Getting from Tilos to Schinoussa

If you are heading to Schinoussa from Tilos you are making your way from a volcanic island in the Dodecanese to one of the Small Cyclades, on the opposite side of the Aegean. It has more than 18 beaches scattered around a coastline that you can walk across in an afternoon.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Tilos to Schinoussa. 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 direct Piraeus to Schinoussa ferry, which runs around 3 times a week and takes around 7 to 9 hours. Alternatively take the ferry from Tilos to Rhodes, fly from Rhodes to Athens and then Athens to Naxos, and take the local Express Skopelitis ferry to Schinoussa, which takes around 2 hours and runs almost daily in summer.

Getting there by air

Schinoussa has no airport. The nearest airport is Naxos. 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, followed by the local ferry to Schinoussa, 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 Naxos and take the local ferry across to Schinoussa. It is the most practical approach. Check the Tilos to Rhodes schedule before booking as departure days and times vary by season. Give yourself at least two nights on Schinoussa and come with everything you need as facilities on the island are limited.