Getting from Santorini to Folegandros

If you are heading to Folegandros from Santorini you are making exactly the right call. Folegandros is one of those Cycladic islands that has resisted mass tourism almost entirely, not through obscurity but through character. The Chora perches on a clifftop above the sea, a tightly packed labyrinth of whitewashed lanes and bougainvillea with a church at the top of a flight of steps that looks out over the Aegean for what feels like forever. The beaches require a walk or a boat to reach, the island has no airport and no large hotels and the permanent population is around 700 people. It has become fashionable in recent years among people looking for a more authentic Cycladic experience, and it delivers that without any effort.

Take the ferry

The Santorini to Folegandros ferry is a short and direct crossing served year-round. Seajets, Fast Ferries and Maistros Santorini all operate the route with up to 2 daily departures in summer and 4 to 5 weekly crossings in the low season. The Seajets high-speed catamaran covers the 27 nautical miles in around 50 minutes. Conventional ferries take around 2.5 to 3 hours but are more comfortable in rough weather. The ferry is the only way to reach Folegandros and on this route that is not a problem at all.

What about flying?

Folegandros has no airport. The ferry from Santorini is the only realistic option and at under an hour on the fast boat it is one of the easier island hops in the Cyclades.

Your best option

Take the Seajets high-speed ferry. At around 50 minutes it is one of the quickest crossings in the southern Cyclades and you arrive in Karavostasis, the island's small port, with the rest of the day ahead of you. Book ahead in July and August as the summer sailings fill up fast.