Getting from Syros to Skiathos

If you are heading to Skiathos from Syros you are making your way from the capital of the Cyclades to the most cosmopolitan of the Sporades group, in the northern Aegean. It has a lush green coastline, an international airport and some of the finest sandy beaches in the northern Aegean.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Syros to Skiathos. The two islands are in different island groups with no sea connection between them. Getting there means taking the ferry from Syros to Rafina, which runs several times daily in summer and takes around 3 to 4 hours, and then driving to Volos, which takes around 3 to 3.5 hours from Rafina, for the direct ferry to Skiathos, which takes around 1 hour 15 minutes to 2.5 hours and runs daily in summer. This avoids Athens and Piraeus entirely. Note that as of 2026 there are no departures from Agios Konstantinos to Skiathos.

Getting there by air

Skiathos has its own international 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 Skiathos takes around 40 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 ferry from Syros to Piraeus and fly from Athens to Skiathos. It is the fastest and most practical approach. Alternatively take the ferry from Syros to Rafina and drive to Volos for the direct ferry across to Skiathos, which avoids Athens entirely. If you are traveling with a car, drive from Rafina to Volos and take the conventional ferry which takes your vehicle directly to Skiathos port.