Getting from Astypalaia to Spetses
If you are heading to Spetses from Astypalaia you are making your way from a butterfly-shaped island between the Cyclades and the Dodecanese to a car-free island in the Saronic Gulf, on the opposite side of Greece. It has neoclassical mansions around the harbour, a strong nautical tradition and a relaxed waterfront atmosphere.
Take the ferry
There is no direct ferry from Astypalaia to Spetses. Getting there means taking the ferry from Astypalaia to Piraeus, which runs around 5 times a week and takes around 8 to 12 hours, and then boarding the Saronic ferry from Piraeus to Spetses, which runs up to 10 daily crossings and takes around 1.5 to 3.5 hours. Alternatively fly from Astypalaia to Athens and take the Saronic ferry from Piraeus to Spetses.
Getting there by air
Spetses has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Astypalaia has its own small airport with connections from Athens. Flying from Astypalaia to Athens and then taking the Saronic ferry from Piraeus to Spetses gives a total journey time of around 4 to 5 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.
Your best option
Fly from Astypalaia to Athens and take the Saronic ferry from Piraeus to Spetses. Note that Spetses is car-free so no vehicles can be taken to the island. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Astypalaia to Piraeus and drive to the mainland port of Kosta, from where a short local boat crosses to Spetses in around 10 minutes.
From the Podcast
The Greece Chats Podcast goes beyond the guidebook. In this episode we sit down with the founder of Hoper to talk about island hopping by helicopter and how it is changing the way people experience Greece.
























