Getting from Santorini to Evia

Evia is the second largest island in Greece and one of the least known outside the country, despite being connected to the mainland by two bridges and sitting within easy reach of Athens. It is a long, narrow island of mountains, forests, thermal springs and coastline that stretches for hundreds of kilometres, with a dramatically different character at its northern and southern ends. The north around Edipsos is known for its thermal baths, one of the oldest spa destinations in the ancient world. The central coast around Eretria and Halkida has good beaches and a relaxed mainland Greek atmosphere. The south is remote, rocky and barely visited. Evia is the Greece that Greeks go to, and it rewards travellers who look beyond the obvious island circuit.

Take the ferry

There is no ferry from Santorini to Evia as part of the Aegean island network. Evia is connected to the mainland by road bridges at Halkida and by short ferry crossings from several points along the Attica and Boeotian coasts, but none of these connect to Santorini. Getting there from Santorini means reaching Athens first by ferry or plane and then crossing to Evia by road over the Halkida bridge, which is around 90 kilometres from central Athens.

What about flying?

Evia has no commercial airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Flying from Santorini to Athens and then driving or taking the bus to Evia gives a total journey time of around 3 to 4 hours depending on where on the island you are heading.

Your best option

Fly to Athens and drive or take the bus to Evia. The bridge crossing at Halkida is one of the more remarkable pieces of infrastructure in Greece, spanning the Euripus Strait where the current reverses direction several times a day. From Halkida you can head north toward Edipsos or south toward the remote beaches of the southern tip depending on what you are looking for.