Getting from Chania to Lipsi

If you are heading to Lipsi from Chania you are making your way from the most intimate of Crete's three main cities to a small island in the northern Dodecanese group, on the opposite side of Greece. It has a pretty harbour village, uncrowded beaches and an atmosphere of complete calm.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Chania to Lipsi. Getting there by sea means taking the overnight ferry from Chania to Piraeus, which takes around 8 to 9 hours, and then boarding the overnight Piraeus to Lipsi ferry, which runs around 3 times a week and takes around 9 to 10 hours. The total journey takes the better part of two days. Flying is considerably more practical for most travelers.

Getting there by air

Lipsi has no airport. The nearest airport is Leros. Chania has an international airport with connections from Athens. Flying from Chania to Athens and then Athens to Leros, followed by the short ferry from Leros to Lipsi taking around 20 to 40 minutes, gives a total journey time of around 5 to 6 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Fly from Chania to Athens and then fly to Leros and take the short ferry across to Lipsi. It is the most practical approach by a significant margin. If you are traveling with a car, take the overnight ferry from Chania to Piraeus and board the overnight Piraeus to Lipsi ferry, which takes your vehicle and arrives in the morning.