Getting from Athens to Oinousses

If you are heading to Oinousses from Athens you are going somewhere that very few visitors to Greece ever reach. Oinousses is a small cluster of islands just off the northeastern coast of Chios, close to the Turkish coast, and one of the most quietly distinguished places in the Aegean. The main island has a permanent population of around 1,000 people and a naval tradition so strong it produced a disproportionate share of Greece's great shipping dynasties. The mansions around the port reflect that history. The Naval Museum is one of the finest of its kind in Greece. The beaches are uncrowded, the pace is slow and the island has almost no tourist infrastructure.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Athens to Oinousses. The island is accessible only via Chios, with a daily local ferry from Chios main port taking around 1 hour and a sea taxi from the village of Lagkada on the northeastern Chios coast taking around 20 minutes. Getting to Chios from Athens means taking the ferry from Piraeus, which runs several times a week and takes around 8 to 10 hours.

Getting there by air

Oinousses has no airport. The nearest airport is Chios, which has daily connections from Athens taking around 50 minutes. From Chios Airport a taxi to the port takes around 10 minutes and the local ferry to Oinousses takes around 1 hour. Total travel time via Chios is around 3 to 4 hours.

Your best option

Fly to Chios and take the local ferry across to Oinousses. Check the daily ferry schedule from Chios before booking your flights and plan your arrival around the afternoon departure. Give yourself at least two nights on Oinousses. The island has almost no facilities so bring anything you need with you.