsi, which takes around 1 to 2 hours.

Getting there by air

Arki has no airport. The nearest airports are Leros and Kos. Astakos has no airport either. Driving from Astakos to Athens and flying to Leros, followed by the local ferry to Arki, gives a total journey time of around 6 to 7 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Drive from Astakos to Athens, fly to Leros and take the local ferry across to Arki. Check the schedule before booking your flights as connections to Arki run only a few times a week in summer. Come entirely self-sufficient as the island has almost no facilities and the isolation is the whole point of being there. If you are traveling with a car, drive from Astakos to Athens and continue to Piraeus for the overnight Blue Star ferry through the Dodecanese network, noting that no cars are permitted on Arki itself.