You can either fly from Athens Airport to Syros or take one of 6 daily direct ferries between Athens (Piraeus Port) and Syros. This guide shows you the best routes and options for traveling between Athens and Syros in Greece.
Syros island in Greece
Syros is the capital and administrative centre of the Cyclades. Its unique neoclassical architecture and cosmopolitan feel make it completely stand out from the other islands nearby.
Ermoupoli, the main town, has an almost proper city feel to it, and will not remind you of any of the other Cyclades. With the majestic municipality building, the impressive churches and even a university, it’s no wonder that Syros has been named the Queen of the Cyclades.
How to get from Athens to Syros
As the capital of the Cyclades islands of Greece, Syros is one of the better connected Greek islands. Syros is also one of the few Greek islands with an airport.
If you want to fly from Athens to Syros, Sky Express operate regular services. Depending on the season and demand, there may also be additional flights from Athens to Syros on Olympic Air, and Aegean Air.
The Athens Syros flight time is just half an hour, which may at first glance appear to be quicker than the ferries. After you've taken into consideration travel time to the airport, time to check in and then pick up luggage once landed, there might not be much in it.
Take a look at Skyscanner to get an ideal of travel times and flight availability.
Most visitors to Greece will find it easier to take a ferry from Athens to Syros instead.
Taking a ferry from Athens to Syros
As the capital of the Cyclades, you can expect to be able to choose from many Syros ferries leaving from Athens. During the summer tourist season, there are around 6 ferries per day sailing from Athens to Syros.
The Athens Syros ferry services run from three different ports in Athens:
Piraeus Port – There are Piraeus to Syros ferries leaving throughout the year. The quickest journey using SeaJets takes just over 2 hours. The slower boats such as the Blue Star Ferries take around 3 hours and 30 minutes. The majority of ferries leave from here.
Lavrion Port – Additional ferries to Syros leave from Lavrion Port in Athens during the high season. These ferries can be cheaper, but they are also slower at nearly five hours journey time from Lavrion to Syros.
Rafina Port: You may also find a few ferries leaving from Rafina that sail to Syros. Rafina is my favourite port as it is less chaotic than Piraeus.
Piraeus Syros Ferry Route
Most people looking to travel from Athens to Syros will find the Piraeus to Syros ferry trip to be the most convenient. During the summer season, there can be as many as 6 ferries a day leaving from Piraeus to Athens.
As mentioned, the SeaJets boat is normally the fastest crossing, but it is also the most expensive. You can expect ticket prices to be around 50.00 Euros.
If you're looking for cheap ferry tickets, Blue Star Ferries might be a better choice. If you are flexible with your travel dates, you might be able to get tickets for 28.00 Euro.
The best place to look at an up to date ferry schedules, and to book online is as Ferryhopper.
Syros Island Travel Tips
Make your Syros trip planning a little easier with these insights:
- Looking for accommodation on the island? Take a look at my guide: Best Hotels Syros
- For Syros ferry tickets, and to check out a ferry schedule look at the Ferryhopper website. If you're taking a vacation during the high season, I suggest booking your tickets a month or two in advance.
- Try to arrive at your departure ferry port an hour before your ship's departure time.
- Use Welcome to organizes taxi drop-offs and pick-ups at ferry ports in Greece
- Be sure to read my guides on Greek Island Hopping!
What to see in Syros Greece
Some of the highlights of Syros you'll want to experience include:
- Walk around Ermoupoli
- Explore the neoclassical buildings in Ermoupoli, such as the Municipality and the Apollo Theatre
- Visit the interesting archaeological museum
- Walk around Ano Syros (Upper Syros) and explore the small local museums
- Go round the island’s numerous churches, both Orthodox and Catholic
- Watch the sunset from Delfini beach
I've a full travel guide you might want to read as you plan an itinerary here: Things to do in Syros Greece
FAQ About Traveling To Syros
People planning to travel between Athens and Syros ask similar questions such as:
How do you get to Syros Greece?
The most common way for people to travel from Athens to Syros is by ferry, and the quickest ferry trip takes just two hours and 5 minutes. Flying is also an option, as there are local flights between Athens airport and the Syros island airport.
How do I get from Athens Airport to Syros?
It is possible to get a direct flight from Athens Airport to Syros Airport, and the flight time is approximately half an hour. If you prefer to take a ferry crossing, you'll need to get from Athens Airport to the main port in Piraeus.
Where does the Syros ferry leave from in Athens?
Most of the ferries to Syros leave from Piraeus Port in Athens. During the summer, you may also find ferries leaving from the two other smaller Athens ports of Rafina and Lavrion.
How long is the ferry from Athens to Syros?
The quickest ferries from Piraeus to Syros take 2 hours, with regular ferries taking 3 hours and 30 minutes. The journey time from Lavrion Port to Syros is longer at nearly five hours.
Is Syros a nice island?
Syros is different to many of the other Cyclades islands. It's main town has some amazing neoclassical buildings, and there are marble buildings, squares, and, a feeling of elegance. Syros has an almost regal atmosphere to it, and is known as the Queen of the Cyclades. Syros is a nice island to visit, but its beaches are lacking somewhat when compared to other nearby islands.
What is the closest island to Syros?
The closest island to Syros is Tinos. Other nearby islands popular Greek islands include Mykonos, Andros, and Kythnos.
How do I buy ferry tickets for Syros?
In order to look at ferry schedules, prices, and to easily book tickets for a ferry from Athens to Syros online, I suggest using the Ferryhopper site. It's very easy to navigate, and takes the hassle out of Athens Syros travel planning.
Traveling from Santorini and want to go to Syros? Read my guide: Traveling from Santorini to Syros.
The Piraeus Syros ferry route is the most popular way to travel to Syros. The quickest ferry from Athens to Syros is 2 hours 10 minutes, with up to 15 ferries in operation during the summer.
Whether you're flying into Athens airport or taking one of many available ferries from Piraeus port (or alternatives such as Lavrion), there will be frequent connections through all year round.
If you have any questions about how to get from Athens to Syros, drop a comment below, and I'll do my best to answer!
– Dave Briggs
Dave is a travel writer who's been living in Athens for the last six years. In addition to writing this guide on how to get to Syros island from Athens, he's created hundreds which you can find here on Dave's Travel Pages. He hasn't visited every single Greek island yet, but he's working on it!
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