Getting from Thessaloniki to Schinoussa

If you are heading to Schinoussa from Thessaloniki you are making your way from the second largest city in Greece to one of the Small Cyclades, on the opposite side of the country. It has more than 18 beaches scattered around a coastline that you can walk across in an afternoon.

Getting there by air

Schinoussa has no airport. The nearest airport is Naxos. Thessaloniki has an international airport with daily connections to Athens. Flying from Thessaloniki to Athens and then Athens to Naxos, followed by the local Express Skopelitis ferry to Schinoussa taking around 2 hours and running almost daily in summer, gives a total journey time of around 5 to 6 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Take the train, bus or drive

Thessaloniki is connected to Athens by train, taking around 4 to 5 hours, and by KTEL bus, taking around 5 to 6 hours. From Athens the direct Piraeus to Schinoussa ferry runs around 3 times a week and takes around 7 to 9 hours. Flying from Thessaloniki is considerably more practical than the combined train and ferry journey for most travelers.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Thessaloniki to Schinoussa. Getting there means traveling to Piraeus for the direct ferry to Schinoussa or flying to Naxos and taking the local ferry.

Your best option

Fly from Thessaloniki to Athens and then fly from Athens to Naxos, then take the local ferry across to Schinoussa. It is the most practical approach. Give yourself at least two nights on Schinoussa and come with everything you need as facilities on the island are limited. If you are traveling with a car, drive from Thessaloniki to Piraeus via the E75 motorway and take the conventional Piraeus to Schinoussa ferry.