Getting from Santorini to Ios

Ios sits just north of Santorini and has spent decades being known primarily for its party scene, which is real and lively and concentrated in the Chora above the port. But Ios has another side that gets overlooked. The beaches on the south coast, particularly Mylopotas, are among the finest in the Cyclades. Homer is said to be buried on the island, and the grave is up in the hills north of the Chora. The landscape is bare and beautiful in the way of the southern Cyclades and the sunsets from the Chora are as good as anything on Santorini without the crowds. Whether you come for the beaches, the nightlife or the quiet north of the island, Ios is an easy and rewarding hop from Santorini.

Take the ferry

The Santorini to Ios ferry is one of the shortest and most frequent crossings in the Cyclades. Seajets, Blue Star Ferries, Golden Star Ferries, Fast Ferries and Maistros Santorini all serve the route year-round with up to 8 daily crossings in summer. The fastest Seajets high-speed catamaran covers the 21 nautical miles in around 35 minutes. Blue Star conventional ferries take around 1 hour 10 minutes but are more stable in rough weather. The route is so frequent and so short that you rarely need to plan it more than a day in advance outside of peak summer weekends.

What about flying?

Ios has no airport. The ferry is the only way and at 35 minutes on the fast boat it is one of the easiest island hops in Greece.

Your best option

Take the ferry. It is one of the most effortless connections in the Aegean. Check Ferryhopper for the day's schedule and pick the departure that suits you.