Getting from Santorini to Antiparos

Antiparos is the small island that sits just off the western coast of Paros, separated from it by a channel narrow enough that you can see across it clearly. It is quieter and more laid-back than Paros, with a small Kastro village of whitewashed houses built around a 15th century Venetian fortress, good beaches on the west and south coasts and a famous stalactite cave that has been drawing visitors since antiquity. Tom Hanks has a house here, which tells you something about the crowd it attracts, but the island has managed to stay genuinely relaxed despite the attention. Most people treat it as a day trip from Paros but those who stay overnight find it reveals itself considerably more.

Take the ferry

There are two ways to reach Antiparos by ferry from Santorini. The most practical is to take the ferry from Santorini to Paros, which runs up to 7 times daily in summer and takes 1 hour 45 minutes to 2.5 hours, and then cross to Antiparos from Pounta on the western coast of Paros. The Pounta to Antiparos crossing takes around 10 minutes and runs every 20 to 30 minutes in summer. There is also a direct seasonal ferry connection from Santorini to Antiparos operated by Seajets and Blue Star Ferries, running a few times per week, but the Paros connection is more reliable and flexible.

What about flying?

Antiparos has no airport. The nearest airport is Paros, which has domestic connections from Athens, but there are no direct flights from Santorini to Paros. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights. The ferry via Paros is the practical choice on this route.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Santorini to Paros and cross to Antiparos from Pounta. It is frequent, fast and gives you the flexibility to return to Paros easily for onward connections. Book the Santorini to Paros ferry in advance in July and August.