Getting from Chania to Tilos

If you are heading to Tilos from Chania you are making your way from the most intimate of Crete's three main cities to an island in the Dodecanese group, on the opposite side of Greece. It is the first island in the Mediterranean to run entirely on renewable energy with good walking trails and a wild coastline.

Take the ferry

There is a seasonal direct ferry from Chania to Tilos running in summer on the wider Blue Star route that connects Crete with the Dodecanese. The service runs a limited number of times per week and takes many hours with stops along the way through multiple islands before reaching Tilos. Alternatively take the overnight ferry from Chania to Piraeus and then fly to Rhodes, followed by the local ferry from Rhodes to Tilos taking around 2 to 3 hours.

Getting there by air

Tilos has no airport. The nearest airports are Rhodes and Kos. Chania has an international airport with connections from Athens. Flying from Chania to Athens and then Athens to Rhodes, followed by the local ferry from Rhodes to Tilos, 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 Rhodes and take the local ferry across to Tilos. Check the Rhodes to Tilos schedule before booking your flights as the service does not run daily. If you prefer to travel by sea, check whether the seasonal direct ferry from Chania aligns with your dates as it avoids Athens entirely. If you are traveling with a car, take the overnight ferry from Chania to Piraeus and board the overnight Piraeus to Tilos ferry, which takes your vehicle.