Getting from Mykonos to Lipsi

Heading to Lipsi means you have gone looking for something most travellers never find. Lipsi is a tiny island in the Dodecanese, sitting between Patmos and Leros, with a population of just a few hundred people and a pace of life that reflects that entirely. There is one main village, a handful of beaches, a small harbour and very little else. The kind of place where the same families have been running the same tavernas for generations and where an afternoon can disappear without you noticing. It is not somewhere you end up by accident.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry between Mykonos and Lipsi. The connection goes via Piraeus and the total journey by sea is around 10 to 12 hours depending on the service and the stops along the way. Lipsi is part of the northern Dodecanese ferry route which also covers Patmos, Leros and Kalymnos, so it works well as part of a longer island hopping itinerary through that part of the Aegean. Most people reach Lipsi from Patmos or Leros, both of which are short ferry rides away.

What about flying?

Lipsi does not have an airport so flying directly to the island is not an option. The nearest airports are Leros and Kos, both of which have ferry connections to Lipsi. The most practical route from Mykonos is to fly to Kos via Athens and then take a ferry up through the northern Dodecanese to Lipsi. It is worth knowing that in Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights. Almost all island to island travel goes through Athens.

Your best option

Fly to Kos or Leros via Athens and take the ferry across to Lipsi. If you are island hopping through the Dodecanese, Lipsi fits naturally into a route that includes Patmos and Leros. Give it two or three days, swim at Katsadia beach, eat at the harbour in the evening and let the island do what small islands do best.