Getting from Mykonos to Syros

So you're heading from Mykonos to Syros. Syros is one of those islands that surprises people. It is the capital of the Cyclades and has been since the 19th century, which means it has a proper city feel that none of the other islands in the group can match. Ermoupoli is one of the most beautiful neoclassical towns in all of Greece and yet it sees a fraction of the visitors that Mykonos and Santorini get. If you are looking for culture, architecture and real Greek city life alongside the island experience, Syros delivers in a way that few places in the Cyclades do.

The route is direct and one of the shorter crossings from Mykonos.

Take the ferry

Direct ferries run between Mykonos and Syros through the summer season and the crossing takes around 1.5 to 2 hours on a fast ferry. Syros is well connected within the Cyclades as it is the administrative capital of the island group so departures are more regular than some of the quieter western islands. Book ahead in peak season as you would with any popular Cyclades route.

What about flying?

Syros has an airport and Mykonos has an airport, but flying between them means routing through Athens. That turns a 2 hour ferry into a 4 to 5 hour travel day at considerably more cost. 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

Take the ferry and give yourself at least a couple of days in Ermoupoli. Walk up to Ano Syros, sit in Miaouli Square in the evening and watch the locals go about their night. Syros is one of the most underrated stops in the Cyclades and arriving by sea into that harbour is the right way to do it.