Getting from Spetses to Naxos

If you are heading to Naxos from Spetses you are making your way from a car-free island in the Saronic Gulf to the largest island in the Cyclades, on the opposite side of Attica. It has a medieval Venetian town above the port, long sandy beaches on the west coast and a mountainous interior of marble villages.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Spetses to Naxos. 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 boarding the Piraeus to Naxos ferry, which runs up to 7 daily departures in summer and takes around 3.5 to 5.5 hours. Alternatively fly from Athens to Naxos, which takes around 40 to 45 minutes and is considerably faster for most travelers.

Getting there by air

Naxos 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 Naxos takes around 40 to 45 minutes on the second leg. Total journey time is around 4 to 5 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. It is the fastest and most practical approach. The arrival by sea with the Portara temple doorframe visible from the water is one of the great Cycladic arrivals, so if time allows the Piraeus to Naxos ferry is a rewarding alternative. 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 Naxos ferry, which takes your vehicle directly to Naxos Town port.