Getting from Syros to Kylini

If you are heading to Kylini from Syros you are making your way from the capital of the Cyclades to a port town on the northwestern Peloponnese coast, on the opposite side of Greece. It has a long sandy beach and the medieval castle of Chlemoutsi nearby, one of the best preserved Frankish fortifications in Greece.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Syros to Kylini. Getting there means taking the ferry from Syros to Piraeus, which runs up to 6 daily crossings in summer and takes around 2 hours on the fast boat, and then driving west to Kylini, which takes around 3 to 3.5 hours from Athens via Corinth and Patras. There is no practical public transport connection that makes this journey convenient without a car.

Getting there by air

Kylini has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Syros has a small domestic airport with limited connections from Athens. Taking the ferry from Syros to Piraeus and then driving west to Kylini gives a total journey time of around 5 to 6 hours. Flying is not practical for this connection given that the drive through the Peloponnese is the only realistic approach once you reach Athens. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Syros to Piraeus and drive west to Kylini via Corinth and Patras. Having a car is essential for this route as public transport connections to Kylini are slow and infrequent. Kylini is the main departure point for ferries to Zakynthos and Kefalonia making it a useful hub if you are continuing your journey into the Ionian islands. If you are traveling with a car the conventional ferry from Syros takes your vehicle directly to Piraeus.