Getting from Astakos to Karpathos

If you are heading to Karpathos from Astakos you are making your way from a port town on the western coast of central Greece to a long mountainous island in the southern Dodecanese, on the opposite side of the country. It has a strong local culture and the extraordinary village of Olympos in the north where centuries-old customs are still very much alive.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Astakos to Karpathos. Astakos ferry connections are limited to Kefalonia and Ithaca. Getting to Karpathos by sea means driving from Astakos to Athens, which takes around 3.5 hours, and then boarding the Piraeus to Karpathos ferry, which runs around 3 times a week and takes around 13 to 20 hours. Flying is considerably more practical for most travelers.

Getting there by air

Karpathos has its own airport with daily connections from Athens. Astakos has no airport either. Driving from Astakos to Athens and flying to Karpathos takes around 1 hour 15 minutes on the second leg. Total journey time is around 5 to 6 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Drive from Astakos to Athens and fly to Karpathos. It is the fastest and most practical approach. If you are traveling with a car, drive from Astakos to Athens and continue to Piraeus for the Piraeus to Karpathos ferry, which takes your vehicle and arrives in around 13 to 20 hours depending on the route.