Getting from Tilos to Chios

If you are heading to Chios from Tilos you are making your way from a volcanic island in the Dodecanese to one of the most overlooked islands in the northeastern Aegean, on the opposite side of Greece. It is famous above all for its mastic trees in the south of the island that produce a resin found nowhere else on earth.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Tilos to Chios. Getting there by sea means taking the overnight ferry from Tilos to Piraeus, which runs via Rhodes and takes around 15 to 18 hours, and then boarding the overnight Piraeus to Chios ferry, which runs around 3 times a week and takes around 9 hours. The total journey by sea takes the better part of three days. Flying is considerably more practical for most travelers.

Getting there by air

Chios has its own airport with daily connections from Athens. Tilos has no airport. The nearest airport is Rhodes. Taking the ferry from Tilos to Rhodes, flying from Rhodes to Athens and then Athens to Chios takes around 35 to 40 minutes on the second leg. Total journey time is around 5 to 6 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Tilos to Rhodes and fly from Rhodes to Athens, then fly from Athens to Chios. It is the fastest and most practical approach. Check the Tilos to Rhodes schedule before booking as departure days and times vary by season. If you are traveling with a car, take the overnight ferry from Tilos to Piraeus and board the overnight Piraeus to Chios ferry, which takes your vehicle and arrives in the morning.