How to Get to Skiathos: Planes, Ferries and the Easiest Route From Athens

Skiathos has no ferry from Athens, so getting there from the capital comes down to two choices. You can take a short flight from Athens straight to the island's small airport. Or you can travel north by bus or car to a mainland port such as Volos, Agios Konstantinos or Mantoudi on Evia and finish by boat. For a first trip, fly. The ferry makes the better story, but it takes real planning.

How do you get to Skiathos from Athens?

By air, it is one short hop. By land and sea, "ferry from Athens" really means an overland leg to a mainland port and then a boat. The bus and ferry together take about 5.5 to 6 hours. The flight wins on time even after you add the airport waits at both ends.

Flying from Athens

Flights land at Skiathos Airport "Alexandros Papadiamantis" (code JSI), just outside town. Athens has domestic service. In summer, many nonstop flights also arrive from European cities, including Munich, Frankfurt and Vienna, so a connection through one of those hubs lets you skip Athens entirely. Fares change often, and extras such as checked bags raise the price, so check the current fare with the airline before you book.

Then check the airport's hours, because they are short. The terminal opens for only part of the day, and the hours change with the day of the week, so check them on the airport's website before you book and pick a flight that lands well before closing.

Going by bus and ferry

The route through Evia starts at the KTEL Liosion Street bus station in Athens. A bus runs to Kymasi on Evia, and a car ferry crosses from Mantoudi to Skiathos. The classic alternative heads north to Volos, about 186 miles (300 km) from Athens and around three and a half hours by road. Agios Konstantinos is closer, about 75 miles (120 km) and two hours away, but its boats run mainly in summer.

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

• First trip, short vacation: fly. You skip the bus connection, the port transfer and the weather gamble, and you save several hours each way.
• Family with luggage: fly if the bags fit the fare rules, because hauling strollers and suitcases onto a bus and then a boat is a workout. With a rental car, the ferry gets easy. Operators on these routes carry cars, motorbikes and even camper vans for an extra fee, and children usually travel at half price.
• Tight budget: price the whole trip. Add the bus fare or fuel to the port and the ferry ticket, then compare that total with the airfare plus bag fees.
• Flexibility and fun: take the boat. Greek islanders prefer it for its convenience and flexibility, and it slots neatly into island hopping.

Either way, plans can unravel. Weather can change ferry schedules at short notice, especially during the winter months. Transportation strikes in Greece can halt public transportation, taxis, seaports and airports. If you have a hard deadline, such as a flight home from Athens, build in a spare day on either end.

How long is the ferry to Skiathos?

The ferry time depends on where you leave from and which boat you take, since both high-speed and conventional ferries sail to the island.

From Volos

Volos is the dependable choice outside summer, with boats every day all year and at least three a day. The crossing takes about 1.5 to 3 hours, with the high-speed boats at the short end.

From Mantoudi on Evia

The Mantoudi crossing pairs naturally with the bus from Athens, and the quicker boats take just under two hours. Service runs mainly in summer, though some listings show it year-round. Check the dates for your travel period, then confirm again the day before you sail.

From Agios Konstantinos and Thessaloniki

Agios Konstantinos is mostly a summer route, with a daily morning departure and a crossing of about 3.5 hours, so confirm it runs on your dates. Listings for Thessaloniki disagree: some show the route suspended, others show one sailing a week. Make sure it is running before you plan around it.

How do you get to Skiathos from other islands?

Skiathos is one of the Sporades, so it fits easily into island hopping. Boats link it with Skopelos, from the main port as well as from Glossa and Agnontas, and with Alonissos. The Skopelos crossing is short, about 30 minutes to an hour and a half depending on the port. Alonissos takes roughly one to two hours. In summer there are several runs a day, mostly in the morning and afternoon.

How do you book ferries to Skiathos?

Book online ahead of time and compare operators in a single search. Companies on these routes include Aegean Flying Dolphins, Mantoudi Lines, Petroula Ne, Seajets, Saronikos Leve Ferries, Blue Star Ferries and Anes Lines. Timing matters. The big operators publish the new year's schedules by the end of December and the smaller ones between January and March, so a summer plan made in winter deserves a second look in spring. Book early for July and August, when boats can sell out.

If you would rather deal with a person, a travel agency opposite the main entrance of Skiathos Port, at the corner of Papadiamantis Street, sells tickets on the spot and hands over pre-booked ones. In high summer, though, don't count on walk-up seats.

How do you get from the port or airport to your hotel?

Ferries dock at the main port in Chora, the island's capital, a short walk from the center of town. Around the harbor you'll find food, apartments for rent, ATMs and car rental kiosks. The bus depot is a few hundred yards away, and taxis wait at a rank near the port.

The airport sits about 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) east of town, a 10 to 15 minute ride. Many hotels run their own minibus, so call yours and ask before you land. Taxis wait outside the terminal around the clock. An infrequent bus also links the airport with town, and its stop is at the curbside south of the Control Tower building.

From town, buses run along the south coast to Koukounaries, with other lines to Xanemos and the Evangelistria Monastery. In peak season they come every 20 to 30 minutes and can be crowded. You pay on board once you're seated.