Getting from Santorini to Halki

Halki is a tiny island just off the western coast of Rhodes and one of the most charming small islands in the Dodecanese. It has a single settlement, the neoclassical village of Emborios, built around a horseshoe harbour by sea captains who made their fortunes in the sponge trade. The mansions are painted in faded ochre, terracotta and cream, the waterfront tavernas serve fresh fish and the pace of life is so slow that the island was once declared a peace and friendship island by UNESCO. There are no cars, only a handful of scooters, and the beaches require a walk or a boat to reach. It is the kind of place you arrive at expecting a day and stay for a week.

Take the ferry

There is a direct ferry from Santorini to Halki operated by Blue Star Ferries, running twice a week year-round. The crossing takes between 9 hours 40 minutes and 15 hours depending on the specific sailing and the stops along the route. This is a long crossing and involves an overnight or very long day at sea, but it does connect the two islands without going through Athens. Check the schedule carefully as twice-weekly frequency means your travel dates need to align with the departure days.

What about flying?

Halki has no airport. The nearest airport is Rhodes, around 15 kilometres away by sea. The journey from Santorini goes Santorini to Athens and then Athens to Rhodes, followed by a short ferry or local boat from Rhodes to Halki, which takes around 1.5 to 2 hours. 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 Rhodes via Athens and take the ferry across to Halki. It is considerably faster than the 10 to 15 hour direct Blue Star crossing unless the timing works perfectly for your schedule. From Rhodes there are also local day boats to Halki in summer which are worth checking as an alternative to the scheduled ferry.