Getting from Crete to Ios

If you are heading to Ios from Crete you are going to one of the most enjoyable islands in the Cyclades, with some of the finest beaches in the group on the south coast and a Chora above the port that comes alive in the evening.

Take the ferry

There is a direct seasonal ferry from Crete to Ios running in summer, departing from Heraklion and stopping at Santorini along the way, with the full journey taking around 2 to 3 hours. The route is not year-round so check the schedule before planning around it. Outside of the summer season the connection goes via Piraeus or Santorini. Book ahead in July and August.

Getting there by air

Ios has no airport. The nearest airport is Santorini. Flying from Crete to Athens and then Athens to Santorini, followed by the short ferry to Ios taking around 35 minutes, 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 direct summer ferry from Heraklion when it is running. At around 2 to 3 hours it is one of the shorter Crete to Cyclades connections. If the direct service is not available for your dates, fly to Santorini via Athens and take the short ferry across to Ios.