Getting from Astakos to Halki

If you are heading to Halki from Astakos you are making your way from a port town on the western coast of central Greece to a car-free island just off the western coast of Rhodes in the Dodecanese group, on the opposite side of the country. It has neoclassical sponge merchant mansions around a horseshoe harbour and a pace of life that is as slow as it gets in Greece.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Astakos to Halki. Astakos ferry connections are limited to Kefalonia and Ithaca. Getting to Halki means driving from Astakos to Athens, which takes around 3.5 hours, and then flying to Rhodes, followed by the local ferry from Rhodes to Halki taking around 1.5 to 2 hours.

Getting there by air

Halki has no airport. The nearest airport is Rhodes. Astakos has no airport either. Driving from Astakos to Athens and flying to Rhodes, followed by the local ferry from Rhodes to Halki, gives a total journey time of around 5 to 6 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Drive from Astakos to Athens, fly to Rhodes and take the local ferry across to Halki. Give yourself at least two nights on Halki. The island is small enough to walk across in an afternoon and the pace of life rewards those who stay long enough to settle into it. If you are traveling with a car, note that Halki is car-free so your vehicle would remain in Rhodes.