Getting from Santorini to Skyros

Skyros is the most remote and least visited of the Sporades and one of the most unusual islands in Greece. It has two completely different landscapes divided almost exactly in half: the north is green and forested, with the main town of Chora perched dramatically on a rocky outcrop above the port, while the south is bare, rocky and wild, more like a Cycladic island than a northern Aegean one. The island has its own native horse breed, the Skyrian horse, one of the smallest in the world, which grazes freely on the southern plateau. Rupert Brooke is buried here, having died on a hospital ship off the coast in 1915 on his way to Gallipoli. The island has a strong craft tradition, distinctive local furniture and a carnival that is one of the strangest and most compelling in Greece.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Santorini to Skyros. Skyros sits apart from the other Sporades and has its own dedicated ferry connection from Kymi, a port on the eastern coast of Evia, with the crossing taking around 2 hours. Kymi is a 2.5 hour drive from Athens. Getting from Santorini to Skyros means flying to Athens and then either driving or taking a bus to Kymi for the ferry.

What about flying?

Skyros has its own small airport with domestic connections from Athens operated by Sky Express. The journey from Santorini goes Santorini to Athens and then Athens to Skyros, with total travel time around 4 to 5 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 Athens and take the short domestic flight on to Skyros. It is considerably more straightforward than the Kymi ferry route unless you are already in Evia or planning to travel through it. Check the Sky Express schedule carefully as the Athens to Skyros service runs only a few times per week.