Hiking on Hydra. August 30, 2021 by RealGreekExperiences. On Social Media Mykonos and Santorini are known as the most instagrammable places in Greece, which somehow is true but more . There are numerous companies offering sailing experiences where you share the boat or cabin with other travellers. 1. With short ferry journey times and more frequent schedules, the islands of Mykonos, Paros and Santorini are the best Greek Islands for island hopping. From June-August you can expect a choice of up to 7 daily departures. The main ports on the Greek mainland are: Basically, Piraeus will probably be your starting port unless you have a particular reason for it not to. Found inside... Ionian groups offer limited possibilities for island-hopping, and to get there usually involves a long mainland traipse. If time and money are short, head for well-preserved, atmospheric Ýdhra in the Argo-Saronic Gulf, a short ferry ... The on site spa and gym has a hot tub, sauna, Turkish bath, and 2 massage treatment rooms with panoramic views over the water from the rooftop terrace/pool/bar area.Katerina Hotel – Providing guests with traditional hotel rooms or studio apartments, this family-run hotel prides itself on its breakfast. This Greek-island hopping itinerary allows you to enjoy sightseeing in Athens before escaping two idyllic Greek islands that are not completely overrun with other tourists – Perfect for that tranquil Greek island escape away from the stress and worries of the real world! Found insideIsland Hopping passengers to justify thetrip. Routes and schedules Classic ferry itineraries. The pleasures oftravelling fromone island to another using Greece's interlinking ferry routes are numerous, but it pays to be prepared. Find the easiest way to travel between Greek islands, and enjoy a hassle-free island hopping journey. The flight time is only 45-55 minutes where as the ferry takes between 5-12 hours. View from a ferry departing from the island of Kythnos. We don't just sell ferry tickets. There are notes on sightseeing and antiquities, with suggested itineraries for different tastes. The volume also offers details of accommodation to suit all budgets, and Internet cafes are mapped and listed. Most ferries from Athens leave early in the morning, or in the evening for overnight routes. There are islands for everyone — those wanting to escape, those wanting to explore the remains of old civilizations and those just wanting to enjoy the sand, sea, tavernas and Greek food while reveling in some of the 300 sunny days a year. Greek Orthodox Easter usually signals the start of the tourist season in Greece (you can check the dates here), and it winds down again in October as soon as the weather starts to change. Includes descriptions of the islands, ferry routes and travel tips. As this is a small local ferry, passengers can't book ferry tickets online for this route. Athens is the historic heart that never sleeps, Santorini is the most iconic island, loved the world over for its blue and white architecture and Caldera sunsets, whilst Crete is the largest island in Greece with a unique landscape as well as culture. Highlights: Mytilene in Lesvos, Marble Beach on Thassos, the patterned village of Pyrgi on Chios, Ikaria’s unique summer festivals, the sweet wines of Samos and Lesvos, hippie vibes on Lesvos and Samothraki. The pure thrill of turning up at Piraeus with no plans and no ticket (seriously – you should try it. Ticket prices for flights and the faster ferries are comparable so it usually makes more sense to fly back to Athens however, if you have plenty of time to kill but not so much money, taking the 12 hour ferry back to Athens is a very cheap option as generally, the longer the journey (due to the most stops at other islands) the cheaper the ticket. Get ready to enjoy sunshine and island vibes with our 12-day Greece itinerary. Check out: The best things to do in Naxos. But if you're planning a Greek island hopping adventure, how do you go from over two hundred choices to a few islands that will make your travels the most fun, fit your budget, and help you see a variety of what Greek island life is like. For the easy and reliable island hopping, pick several islands along one car ferry route. In the summer it’s a hot and busy city; not pleasant to rush around despite the relatively small size of its centre. Are you a speed freak, who likes to pack in as much as possible? From Spring into Summer the route increases with up to 7 departures daily. The regular one is the classic Greek Island Ferry type. It was quite the experience and during all of this, I had to make best friends with the ferries in Greece. In this guide, you'll find everything you need to know about how to island hop around the Cyclades in Greece. The Eurail Greek Islands Pass is a unique pass that lets you discover magnificent islands like Crete, Mykonos, and Santorini. Click here for the ferry schedule and to book your ferry tickets. Watching the ships