How to Get to Folegandros: Ferries, Flights and Booking Tips

Folegandros has no airport, so you will reach the island by ferry. Most visitors fly into Athens, sail from the port of Piraeus, and step off at Karavostasis, the island's small harbor village. The other realistic route is a flight to Milos or Santorini followed by a short crossing. That route suits travelers connecting from elsewhere in Europe or from Thessaloniki.

How do you get to Folegandros from Athens?

Take a ferry from Piraeus. It's the default for good reason: one ticket, one boat, and you're on the island the same day.

Piraeus is the main port of Athens, about 7 miles (12 km) south of the city center, at Platia Karaiskaki. Booking sites and timetables often list it instead of Athens, so search for either name. Folegandros sits on the ferry line from Piraeus toward Milos and Santorini. Some boats also sail from Lavrio, but that route is far longer.

The high-speed ferry

Seajets runs the fastest crossing, and its daily summer boat usually leaves Piraeus in the morning. That timing is the real prize. You arrive in time for a late lunch and an afternoon swim, and you don't lose a day of your trip. The trade-off is price, since the fast ferry usually costs more than the slower boats.

The slower, cheaper ferry

The budget alternative comes from a company confusingly named Fast Ferries, and it is the slow boat. Unlike Seajets, it doesn't sail every day, even in summer. Its departures tend to alternate between an early-morning boat that arrives in the afternoon and an afternoon boat that gets in late at night. Economy seats are the budget-friendly choice on these slower boats, and a cabin with a bed costs a little more.

Flying part of the way

No plane lands on Folegandros, but a flight can get you to a neighboring island faster. From Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos), the flight to Milos takes 40 minutes, and a ferry covers the rest. From Thessaloniki, you can fly to Milos via Athens. Check which sailing lines up with your flight before you book either ticket.

Santorini is the closest airport to Folegandros and works the same way. Its airport (JTR, also called Thira) takes flights from Athens and from many European cities, with direct service from the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the Netherlands. That makes it the handiest gateway if you're flying in from elsewhere in Europe. Public buses and taxis run from the airport to the port.

Is it better to take the ferry or fly to Folegandros?

For a first trip, the ferry straight from Piraeus is the simpler choice. You make one booking, and the boat drops you on the island. Flying means airport transfers, a second ticket, and often an extra night to make plane and boat line up.

• First trip: take the morning fast ferry and arrive with the whole afternoon ahead of you.
• Family with luggage: take the same fast ferry, and book early, because seats can sell out in July and August.
• Tight budget: take the slower ferry. It costs less but eats most of a day, and you'll have to build your dates around the days it runs.
• Coming from Europe or Thessaloniki: take the air route, and budget for slack in the schedule, often including a night near the airport.

How long is the ferry to Folegandros?

Crossing time depends on where you start and which boat you take. From Piraeus, the fast ferry takes about 4 hours and the cheaper, slower boats 7 to 9 hours. Santorini is closer: about an hour on the fast ferry, or about three hours on the slower, cheaper boat. From other ports, depending on the boat: Sikinos from 40 minutes, Ios about 1 hour 15 minutes, Kimolos about 1 hour 40 minutes, Milos 55 minutes to 2 hours 50 minutes, Naxos about 3 hours 25 minutes and Paros from 3 hours 40 minutes. Kythnos (about 11 hours), Kea (about 12 hours 40 minutes) and Lavrio (about 13 hours 50 minutes) are long hauls.

How do you get to Folegandros from other islands?

From the other Cyclades islands, ferries link you to Folegandros, so it slots easily into an island-hopping trip. Boats link it with Santorini, Milos, Ios, Sifnos, Sikinos, Naxos, Paros, Mykonos, Serifos, Kimolos, Syros, Amorgos, Anafi, Koufonisia, Kea and Kythnos.

Sifnos, Milos and the rest of the Western Cyclades give you the best odds of easy connections. Santorini, Sikinos and Ios are good bets too, particularly when a high-speed boat is working the route. Off-season and slower services are limited, so check the schedules first and build your itinerary around the boats.

Whichever island you come from, don't treat Folegandros as a day trip from Santorini or anywhere else. Give it at least two nights, and three is better. The island opens up slowly, and its beaches take a walk or a boat ride to reach, which is exactly why they stay quiet.

How do you book ferries to Folegandros?

Booking sites show schedules and prices for several companies side by side. You can also buy direct from operators such as Seajets and Blue Star Ferries. On the island, shipping agents in Chora and a ticket booth at the port sell tickets in person.

• Book early for July and August, and reserve your room at the same time, because the island's limited accommodation fills fast.
• Fares vary widely by boat and season. The fast boat usually costs the most, and flexible dates usually mean lower prices.
• Summer timetables start in late May. Outside the May to October season, schedules thin out sharply.
• Most ferries have a garage, so you can bring a car.
• Before you pay, check the departure port and the company. Leaving Athens, the ticket should say Piraeus and name the operator you expect.
• Ferries call at several islands, so listen to the announcements and make sure the stop is Folegandros before you step off.
• Transport strikes in Greece can disrupt seaports, taxis, public transportation and airports. Don't schedule your flight home on the same day as your last ferry.
• The day before you sail, recheck the departure time and port, and confirm your hotel pickup or bus plan.

What do Americans need to know before traveling to Greece?

U.S. citizens can visit Greece without a visa for up to 90 days of tourism or business. Your passport should have at least three months of validity beyond your planned departure date. If you've reported a passport lost or stolen, don't travel on it, because Greece will refuse you entry. Officers may ask for proof of sufficient funds and a return or onward ticket. Once you're in the country, carry your passport or another photo ID at all times. The U.S. State Department considers Greece generally safe. Petty crime is common in tourist areas, though, especially on public transportation.

How do you get from the port to your hotel and around the island?

Ferries arrive at Karavostasis, a small harbor village on the southeastern coast. Cafes, tavernas and the island's bus stop are within a few hundred feet of the quay. Boats also leave from here for beaches such as Vitzetzo, Hohlidia, Livadi and Pountaki. Cruise ships don't dock here. They anchor offshore and bring passengers in by small boat. Chora, the whitewashed main town, sits up the hill about 2 miles (3 km) away, and it's where most visitors stay.

• Bus: the regular bus climbs from the port to Chora, about 2 miles (3 km) up the hill. Buses meet boats even at night, so a late arrival on the slow ferry isn't a problem. Ano Meria, the island's other main village, gets fewer runs.
• Hotel pickup: many hotels and rentals offer or include port transfers, so ask before you arrive.
• Taxi: there's effectively just one on the island, so book it ahead at +30 694 469 3957.
• Walking: the walk to Chora takes about 35 to 45 minutes on a paved, narrow road with no pedestrian path. Skip it with luggage, in the midday heat, or if you have limited mobility.
• Renting wheels: agencies at the port and in Chora rent ATVs, scooters and cars, and an ATV is a popular way to explore.

If you rent, Greek law requires you to carry a valid U.S. driver's license, and insurance companies may require an international driver’s permit. Motorcyclists must wear a helmet, and talking or texting on a phone while driving is illegal. Thieves in Greece are known to break into rental cars to take passports, valuables and luggage, so it's wise to keep those things with you.

The beaches aren't walkable from Chora, so you'll need the bus, a rental or a boat from Karavostasis. If you stay in Chora without wheels, the bus to Agali Beach takes around 15 minutes.