Greece-how much actual time should I plan for ferry transfers?
 

My husband and I will be in Santorini early June 08 for 4-5 nights and then want to go onto another island or two. I can see most of the different ferry times online, but I'm looking to get a realistic amount of time to expect getting to the ferry, waiting in lines, waiting for luggage to be off-loaded, getting to next hotel, etc. Just how much of my day will likely get eaten up getting from one island hotel to the next hotel.

Also, if I choose to go to Naxos, is a ferry the only way back to Athens? I would prefer a flight back to Athens at the end of my trip, but it seems that limits my island choices?

If you have your tickets in hand you don't need to show up at the ferry port until just before departure. Buy your tickets as you go in a travel agency on the island. I buy mine at Pelican Travel in Fira or Karvounis Tours in Oia.

How much time for transfers depends on a lot of variables which no one but you can provide: distance between islands, type of ferry boat (highspeed or 'regular'), distance from hotel to port and method of transportation (taxi or bus).

If you're going to Naxos after Santorini the trip takes 2 hours by regular ferry.

It's true not every island has an airport. From Paros or Naxos there is a flight on Olympic Airlines but it's a small plane and only once each day, so book asap.

Thank you so much. Good to know I don't have to get to the ferry early if I have my ticket. That sounds like something we can do to save time.

I had looked into Agean airlines but hadn't looked at Olympic, that might give me more options.

Thanks!

The luggage isn't exactly "off-loaded." You grab it out of a pile and take it off yourself.

Realistically, you have to allow at least half a day overall to transfer from one Cycladic island to another.

It's best to arrive at the ferry port at least half an hour before departure, but if you have your ticket in hand, you can board right up until they raise the ramp a minute or two before the ferry embarks.

You leave your luggage on the car deck or in racks near the boarding ramp. As the ferry nears port, passengers move back to the exit, grab their bags, and get off as soon as the ramp is lowered. You will have to make your way down the dock to the area where taxis and hotel vans are parked. If your hotel knows you are arriving on that ferry, they may have a van waiting for you, and will be holding up a sign with the name of the hotel.

Naxos has one flight each day with Olympic Airlines. Aegean doesn't fly to that island.

Thank you so much for the wonderful details!

Heimdall is correct about the time it takes to ferry from one island to the next.
We were really surprised to discover that even the short one hour ferry ride from Naxos to Paros eats up a good half day, by the time you check out of your hotel get to the port wait for the ferry and then find and check into a new hotel at the next stop.
That is one reason so many of us here recommend minimizing the number of islands and really taking time to explore each island you choose to visit.
Another good idea is a combination of Islands on the same ferry route such as Santorini Naxos Athens.

lovey,
if you want to get a flight back from Naxos to Athens in Early june, you had better try to book it now. That olympic plane only holds about 40-50 people... and if you were planning on going back on a sunday afternoon it may be full alread.

The daily flight is about 1 pm, takes 45-50 minutes -- Of course u have to be there 1 hr before flite .. and even if the Metro is running it takes 45 minutes to get to Syntagma etc etc. so it eats up a half-day anyway.

Thanks travelerjan, you make a good point about getting my flights all nailed down quickly.

I'm being very indecisive about which island and how much time to spend there! As suggested by a number of people, I am leaving Athens for the end of my trip. We fly home to LA at 7pm on a Tuesday so we won’t have too much rushing around on our last day there. But besides trying to decide which island to go to other than Santorini, I'm trying to decide just how much time we'll really want in Athens. I have read many posts that say a day or two is all that is needed but even that is difficult for me to decide on. On previous trips, I spend most of my time outside of the bigger cities, although I love visiting New York City, LOVED Paris, enjoyed the whole French Riviera area, thoroughly enjoyed Venice, and thought Munich was charming. However, sad to say I didn't love Rome. Is Athens anything like Rome?