Everything you need to know about taking the Ios to Santorini ferry. Includes travel information on tickets and schedules for the Ios Santorini route.
How to get from Ios to Santorini? How much does the ferry cost and how long does it take?
Ferries from Ios to Santorini
The Ios to Santorini ferry route is popular during the summer with visitors who want to travel around the Cyclades islands in Greece. As the two islands are close together, the journey time is short, and there are plenty of options.
To look at schedules and book tickets I recommend Ferryhopper. It's a great place to plan the logistics for your Greek island hopping adventures.
Travel Tip: If you are trying to plan and book ferry tickets for the Ios – Santorini route online months in advance, you should be aware that schedules may not yet be available.
I would suggest using openseas.gr in order to see what ferries were running on your desired dates in the previous year. This will give you an indication as to the expected availability when the schedules get online.
Also read: Best things to do in Ios, Greece
Ios Santorini Ferry Times
On some days during the peak tourist season in Greece, there can be 4 or five daily direct ferries from Ios to Santorini.
Depending on the type of ferry, the time it takes to get from Ios to Santorini can be very quick indeed. For example, in 2020 SeaJets operated the WORLDCHAMPION JET which took only 20 minutes to complete the Ios – Santorini route.
You should be aware that the quicker boats between the Greek islands also tend to be the most expensive option of course.
During the winter, the ferry service between Ios island and Santorini gets reduced to just 1 direct ferry every 2 or 3 days.
Ios to Santorini Ferry Ticket Costs and Information
The cost of a ticket for the ferry from Ios island to Santorini will depend on which boat you decide to take. The quicker ferries can cost anywhere between 40 and 50 Euros. The slower ferries, which can take up to an hour to make the crossing, can cost as little as 12 Euro.
When booking tickets online, you'll need to check if you can use an E-ticket to board the ferry. If you do, you'll end up with a QR code in your email receipt.
On occasion, however, you may be required to pick up a physical ferry ticket from an agent. Your email will have more details.
Ferry Ios Santorini Departure
The ferry to Santorini island from Ios will leave from the main port, which is 2 km away from Ios Chora. It is possible to walk down to the port from the Chora, but you may prefer to take a bus or taxis instead.
Down at the port, there are a selection of tavernas and cafes so you can have a drink or something to eat while you wait for your boat from Ios to Santorini.
It is recommended that passengers arrive at the port an hour before ferry departure.
Arriving in Santorini
All ferries to Santorini currently arrive at the main ferry port. Officially it is called Athinios or the ‘New Port'. You'll probably mostly just see it referred to as Santorini (Thira).
The port in Santorini is located at the bottom of the towering Caldera. It's not really worth the effort of walking out of the port. My suggestion is to get off the ferry as quickly as you can, and then onto one of the waiting buses.
Alternatively, you can pre-book a taxi to wait for you in Santorini port. More here: Welcome Taxis
Santorini Travel Information
If you're planning to spend any time on Santorini, you may find the following guides useful:
FAQ about Travel from Ios to Santorini
Here are some commonly asked questions about how to get from Ios to Santorini in Greece.
Can I fly from Ios to Santorini?
Ios does not currently have an airport, so it is not possible to fly to Santorini from Ios. Instead, you'll need to use the Greek ferry networl and take a boat from Ios to Santorini island.
Can I take a day trip to Santorini from Ios island?
As Santorini is just 40 minutes away from Ios by ferry, it may be possible to take a day trip from Santorini provided that you can get a suitable return boat to Ios in the evening. You'd want to spend at least 6 hours in Santorini in order to make the day trip worthwhile.
What ferry operators run between Ios and Santorini?
It varies from year to year, but typically three or four ferry companies run services between Ios island and Santorini. These include SeaJets, Blue Star Ferries, and Zante ferries.
For up to date information on ferry operators on the Ios Santorini route check Ferryhopper.
Ferry Ios to Santorini
If you found these insights on taking the Ios to Santorini ferries useful, please share it on social media. If you have any questions, leave them at the bottom of the guide and I'll answer them as soon as I can!
Looking for onward travel options from Santorini? Check out this Santorini island hopping guide.
– Dave BriggsDave is a travel writer originally from the UK, and currently living in Greece. He created this travel blog back in 2005 to record his travel adventures around the world. After moving to Greece he has a somewhat ambitious (perhaps impossible) goal of visiting every Greek island and writing about it.
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