Getting from Paros to Ikaria

If you are heading to Ikaria from Paros you are going to one of the world's Blue Zones, a mountainous and forested island in the northeastern Aegean where people live measurably longer than almost anywhere else on earth and the local explanation tends to involve sleeping late, eating well and ignoring schedules.

Take the ferry

There is a direct seasonal ferry from Paros to Ikaria running in summer, taking around 3 to 5 hours depending on the vessel and the stops along the way. The route is not year-round so check the schedule before planning around it. Outside of the summer season the connection goes via Piraeus or Naxos. Ikaria has two ports, Agios Kirikos in the south and Evdilos in the north, so check which port your ferry arrives at before booking accommodation.

Getting there by air

Both Paros and Ikaria have airports. There are no direct flights between the two islands. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights. All connections go via Athens, which takes around 45 minutes from Paros and then around 50 minutes from Athens to Ikaria. Total travel time is around 3 to 4 hours.

Your best option

Take the direct summer ferry when it is running. If the direct service is not available for your dates, fly via Athens. Build flexibility into your plans once you arrive. Ikaria runs on its own schedule and that is entirely the point.