Getting from Santorini to Kylini

If you are heading to Kylini from Santorini you are making your way to one of the main ferry departure points on the western Peloponnese coast. Kylini is a small port town in Elis, around 70 kilometres southwest of Patras, and its primary purpose is connecting the Peloponnese to the southern Ionian islands. Ferries from Kylini run year-round to Zakynthos and Kefalonia, making it an essential stop for anyone heading to those islands by road and sea rather than by air. The town itself is quiet and pleasant, with a long sandy beach and a medieval castle nearby at Chlemoutsi that is one of the best-preserved Frankish fortifications in Greece and worth the short detour.

Take the ferry

There is no ferry from Santorini to Kylini. It is a mainland port with no connection to the Aegean ferry network. Getting there from Santorini means flying to Athens and then travelling by road to Kylini, which takes around 3 hours from Athens heading west through Corinth and Patras.

What about flying?

Kylini has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens, around 270 kilometres to the east. Flying from Santorini to Athens and then travelling by road to Kylini gives a total journey time of around 5 to 6 hours door to door.

Your best option

Fly to Athens and drive or take the bus to Kylini. If you are heading to Zakynthos or Kefalonia via Kylini, the ferry from Kylini to Zakynthos takes around 1 hour 15 minutes and the ferry to Kefalonia takes around 1 hour 30 minutes, with multiple daily crossings year-round.