Getting from Chania to Kythnos

If you are heading to Kythnos from Chania you are making your way from the most intimate of Crete's three main cities to an island in the western Cyclades, to the north. It has over 60 beaches and a medieval village at Driopida that hardly anyone outside Greece knows about.

Take the ferry

There is a seasonal direct ferry from Chania to Kythnos running in summer on the wider Blue Star and Seajets routes. The service runs a limited number of times per week and takes several hours with stops along the way. Alternatively take the overnight ferry from Chania to Piraeus and then take a taxi to Lavrio, around 30 minutes from Athens Airport, for the ferry to Kythnos, which takes around 1 hour 10 minutes and runs up to 5 times daily in summer.

Getting there by air

Kythnos has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Chania has an international airport with connections from Athens. Flying from Chania to Athens and then taking a taxi to Lavrio for the ferry to Kythnos gives a total journey time of around 4 to 5 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the seasonal direct ferry from Chania to Kythnos when the schedule works for your dates. It avoids Athens entirely and is the most enjoyable approach. If the timing does not align, fly from Chania to Athens and take a taxi to Lavrio for the ferry across to Kythnos. The proximity of Lavrio to Athens Airport makes it a convenient connection that avoids crossing the city to Piraeus entirely. If you are traveling with a car, take the overnight ferry from Chania to Piraeus and drive to Lavrio for the ferry across to Kythnos.