Ferry or Fly? How Should You Travel Between the Greek Islands?

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One of the questions that comes up ALL the time when I’m planning a Greek island-hopping trip is whether it makes more sense to fly or take the ferry between destinations. And, annoyingly, my answer is...it depends! I know. Super helpful.

But, there really isn’t one rule I follow for every trip. The islands you’re visiting, the time of year, the available ferry routes, and even where you’re staying on a particular island can completely change my answer. There are some routes where I would almost always choose the ferry, and others where I would MUCH rather put you on a plane.

When I Usually Fly: To or From Athens

My general preference: If a convenient flight exists, I usually look at flying first.

If you’re traveling between Athens and one of the Cyclades islands, one of the biggest considerations is simply TIME. Depending on the island and ferry you choose, traveling by ferry can take up a pretty significant chunk of your day, while a flight can get you there MUCH faster.

You also have to consider the Aegean Sea itself. Greece experiences seasonal winds called the meltemi during the summer, which can sometimes make for a pretty rough day out on the water. If I can put you on a relatively short flight instead of having you spend several hours on a ferry, especially on a potentially choppy day, I’m probably going to look pretty seriously at that flight!

That does NOT mean I automatically fly every client between Athens and the islands because the actual route, schedules, cost, and timing still matter. But, “we’re going to the Greek islands, so obviously we should take a ferry” is definitely not a rule I follow.

When I Usually Ferry: Island to Island

My general preference: If two islands have an easy direct ferry connection, I’m probably putting you on the ferry.

Once you’re actually IN the Cyclades, my answer often changes! If you’re traveling between islands with convenient ferry connections, taking the ferry can be SO much easier than trying to fly. Paros to Naxos is a great example, and Santorini to Paros is another. These islands have established ferry connections, and during the busier travel season, there can be multiple crossings available in a day.

Flying between islands is where things can get a little ridiculous. Direct flights between individual Greek islands are pretty limited, so flying from one island to another can mean connecting through Athens first. If I can put you on one ferry from Paros to Naxos instead of flying you from Paros to Athens and then Athens to Naxos...we’re taking the ferry. 😂

Crete Can Change the Equation

With Crete, WHERE you’re staying matters just as much as where you’re going next.

Crete is where this gets even MORE nuanced. There ARE ferries connecting Crete with islands in the Cyclades, so I wouldn’t tell you to automatically fly, but I’m paying very close attention to the ferry schedule, travel time, AND where you’re actually staying on Crete before I make that decision.

Crete is a BIG island, so your location matters! Most of the ferry connections to the Cyclades depart from Heraklion. Chania does have its own ferry port, but there are far fewer ferry connections from there. If you’re staying in Chania, taking a ferry from Heraklion means you first have to get across the island just to reach the port.

Chania also has its own airport, so depending on where you’re going next, flying through Athens may actually make more sense than adding a long ground transfer AND a ferry ride to your travel day.

This is a perfect example of why looking at a map and thinking, “Crete is right below the Cyclades, so we’ll just take the ferry!” doesn’t necessarily tell you how easy that route will actually be.

The Time of Year Matters Too!

The route I recommend in July may not be the route I recommend in October.

You can give me the EXACT same islands and get a different recommendation depending on when you’re traveling. During peak season, ferry schedules are much more robust, which gives us more options for getting between the popular islands. Travel during the off-season, though, and those options can shrink considerably. A ferry route that works beautifully during the summer may run much less frequently or not operate at all during another part of the year.

This is also where the order of your islands becomes REALLY important. I don’t want to choose three islands, book all of your hotels, and THEN discover that getting from Island #2 to Island #3 requires an inconvenient connection through Athens. Transportation needs to be part of the itinerary strategy from the beginning!

Not All Ferries Are the Same

Once we decide to ferry, I’m looking at the actual ferry options too.

Okay, so we’ve decided a ferry makes sense...but we’re still not done! Now we have to decide WHICH ferry.

When I have the option, I typically prefer a high-speed ferry because it can significantly cut down the amount of time you spend getting from one island to the next. If we have one option that gets you there in a few hours and another that has you sitting on a ferry for half the day, I’m probably looking pretty hard at the faster one.

And, if the sea happens to be particularly choppy that day, I would personally rather spend LESS time out there feeling every wave. 😅 A slower ferry may save you some money, but saving a little money isn’t always worth giving up several more hours of your vacation.

I like using Ferryhopper to compare the available routes, schedules, ferry companies, and travel times before choosing an option.

So...Ferry or Fly?

The answer really can be BOTH!

I may fly you from Athens to your first island, ferry you between the next two, and then decide flying makes more sense again later in the trip.

The important part is figuring this out while you’re building the route, not AFTER you’ve already decided which islands you want to visit and in what order. Two islands can look incredibly close together on a map and still be a pain to combine, while another pairing may have an easy ferry connection that makes the whole trip flow SO much better.

A good Greece itinerary isn’t just about choosing the islands you want to see. It’s about putting them together in a way that actually makes sense to travel!