Getting from Crete to Tilos

If you are heading to Tilos from Crete you are going to one of the most environmentally progressive islands in Greece, the first island in the Mediterranean to run entirely on renewable energy, with good walking trails, a quiet main village and a wild coastline in the southern Dodecanese.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Crete to Tilos. The island is connected primarily to Rhodes in the Dodecanese network, with local ferries from Rhodes to Tilos taking around 2 to 3 hours. The most practical ferry approach is to take the direct overnight ferry from Heraklion to Rhodes, which runs year-round and takes around 9 to 12 hours, and then connect to Tilos from Rhodes.

Getting there by air

Tilos has no airport. The nearest airport is Rhodes. Flying from Crete to Athens takes around 50 minutes and then Athens to Rhodes takes around 1 hour, followed by the local ferry from Rhodes to Tilos taking around 2 to 3 hours. Total travel time is around 4 to 5 hours.

Your best option

Fly to Rhodes via Athens and take the local ferry across to Tilos. It is considerably faster than the overnight ferry from Crete to Rhodes and gives you the same straightforward connection. Check the Rhodes to Tilos schedule before booking your flights as the service does not run daily.