Getting from Tilos to Naxos

If you are heading to Naxos from Tilos you are making your way from a volcanic island in the Dodecanese to the largest island in the Cyclades, on the opposite side of the Aegean. It has a medieval Venetian town above the port, long sandy beaches on the west coast and a mountainous interior of marble villages.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Tilos to Naxos. 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 Naxos ferry, which runs up to 7 daily departures in summer and takes around 3.5 to 5.5 hours. Flying is considerably more practical for most travelers.

Getting there by air

Naxos has its own small airport with 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 Naxos takes around 40 to 45 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 Naxos. It is the fastest and most practical approach. Check the Tilos to Rhodes schedule before booking as departure days and times vary by season. The arrival by sea with the Portara temple doorframe visible from the water is one of the great Cycladic arrivals, so if time allows the Piraeus to Naxos ferry is a rewarding alternative. If you are traveling with a car, take the overnight ferry from Tilos to Piraeus and board the conventional ferry which takes your vehicle directly to Naxos Town port.