Getting from Athens to Kythnos

If you are heading to Kythnos from Athens you are going to one of the most overlooked islands in the western Cyclades and one of the most rewarding for it. Kythnos sits between Kea and Serifos and has over 60 beaches, which is a remarkable number for an island its size and explains why Greeks love it so much. The island has two attractive villages, Chora in the hills and Driopida, the older capital, which has a medieval warren of lanes that hardly anyone outside Greece knows about. The beach at Kolona, a double-sided strip of sand connecting Kythnos to a small islet, is one of the finest in the Cyclades. Kythnos is not yet on the international tourist circuit to any meaningful degree and that gap is very much in its favour.

Take the ferry

Kythnos is served by ferries from both Lavrio and Piraeus. The Lavrio to Kythnos crossing takes around 1 hour 10 minutes and runs several times a week, making Lavrio the most convenient port if you are arriving at Athens Airport. The Piraeus to Kythnos crossing takes around 1 hour 40 minutes on the fast boat and around 3 hours on a conventional vessel, with several weekly crossings year-round and daily sailings in summer.

Getting there by air

Kythnos has no airport. The ferry from Lavrio or Piraeus is the only option from Athens.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Lavrio if you are arriving at Athens Airport, as the port is a short taxi or bus ride from the terminal and avoids crossing the city to Piraeus entirely. Take the ferry from Piraeus if you are coming from central Athens. Either way the crossing is short and the connection is straightforward.