Overall1.4/10Among the 5% hardest cities to reach
Good to know
Good to Know
- Ios has no airport—all visitors arrive by ferry from Athens, neighboring islands, or other Greek ports.
- High-speed ferries are faster but smaller, more expensive, and can be affected by weather; conventional ferries are slower but larger with outdoor deck access and allow vehicles.
- Book ferry tickets 2-3 months in advance during high season (June to mid-September), as Ios is a popular destination and tickets sell out quickly.
- Arrive at the ferry port at least 1 hour before departure. In summer, Piraeus port gets very crowded.
- Weather can cause delays, especially in July and August (strong winds are common). Check schedules before heading to the port.
- Ferry luggage policies are flexible (typically 40 kg or 0.5 cubic meters per passenger). Store large suitcases in designated areas onboard.
- Santorini-to-Ios is the fastest alternative route (35-90 minutes) if you're pressed for time, with Santorini having its own international airport.
- Children typically travel at half-price on ferries; infants and toddlers (under 4 years) travel free of charge on most routes.
- X96 Athens airport bus to Piraeus is the most affordable ground transport from Athens International Airport (€6). Validate your ticket in the yellow box on boarding.
Port Details
iOS Port
- Name
- Gialos (Port of Ios)
- Location
- Yialos area, 2 km from Ios Town (Chora)
- Accessibility
- 6-minute drive from island capital
Primary Routes
Athens (Piraeus) to Ios
- Ticket Price Max
- €85
- Ticket Price Range
- €24
- Duration High Speed
- ~4-5 hours
- Frequency Low Season
- 1 ferry daily
- Duration Conventional
- 7-11 hours
- Frequency High Season
- 2-5 daily connections May-September; nearly daily year-round
- Notes
- High-speed ferries are more expensive and smaller; conventional ferries allow vehicles and have outdoor deck space. Cabin tickets start around €92 (~$105 USD).
~4-5 Hours
- Route Name
- Athens (Rafina) to Ios
- Frequency Low Season
- Seasonal only
- Frequency High Season
- 1 daily June-September
- Note
- Closer to Athens International Airport; smaller port than Piraeus
~7-12 Hours
- Frequency
- 1 weekly throughout year
- Route Name
- Athens (Lavrio) to Ios
- Note
- Southernmost port of Attica; least frequent option
35-90 Minutes
- Frequency
- Multiple daily connections
- Route Name
- Santorini to Ios
- Note
- Most popular alternative; Santorini has an international airport. Allows same-day arrival.
~2 Hours
- Frequency
- Daily connections
- Route Name
- Mykonos to Ios
- Note
- Mykonos has an international airport
45 Minutes to 2 Hours
- Frequency
- Daily connections
- Route Name
- Naxos to Ios
1.5-3 Hours
- Frequency
- Daily connections
- Route Name
- Paros to Ios
Crete has an international airport
- Frequency
- Multiple connections available
- Route Name
- Crete (Heraklion) to Ios
Local Ground Transport iOS
Additional routes run 11:00-23:00 once per hour
- Hours
- 08:00-24:00, every 20 minutes (peak hours)
- Option
- Local buses
- Routes
- Port-Chora, Port-Mylopotas Beach, Maganari Beach, St. Theodoti Beach
Taxi
- To
- €8.00
- Stations
- Chora central bus station and Yialos port
- Approximate Cost Port To Chora
- €5.00
Hotel transfers
- Note
- Most hotels offer minibus transfer service from port (contact hotel to confirm)
Onboard Accommodation Ferry
Economy Deck/seats
- Description
- First-come-first-served seating on deck or in lounges; no assigned seat
Airplane-style Numbered Seats
- Price Range
- €50
- Description
- Standard comfort seats in indoor lounges
Business/VIP Seats
- Price To
- €138
- Price From
- €60
- Note
- Only available on certain high-speed ferries
Cabins (Conventional Ferries Only)
- Options
- 1-, 2-, 3-, or 4-bed; shared cabins available
- Price From
- €92
From Athens Airport To Ferry
1-1.5 Hours
- Cost
- €6.00
- Option
- Bus X96 (Athens Airport to Piraeus Port)
- Frequency
- Every 20-30 minutes (24/7)
- Note
- Cleanest, air-conditioned, and fastest option
Train station connected to airport
- Option
- Metro from airport to city center, then to Piraeus
Alternative for reaching Rafina port (closer to airport)
- Option
- KTEL bus to Rafina Port
- Frequency
- ~Every 1 hour
More expensive than public transport
- Option
- Taxi
From Mykonos Airport To Ferry
Taxi or local transport to port
- Distance
- ~3 km from airport
- Note
- Two ports available: Old Port (400m from town) and New Port (2 km north)
From Santorini Airport To Ferry
Taxi or bus to Santorini port
- Distance
- ~3 km from airport
- Note
- Some hotels offer pickup/drop-off to port for additional fee
Airport
- Detail
- Ios has no airport. All travel to the island is by ferry only.
- Status
- No airport
Ferry Operators
Ferry Operators
- Blue Star Ferries (conventional)
- Seajets (high-speed)
- Golden Star Ferries (high-speed)
- Fast Ferries (conventional)
- Zante Ferries
- Minoan Lines
Ios is well-connected by ferry to Athens and other Greek islands.
Vehicle Transport
- Cars Allowed
- Yes
- Bicycles Allowed
- Usually free of charge
- Motorcycles Allowed
- Yes
- Car Vehicle Fee Range
- €18
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Ios
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.