Getting from Rhodes to Antikythera

If you are heading to Antikythera from Rhodes you are making your way to a tiny island in the strait between Kythira and Crete, to the west. It is known to the world for the Antikythera Mechanism, a 2,000-year-old bronze analog computer considered the most sophisticated device to survive from antiquity.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Rhodes to Antikythera. The most practical ferry approach is to take the overnight ferry from Rhodes to Crete and then connect to Antikythera via the ferry from Kissamos on the western coast of Crete, which takes around 2 to 2.5 hours and runs a few times per week.

Getting there by air

Antikythera has no airport, only a helipad. The nearest airports are Kythira and Athens. Flying from Rhodes to Athens takes around 1 hour and then Athens to Kythira takes around 50 minutes, followed by the ferry from Kythira to Antikythera taking around 1 hour 30 minutes. Total travel time via Kythira is around 4 to 5 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Fly to Kythira via Athens and take the ferry across to Antikythera. It is the most practical approach for most travellers. If you are travelling with a car, the overnight ferry from Rhodes to Crete followed by the ferry from Kissamos is worth considering as it keeps your vehicle with you throughout the journey. Bring everything you need as the island has almost no facilities.