pass Poros Town. I recommend downloading the Ferryhopper app and using it to purchase your tickets. Flight time is approximately 50 minutes. Check out my post: Things to do in Mykonos. Best for: proximity to Athens. There are daily departures through the year from Athens to Santorini with a journey time of 5-12 hours depending on the route of the ferry company and how many other islands the boat stops at. Chios, Lesvos and Samos have ferry crossings to Turkey. Because the high-speed boat is often fully-booked between June-August it is advised to pre-book 1-3 months in advance. Here are some estimates of how long it takes to get to some of Greece's most popular ferry destinations. Considerations when planning – time/money/seasickness/flexibility, Island groups – Ionian, Argo-Saronic, Cyclades, Crete, Dodecanese, Sporades, Aegean, How to pick your perfect islands (and the best time to go), Yachts, small ship cruises, and international ferries, Crete (Chania, Heraklion, Sitia) – international. Beach, bars, restaurants, and a bus stop are all within easy reach and there’s a pool on site.Mylopotas BeachDionysos Seaside Resort Ios – This chic hotel may have you thinking you’ve arrived in Indonesia instead of Greece with its bamboo accents and palm fringed bar/beach area. In the low season, ferries are less frequent and there can be a surprising amount of lashing wind and rain. The Ultimate Guide To Greek Ferries. Ferries are a slow mode of transport (although there are different types of ferry) so the length of time you have available will determine the type of ferry you should take, and/or the distance you will want to travel. Found inside – Page 15In practice , life is much simpler : Greece has 78 islands connected by regular ferry or hydrofoil , with another 40 - odd islets visited by tour or beach boats ( the remaining 48 ' inhabited ' islands being occupied by odd monks ... If you’re on a budget, your best bet is to limit the number of islands you’re visiting and make sure they’re close together. During the shoulder seasons (March and October) there are 5 direct departures each week between Ios and Santorini with a journey time of 55minutes or 1.20 hours depending on the ferry company. In most cases it makes more sense to fly back to Athens as the flight time is just 45-55 minutes and the plane tickets are comparable with those of the faster ferries. But Greece has so many islands it can be overwhelming to plan and (just a bit) difficult to know where to start. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. For booking accommodation, I recommend Booking.com for the largest selection of places. I took a two month trip through Greece and traveled extensively through the Cyclades and Ionia visiting a dozen islands. The Cyclades are the best islands for the first time visitor to Greece: frequent, short ferry connections with the other islands makes hopping between islands fun and easy. Its rooms offer all the modern amenities you would expect from a 4-star hotel. Highlights: Corfu Town, Navagio Bay and Turtle Island on Zakynthos, Assos and Fiskardo on Kefalonia, the north coast of Corfu, Porto Katsiki and Egremni beaches on Lefkada, Myrtos beach on Kefalonia, Melissani blue cave on Kefalonia, boat trips and watersports. The events of 2020 have normalised electronic tickets and card payments throughout Greece. 29 reviews. A very popular Greek island hopping ferry combination that many travelers choose is the Mykonos - Santorini - Crete.. Find all the information you need on how to organize your trip and ferries to the most famous islands of the Aegean Sea. I think this is a great shame – Athens is one of my favourite cities and I reckon it needs a minimum of 2 days. If I could spend the rest of my life doing one thing it would be island-hopping. There are 3 airports on Crete with daily departures to Athens throughout the year. The guide now includes a FREE weblinks CD ROM offering additional information for use when planning a trip and finding out more about the destination. This book covers all the Greek islands as well as Athens and all mainland ports. The Greek islands are famous all around the world for being magnificent summer holiday destinations; from their unique architecture of whitewashed cubic buildings with blue details in the Cyclades, to the . The Greek islands with the most flights are Santorini, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Crete (both Heraklion and Chania airports), Rhodes, Kos, Zante, Kefalonia and Corfu. Crete is such a large island that it’s worth its own section – it’s the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean. The ferry from Frikes marks the end of the tour and a celebration back at Nidri. The Cyclades include Naxos, Paros, Santorini and Mykonos. This book offers you your only chance to obtain street maps for most of the smaller islands These quaint-essential Greek islands are not as overrun by tourism as the likes of Mykonos or Santorini but are equally