Getting from Astypalaia to Karpathos

If you are heading to Karpathos from Astypalaia you are making your way from a butterfly-shaped island between the Cyclades and the Dodecanese to a long mountainous island in the southern part of the same group. 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 a seasonal direct ferry from Astypalaia to Karpathos 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. It is the most natural sea connection and keeps the journey entirely within the Dodecanese without going through Athens.

Getting there by air

Karpathos has its own airport with daily connections from Athens. Astypalaia has its own small airport with connections from Athens. Flying from Astypalaia to Athens and then Athens to Karpathos takes around 1 hour 15 minutes on the second leg. Total journey time is around 4 to 5 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Fly from Astypalaia to Athens and then fly to Karpathos. It is the fastest and most practical approach. If you prefer to travel by sea, check whether the seasonal direct ferry from Astypalaia aligns with your dates as it keeps the journey within the Dodecanese entirely. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Astypalaia to Piraeus and board the Piraeus to Karpathos ferry, which takes your vehicle and arrives in around 13 to 20 hours depending on the route.