Greece - Korina Miller [613]
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CONNECTIONS
Transport information is always vulnerable to change – nowhere is this truer than in Greece. It’s important to remember that ferry companies and airlines can change routes and timetables faster than a catamaran can zip between the islands. Every year or two, the ferry companies may ‘win’ the contracts for operating different routes; thus, they can change annually. Outside of the summer season, most services are less frequent. Always check online schedules, operators or travel agencies for up-to-the-minute info.
This section includes transport information for specific island chains, such as options for travelling from the mainland and individual islands. Refer to the departure timetables for individual islands and mainland ports (from Click here) to find out how to hop from where you are to your next destination, and then from there to the next destination and so on.
Details on services from individual islands and mainland ports are listed alphabetically in this chapter. References to ‘port’ in the table headings throughout this chapter refer to the port of departure, not the destination port.
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ATHENS
Most people begin their island hopping in Athens, from where it’s an easy trip to the nearby mainland ports of Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio. Countless ferries, catamarans and hydrofoils set sail from these ports to many of the island groups. If you’re beginning your journey from Athens, Click here for the detailed tables on departures to the various islands. For more general information on Athens, Click here.
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CRETE
As one of Greece’s major destinations, Crete is very well connected by boat and air with the rest of the country and even with some international airports/destinations. Given the size and wealth of the island, it’s no surprise that some of the biggest transport companies (such as the maritime Minoan Lines and Aegean Airlines) were founded by Cretan businessmen. For more general information on this region Click here.
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CYCLADES
Olympic Air provides regular flights between Athens and the Cyclades. Large high-speed boats and catamarans are a regular feature on Cyclades’ routes from about mid-June to mid-September. Their travel times are usually half those of regular ferries. Ferry routes separate the Cyclades into western, northern, central and eastern subgroups. Most ferry services operating within the Cyclades connect one of these subgroups with the ports of Piraeus, Lavrio or Rafina on the mainland. The eastern Cyclades (Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Ios and Santorini) are the most visited and have the best ferry links with the mainland, usually to Piraeus.
The small islands south of Naxos – Iraklia, Schinousa and Koufonisia – make up the main grouping known as the Little Cyclades.
For more general information on this region Click here.
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DODECANESE
There are regular direct flights between many of the Dodecanese and Athens, along with flights between some of the larger islands in this group. Overnight ferries between Piraeus and Rhodes stop at many of the Dodecanese en route, albeit at some fairly antisocial hours. Within the Dodecanese are a vast array of high-speed catamarans and older clunkers, calling in at the majority of the island group.
For more general information on this region Click here.
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EVIA & THE SPORADES
Skiathos and Skyros airports handle domestic flights from Athens (as well as occasional charter flights from Oslo and Amsterdam).
From Athens’ Terminal B station Click here there are buses departing to Halkida and Paralia Kymis, for Skyros; and to Agios Konstantinos, for the Sporades. From Athens’ Mavromateon terminal Click here, there are frequent buses to Rafina, for Evia.
There are daily ferries to the Sporades from both Agios Konstantinos and Volos, and weekly ferries from Thessaloniki to the Sporades,