Getting from Spetses to Astypalaia

If you are heading to Astypalaia from Spetses you are making your way from a car-free island in the Saronic Gulf to a butterfly-shaped island sitting between the Cyclades and the Dodecanese, on the opposite side of the Aegean. It has a Chora topped by a Venetian castle that is one of the finest in the Aegean.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Spetses to Astypalaia. Getting there means taking the Saronic ferry from Spetses to Piraeus, which runs up to 10 times daily and takes around 2 to 3.5 hours, and then either flying from Athens to Astypalaia or boarding the Piraeus to Astypalaia ferry, which runs around 5 times a week and takes around 8 to 12 hours. Flying is considerably more practical for most travelers.

Getting there by air

Astypalaia has its own small airport with connections from Athens. Spetses has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Taking the Saronic ferry from Spetses to Piraeus and flying from Athens to Astypalaia takes around 1 hour on the second leg. Total journey time is around 4 to 5 hours. Check the schedule carefully as flights run a limited number of times per week. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the Saronic ferry from Spetses to Piraeus and fly from Athens to Astypalaia. Check the schedule carefully as flights run a limited number of times per week. Give yourself at least three nights on Astypalaia as the island rewards those who stay long enough to explore both its Cycladic and Dodecanese sides. Note that Spetses is car-free so if you are traveling with a car it would be at the mainland port of Kosta, from where you can drive to Piraeus and board the overnight Piraeus to Astypalaia ferry, which takes your vehicle and arrives in the morning.