Getting from Astypalaia to Halki

If you are heading to Halki from Astypalaia you are making your way from a butterfly-shaped island between the Cyclades and the Dodecanese to a car-free island just off the western coast of Rhodes in the same island group. 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 a seasonal direct ferry from Astypalaia to Halki running in summer on the wider Blue Star and Dodekanisos Seaways routes that connect Astypalaia with the southern Dodecanese. The service runs a limited number of times per week and takes many hours with stops along the way through Kos and Rhodes, from where the local ferry to Halki takes around 1.5 to 2 hours. The most practical sea approach is to take the ferry south to Rhodes and then the local ferry across to Halki.

Getting there by air

Halki has no airport. The nearest airport is Rhodes. Astypalaia has its own small airport with connections from Athens. Flying from Astypalaia to Athens and then Athens 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

Fly from Astypalaia to Athens and then fly to Rhodes and take the local ferry across to Halki. It is the most time efficient approach. If you prefer to travel by sea, take the seasonal ferry from Astypalaia south through the Dodecanese to Rhodes and then cross to Halki from there. 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.