Getting from Tilos to Syros

If you are heading to Syros from Tilos you are making your way from a volcanic island in the Dodecanese to the capital of the Cyclades, on the opposite side of the Aegean. It has a neoclassical port city of grand mansions and an opera house modelled on La Scala that is one of the most distinctive urban environments in the Greek islands.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Tilos to Syros. 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 Syros ferry, which runs up to 6 daily crossings in summer and takes around 2 hours on the fast boat. Flying is considerably more practical for most travelers.

Getting there by air

Syros has a small domestic airport with limited 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 taking the Piraeus to Syros ferry gives a total journey time of around 5 to 6 hours. Flights to Syros are limited so the ferry from Piraeus is the more practical option after flying to Athens. 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 take the Piraeus to Syros ferry. At around 2 hours on the fast boat it is one of the quickest Cyclades connections from Athens. 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 Syros ferry, which takes your vehicle directly to Ermoupolis port.