Getting from Santorini to Antikythera

If you are heading to Antikythera from Santorini you are going somewhere that almost nobody goes, and for those who do that is entirely the point. Antikythera is a tiny island of around 30 to 40 permanent residents sitting in the strait between Kythira and Crete, known to the world for two extraordinary archaeological discoveries. The first is the Antikythera Mechanism, a 2,000-year-old bronze analog computer recovered from a shipwreck in 1900 and now considered the most sophisticated device to survive from antiquity. The second is the Antikythera Youth, a spectacular bronze statue from the same wreck. The island itself is rugged, almost entirely uncultivated and one of the most important breeding grounds for Eleonora's falcons in the Mediterranean. There is almost no tourist infrastructure and that is the whole character of the place.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Santorini to Antikythera. The island is served by a Seajets route connecting Piraeus, Kythira, Antikythera and Kissamos in Crete. The most practical approach from Santorini is to fly to Athens and take the Piraeus to Antikythera ferry, which takes around 9 hours, or to fly to Athens, connect to Kythira by air and then take the short ferry from Kythira to Antikythera, which takes around 1 hour 30 minutes. The Kythira option is considerably faster. Ferries to Antikythera run only a few times per week so timing is critical.

What about flying?

Antikythera has no airport, only a helipad. The nearest airports are Kythira and Athens. The fastest overall route from Santorini is to fly to Athens and then to Kythira, and take the ferry across to Antikythera. Total travel time is around 5 to 6 hours. 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 Athens and connect to Kythira, then take the ferry to Antikythera. Check the Kythira to Antikythera ferry schedule before booking your flights as it runs only a few times per week in summer and less frequently in winter. Bring everything you need. The island has almost no facilities and that is rather the point of going.