breathtaking and have their own history and hospitality to enjoy. During late Autumn, Winter, and Spring there are 1-2 ferries per day, this increasing greatly between June-August with approximately 7 boat services to choose from including high-speed catamarans. Plus, you get to spend your days drifting along in the wine-dark sea rather than scrambling to catch buses or taxis. Golden beaches and gulet trips in turquoise waters. You will also need to complete a form with your travel details before boarding the ferry. Highlights: Rhodes and its medieval old town. Tiny Islands: Gavdos, Spinalonga, Dia, Chrysi, Paximadia. Let’s say, for example, the Blue Star car ferry to Mykonos leaves at 7:30am and arrives at 12:45pm. How long do you need in the Greek islands? Day 6: Ferry to Mykonos & start exploring. Ferries to Naxos and Paros depart daily from Piraeus and Rafina, the two main ports of Athens.The ferry trip from Paros to Naxos is very short (30-60 min depending on vessel) and therefore it is very easy to travel from one island to the other. Traveling by ferry is the best and economical way to see your best Greek island hopping route. You will still have to pick up boarding passes at the board, subject to availability. You might want to check: The best things to do in Paros. Found inside – Page 28Island hopping An extensive ferry service of large , modern ships carries people who have patience and time on their hands to most of the islands . Ferries run frequently among the larger islands during the summer . Paros is a cosmopolitan destination, ideal for all . International ferry routes to/from Italy include: There are currently no direct ferries to/from Croatia. FerriesinGreece is one of the best and top-rated online booking engines for ferry tickets to Greece (from Italy) and the Greek Islands, awarded for its services, and operating since 2008. Greek ferries do not run between every island. The island is packed with fascinating landmarks, shopping streets, and vineyards. During the off-season there are 1-2 services per day which increases up to 10 services per day in June-August. You can add more days in Naxos and Santorini ideally one more in each island. It’s been a time-honoured tradition since the 1960s. One of the best tips for island hopping in Greece is to choose one island chain and stick with exploring that one for the trip. You can use this to your advantage when planning. If you get seasick, it’s worth sticking to the big slow car ferries though. Each destination is a single ticket! In the past, this used to make hopping to islands after Santorini quite confusing to plan. Sep 1, 2021, 2:32 PM. Ferry Connections. As a rough rule, car ferries are twice the time but half the cost. Stopping in at each of Greece's most popular islands, staying in top-quality, air-conditioned hotels, you'll have plenty of time to explore charming villages, local shops, volcanoes, natural coves & sun-soaked beaches, with plenty of time for sunbathing . Need to know: Skiathos and Skopelos are fairly developed and close together – easy to hop between them and nearby Alonnisos too. Need to know: Most of the ferry connections are high speed ferries – either hydrofoils or fast catamarans. The choice is yours and you really can't go wrong. Book cheap ferry tickets for the Greek islands! Our customer support is happy to assist you . You can compare routes, ships, and travel times. We have done it and it was a breeze and definitely the best way to see the Cyclades group. It is atmospheric and fascinating if you can slow your pace down a little. Check out: The best things to do in Milos. Things to do on your Greek Island Hopping, Where to stay during your Greek Island Hopping, The Best 16 Places to Visit in Germany in Summer 2021. Otherwise, there are few connections between island groups and you may have to backtrack via Athens, either by ferry or plane. Disclaimer: This post contains an affiliate link. Tiny Islands:  Meganisi, Antipaxos, Antikythira, Diapondia islands, Echinades islands, Kastos, Kalamos. The contemporary styled rooms are light and airy with everything you need for an enjoyable nights sleep before stepping out onto the street to explore all that Naxos has to offer.Agios ProkopiosNaxos Island Hotel – Enjoy world-class service at this stunning 5 star hotel. This is potentially GREAT value if you’re thinking of taking more than two long-distance journeys, or more than three medium ones. Also, many hotels and resorts shut down completely and become ghost towns over the winter. Don’t assume flying is necessarily more expensive than taking the ferry. Mykonos is located on the northern side of Cyclades, in the heart of the Aegean Sea. Wondering if there’s such a thing as a ferry pass? There is 1 direct route, this is the boat with the journey time of 1 hour and 10 minutes. The Greek Ferry system is a great way to DIY a Greek Cruise and enjoy some Greek Island hopping! 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