Getting from Mykonos to Astypalaia

Astypalaia is shaped like a butterfly and sits alone in the middle of the Aegean, technically part of the Dodecanese but geographically closer to the Cyclades. It has a quality that is hard to pin down, something between the two island groups in character as well as location. The main town climbs up to a Venetian castle at the top, the windmills line the ridge below it and the two wings of the island are connected by a narrow strip of land with a beach on either side. It is one of the more photogenic islands in Greece and quiet enough that you can still feel like you have found it yourself.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry between Mykonos and Astypalaia. The connection goes via Piraeus and the total journey by sea is around 10 to 12 hours depending on the service. Astypalaia is something of an outlier geographically which means ferry connections are less frequent than the more central Dodecanese islands. Check the schedule carefully, plan your dates around the timetable and book ahead once you find a crossing that works.

What about flying?

Astypalaia has its own airport and Mykonos has an airport so flying is an option on this route. The journey goes Mykonos to Athens and then Athens to Astypalaia, with the total travel time around 3 to 4 hours door to door. Flights to Astypalaia are limited and fill up quickly in summer so check availability early and book as soon as you have your dates locked in.

Your best option

Fly if you can get a seat. Astypalaia is one of those islands where arriving with the day ahead of you makes all the difference. Hire a scooter from the port, drive out to the far wings of the island and find a beach that has almost nobody on it. The castle at dusk with the light dropping over the Aegean is one of those views that stays with you.