Getting from Donoussa to Karpathos

If you are heading to Karpathos from Donoussa you are making your way from one of the Small Cyclades to a long mountainous island in the southern Dodecanese, on the opposite side of Greece. It has a strong local culture and the extraordinary village of Olympos in the north where centuries-old customs are still very much alive.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Donoussa to Karpathos. Getting there means taking the ferry from Donoussa to Piraeus, which runs around 3 to 6 times a week and takes around 7 to 8 hours, and then boarding the Piraeus to Karpathos ferry, which runs around 3 times a week and takes around 13 to 20 hours. Flying is considerably more practical for most travelers.

Getting there by air

Karpathos has its own airport with daily connections from Athens. Donoussa has no airport. The nearest airport is Naxos. Taking the ferry from Donoussa to Piraeus and flying from Athens to Karpathos takes around 1 hour 15 minutes on the second leg. Total journey time is around 12 to 14 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Donoussa to Piraeus and fly from Athens to Karpathos. It is the fastest and most practical approach. Check the Donoussa to Piraeus departure days before planning as the service runs a limited number of times per week. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Donoussa to Piraeus and board the Piraeus to Karpathos ferry, which takes your vehicle and arrives in around 13 to 20 hours depending on the route.