How to Get to Ios: Flights, Ferries and Boats

There is no airport on the island of Ios, so the only possibility is to get there by sea. Nevertheless, it is quite easy to get to Ios: there are several solutions, including some that allow you to arrive at your destination within the day, without having to stay overnight while waiting for the ferry.

Which one you choose depends a little on your preferences. Let’s take a look at them one by one, with pros and cons: the fastest, the cheapest and a third that is a bit in between.

Flight to Santorini + ferry to Ios

The nearest international airport to Ios is on the island of Santorini, which is connected by direct flights of low-cost airlines in the summer months.

From the island of Santorini you can take a hydrofoil and arrive in Ios in only 40 minutes. Hydrofoils depart daily, with about 10 trips per day. Flying to Santorini + hydrofoil is by far the fastest way to get to Ios, but unfortunately often also the most expensive, unless there are offers.

Ferries between Santorini and Ios save money but are slower, and depending on the time of year there may not be daily runs.

Flight to Athens + ferry to Ios

Another option to get to Ios is to take a flight to Athens, travel to the port of Piraeus or Rafina and from there take a ferry to Ios.

The advantage of this solution is that there is a greater choice of flights to Athens and therefore more chance of finding a cheap one. The disadvantage is that the sea crossing from Athens to Ios is rather long: 4 to 9 hours depending on the company and ship chosen.

Keep in mind that the port of Rafina is closer to the airport than the port of Piraeus and can be easily reached by bus. The port of Piraeus can be reached by metro, suburban train, or express bus: calculate at least one hour for the journey.

Flight to Mykonos + ferry to Ios

The solution of a flight to Mykonos and a ferry to Ios allows you to shorten your journey time compared to Athens: from this island, fast hydrofoils leave daily and will take you to Ios in about two hours, with fairly frequent trips (about 10 per day).

The disadvantage of this solution is that hydrofoils from Mykonos to Ios are rather expensive, but it is still an option to be considered.

Ferries to Ios from Greece

Below is a list of all the hydrofoil and ferry routes to Ios: from the busiest and fastest, such as Santorini-Ios or Mykonos-Ios, to the more distant connections such as Athens or Andros.