Getting from Santorini to Leros

Leros is one of the most atmospheric islands in the Dodecanese and one of the most overlooked. It has a striking Italian-built capital at Agia Marina, a massive medieval castle above the main town of Platanos, and a harbour at Lakki that is one of the strangest and most compelling in Greece, an Art Deco Italian colonial port built in the 1930s on a scale completely out of proportion to the island. The bays around the coastline are sheltered and beautiful. The island has a complicated history as both an Italian colony and a place of exile for political prisoners during the dictatorship years, and that history is woven into the character of the place in ways that make it genuinely interesting to explore.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Santorini to Leros. The island is connected to the wider Greek ferry network through the Dodecanese route from Piraeus, with Blue Star Ferries stopping at Leros as part of the long Piraeus to Rhodes service. Getting there from Santorini by ferry means taking the ferry to Piraeus and then boarding the Dodecanese service, which makes Leros a very long day or overnight journey from Santorini by sea. Flying is the practical choice.

What about flying?

Leros has its own small airport with domestic connections from Athens. The journey from Santorini goes Santorini to Athens and then Athens to Leros, 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

Fly to Athens and connect to Leros. The Athens to Leros flight takes around 50 minutes and the connection is straightforward. Leros Airport is close to the main towns so you are on the island quickly after landing.