Getting from Crete to Syros

If you are heading to Syros from Crete you are going to the capital of the Cyclades and one of the most underrated destinations in the group. Ermoupolis is a neoclassical port built by wealthy merchants in the 19th century with grand mansions, an opera house modelled on La Scala and a central square that is one of the finest in Greece.

Take the ferry

There is a direct seasonal ferry from Crete to Syros running in summer, departing from Heraklion and taking around 5 to 6 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. Book ahead in July and August.

Getting there by air

Both Crete and Syros have airports. There are no direct flights between the two islands. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights. All connections go via Athens, which adds significant time compared to the direct summer ferry.

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 and take the short domestic flight to Syros, or take the ferry from Piraeus which takes around 2 hours on the fast service.