Getting from Telendos to Koufonisia

If you are heading to Koufonisia from Telendos you are making your way from a tiny car-free island off the western coast of Kalymnos in the Dodecanese to one of the Small Cyclades, on the opposite side of the Aegean. It has some of the finest beaches in the Cyclades and a lively summer atmosphere that punches well above its size.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Telendos to Koufonisia. Getting there means taking the local boat from Telendos to Myrties on Kalymnos, which takes around 5 minutes, and then making your way to Kalymnos port at Pothia for the Blue Star ferry west, which connects through the Dodecanese and Cyclades network to Naxos, from where the local Express Skopelitis ferry to Koufonisia takes around 45 minutes and runs almost daily in summer. Alternatively fly from Kalymnos to Athens and take the Piraeus to Koufonisia ferry, which runs daily in summer and takes around 5 to 9 hours.

Getting there by air

Koufonisia has no airport. The nearest airport is Naxos. Telendos has no airport. The nearest airports are Kalymnos and Kos. Taking the local boat from Telendos to Myrties, flying from Kalymnos to Athens and then Athens to Naxos, followed by the local ferry to Koufonisia, gives a total journey time of around 6 to 7 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the local boat from Telendos to Myrties and fly from Kalymnos to Athens, then fly from Athens to Naxos and take the local Express Skopelitis across to Koufonisia. It is the most practical approach. Book ahead in summer as Koufonisia has very limited accommodation and the island fills up fast. If you are traveling with a car, note that no cars are permitted on Telendos so your vehicle would already be on Kalymnos, from where you can take the overnight ferry to Piraeus and board the conventional Piraeus to Koufonisia ferry.