Getting from Spetses to Koufonisia

If you are heading to Koufonisia from Spetses you are making your way from a car-free island in the Saronic Gulf to one of the Small Cyclades, on the opposite side of Attica. It has some of the finest beaches in the Cyclades and a lively summer atmosphere that punches well above its size.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Spetses to Koufonisia. 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 boarding the direct Piraeus to Koufonisia ferry, which runs daily in summer and takes around 5 to 9 hours, or flying from Athens to Naxos and taking the local Express Skopelitis ferry to Koufonisia, which takes around 45 minutes and runs almost daily in summer.

Getting there by air

Koufonisia has no airport. The nearest airport is Naxos. Spetses has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Taking the Saronic ferry from Spetses to Piraeus, flying from Athens to Naxos and then taking the local ferry to Koufonisia gives a total journey time of around 5 to 6 hours. 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 Naxos, then take the local Express Skopelitis across to Koufonisia. It is the most practical approach. Book ahead in summer as Koufonisia has very limited accommodation and the island fills up fast. 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 conventional Piraeus to Koufonisia ferry, which takes your vehicle directly to the island.