Getting from Santorini to Arki

If you are heading to Arki from Santorini you are committing to one of the most remote island journeys in the Greek archipelago. Arki is a tiny island of around 40 to 50 permanent residents sitting between Patmos and Lipsi in the northern Dodecanese, close to the Turkish coast. There is one main settlement at the port, a church on a hilltop with views across to Samos and Patmos, a handful of beaches and almost nothing else. No ATM, no pharmacy, no cars needed. Caretta caretta turtles and Mediterranean monk seals live in the waters around it. People who find their way here tend to stay in silence for a while before they can explain why they came.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Santorini to Arki. The island is connected to the wider Dodecanese network through Patmos, which is the closest and most reliable gateway. Dodekanisos Seaways runs the Patmos to Arki crossing, taking around 15 to 20 minutes, but only runs a handful of times per week so checking the timetable carefully before planning your route is essential. Getting to Patmos from Santorini means going through Athens and the Dodecanese ferry network, which takes the better part of a day.

What about flying?

Arki has no airport. The nearest airports are Leros, which has domestic connections, and Kos, which has international connections. The fastest overall route from Santorini is to fly to Kos via Athens and then take the local Dodecanese ferry up through Kalymnos or Leros to Patmos, and from Patmos the short crossing to Arki. 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 Kos via Athens and work your way up through the northern Dodecanese by local ferry to Patmos, then cross to Arki. Check the Patmos to Arki schedule before you book anything and build your itinerary around the departure days. Bring cash, any medication you need and everything else. The island has none of the infrastructure that other Greek islands take for granted, and that is precisely why it is worth the journey.