Getting from Syros to Skyros

If you are heading to Skyros from Syros you are making your way from the capital of the Cyclades to the most remote of the Sporades group, in the northern Aegean. It has two completely different landscapes, a dramatic hilltop Chora and a wild volcanic south, with its own native horse breed and one of the most extraordinary carnival traditions in Greece.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Syros to Skyros. Skyros is connected to the mainland only via Kymi on the eastern coast of Evia. 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 Kymi, which takes around 2 hours via Halkida, for the ferry across to Skyros, which takes around 1 hour 40 minutes and runs 2 to 3 times daily. This avoids Athens entirely at around 7 to 8 hours total.

Getting there by air

Skyros has its own small airport with connections from Athens running around twice a week. Syros has a small domestic airport with limited connections from Athens. Taking the ferry from Syros to Piraeus, flying from Athens to Skyros gives a total journey time of around 4 to 5 hours. Check the Athens to Skyros schedule carefully as the service runs a limited number of times per week. 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 Skyros. Check the schedule carefully as flights run only a limited number of times per week. Alternatively take the ferry from Syros to Rafina and drive to Kymi for the ferry across to Skyros, which avoids Athens entirely. If you are traveling with a car, the Kymi ferry takes your vehicle directly to Skyros port.