Getting from Crete to Astypalaia

If you are heading to Astypalaia from Crete you are going to one of the most beautiful and most undervisited islands in Greece, a butterfly-shaped island between the Cyclades and the Dodecanese with a Chora topped by a Venetian castle that is one of the finest in the Aegean.

Take the ferry

There is a direct seasonal ferry from Crete to Astypalaia running in summer, departing from Heraklion and taking around 4 to 5 hours. The route is not year-round and the frequency is limited so check the schedule before planning around it and build your travel dates around the available departures. Outside of the summer season the connection goes via Piraeus.

Getting there by air

Astypalaia has its own small airport with connections from Athens. Flying from Crete to Athens takes around 50 minutes and then Athens to Astypalaia takes around 1 hour, giving a total journey time of around 3 to 4 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the direct summer ferry from Heraklion when it is running. If the direct service is not available for your dates, fly via Athens. Check the schedule carefully as the Athens to Astypalaia flight runs a limited number of times per week and dates need to align with your plans.