Getting from Tilos to Ios

If you are heading to Ios from Tilos you are making your way from a volcanic island in the Dodecanese to an island in the southern Cyclades, on the opposite side of the Aegean. It has some of the finest beaches in the Cyclades on its south coast and a Chora above the port that comes alive in the evening.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Tilos to Ios. 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 Piraeus to Ios ferry, which runs multiple times daily in summer and takes around 4 to 7 hours. Alternatively take the ferry from Tilos to Rhodes, fly from Rhodes to Athens and then Athens to Santorini, and take the short ferry from Santorini to Ios, which takes around 35 minutes.

Getting there by air

Ios has no airport. The nearest airport is Santorini. 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 Santorini, followed by the short ferry to Ios, 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 ferry from Tilos to Rhodes and fly from Rhodes to Athens, then fly from Athens to Santorini and take the short ferry across to Ios. It is the 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 conventional Piraeus to Ios ferry, which takes your vehicle directly to the island.