Getting from Santorini to Karpathos

Karpathos is one of those islands that serious Greece travellers talk about and everyone else overlooks. It sits between Rhodes and Crete in the southeastern Aegean, large enough to have real geographical variety but remote enough to have kept its own character intact. The northern village of Olympos is unlike anywhere else in Greece, a traditional mountain community that was cut off from the rest of the island for centuries and developed its own dialect, costumes and customs that survive to this day. The beaches on the west coast are long and wild, the capital Pigadia is a working town rather than a tourist construction and the waters around the island are some of the best for windsurfing in the Mediterranean.

Take the ferry

There is a direct ferry from Santorini to Karpathos operated by Blue Star Ferries, running 2 to 3 times per week year-round. The journey takes between 6 hours 40 minutes and 12 hours depending on the specific sailing and the stops along the route. This is a conventional overnight-style ferry rather than a fast catamaran, which means it is a slower crossing but a comfortable one. Check the schedule carefully as departures are not daily and timing your trip around the ferry timetable requires a bit of planning.

What about flying?

Both Santorini and Karpathos have airports, which makes flying a straightforward option. There are no direct flights between the two islands. The journey goes Santorini to Athens and then Athens to Karpathos, with total travel time around 4 to 5 hours door to door. 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

It depends on your schedule. If the Blue Star ferry timing works, the direct crossing is a genuinely good option and saves the hassle of going through Athens. If the ferry schedule does not align with your plans, flying via Athens is fast and reliable. Either way, give Karpathos at least four or five days. Rent a car to get around the south of the island and arrange a boat trip or take the small plane from Pigadia to Diafani in the north to visit Olympos. It is worth the effort.