Getting from Syros to Kythira

If you are heading to Kythira from Syros you are making your way from the capital of the Cyclades to an island at the southern tip of the Peloponnese, between the Aegean and the Ionian seas. It has stone villages, deep gorges, a Venetian castle above Chora and a coastline of turquoise coves.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Syros to Kythira. 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 either flying from Athens to Kythira or boarding the Piraeus to Kythira ferry, which runs several times a week and takes around 6 to 6.5 hours to the port of Diakofti. Alternatively drive south through the Peloponnese to Neapoli for the short ferry across to Kythira, which takes around 1 hour and runs daily in summer.

Getting there by air

Kythira has its own small airport with daily connections from Athens. Syros has a small domestic airport with limited connections from Athens. Taking the ferry from Syros to Piraeus and flying from Athens to Kythira takes under 1 hour 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 ferry from Syros to Piraeus and fly from Athens to Kythira. It is the fastest and most practical approach. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Syros to Piraeus and drive south through the Peloponnese to Neapoli for the short ferry across to Kythira.