Greek Experts - Some ferry booking questions
 

Hi all you seasoned Greek Island travellers
I know it's too early to book yet but I am looking at travelling from Samos to Mykonos to Paros to Sifnos next northern spring. Which are the best websites to book on as there seems to be so many that do not come up with any schedules at all?
Any other info gratefully received. Times/ferry lines etc. Thanks

Hi golfernz,

The websites I use for checking ferry timetables are www.gtp.gr and www.openseas.gr. Of the many times I have been to Greece and travelled on ferries, I've only pre booked once, and that proved unnecessary. I'm not sure what time in the spring you are travelling, but unless it is in the period around Greek Easter (May 5th in 2013) you can just buy your tickets when you get to Greece, preferably on the islands as you go along. I wouldn't say that if you were travelling in high season, but normally the ferries aren't full in the spring, with the exception I have noted.

Now, you have chosen a complicated, but possible, route to travel. A few years ago ferries from Samos en route to Piraeus stopped at Mykonos, but not anymore. Now you will have to get off at Syros and transfer to another ferry to Mykonos. Depending upon timing of ferries, you may have to spend a night on Syros for the transfer. Of course things could change between now and next spring, so you will have to check the ferry schedules closer to the date of travel.

Inexplicably for two islands so close together (you can see Sifnos clearly on the horizon from Paros), ferries between the two are only twice per week, on Tuesdays and Sundays. This is a year-round route served by NEL Ferries, and has stayed the same for many years. I don't see any changes for 2013.

With a little flexibility you have a good itinerary. A short stopover on Syros might be an advantage, as it has a beautiful main town, Ermoupoli. :-)

I have used greekferries.gr and ferries.gr and gtp.gr to book tickets. I know, as Heimdall says, you don't need to do this. It does cost more but I travel in the summer and am a worrywart about connections enroute. Next summer I think I'll just go and buy at the airport desk as many of the non-worrywart experts recommend.

Hi parosblue,

You've been to Greece many times, so know the ropes, but here are a few caveats for others: Ferries are almost never full except during high season and around Greek holiday weekends. Ferries are busiest going out to the islands on Fridays & Saturday AM, and busiest coming back to the mainland on Sundays and Mondays.

My practice is to buy tickets to the islands when I get to Athens, and buy ongoing or return tickets when I get to the islands. This has always worked for me, but I have nearly been caught out a couple of times when I waited until a couple of days before travel to buy my return tickets. Once was returning to the mainland on Pentecost Monday, and another on a Sunday in early September when many families were returning home for the start of the school year. Even then I was able to get tickets, but not on the ferry I intended to use.

Pentecost is 50 days after Easter, so in 2013 it will fall in late June. That is one time I would prebook my ferry tickets, especially if traveling out at the beginning of the weekend or returning at the end. :-)

Thanks for your helpful replies. I did wonder about Syros, I have called in there on the way to Mykonos before but not stayed there. I may have to rethink my itinerary. So Heimdall and Parosblue if you were planning on say four islands in total which would they be and in what order? I have to include Samos as I'm interested in seeing it but also plan to go to Kusadasi as well. Not Santorini or Crete as I have already stayed on both, just looking for somewhere new and love the Cyclades.

Hi golfernz1,

I think you have picked some good islands, and if you can work with the ferry timetables should be able to see them. I can't work out when, exactly, you are travelling next spring, and that makes a difference re the ferries.

Like you, I have called into Syros on the way to Mykonos, but not actually stayed on the island. It would be a good choice for early spring, as it is a working island rather than just a tourist destination. It would have more things open preseason and give you a better taste of traditional Greece than some others. Syros is also the home port for a couple of ferries that call in at many of the Cyclades islands.

Paros and it's little sister Antiparos are my favourite islands, so I would recommend keeping Paros in your itinerary. It's also a good launching point for Sifnos with the twice per week ferry. Do take time to visit Antiparos, which is only 30 minutes by bus/ferry from Parikia.

For other islands consider Naxos, only an hour from Paros. If you are on Naxos you can also catch Express Skopelitis or Blue Star to Koufonisi and Amorgos. I haven't been to Amorgos yet, but it has many fans, and was the location for the French film "The Big Blue". Koufonisi is very quiet off season, but has some great beaches. :-)

Thanks so much Heimdall, I'll work around those and see what happens. Think I would also be best to just buy the tickets on arrival. Amorgos is also the birthplace of the Greek poet and lyricist, Nikos Gatsos. It's also been on my list before and looks very appealing. I was thinking June but if that does not pan out then September.

Golfernz1
I am impressed that you know Nikos Gatsos, one of the biggest poets and lycists of Greece- as you mentioned.....
Amorgos is avery nice island, i am sure you will like....
It was one of the first islands that i visited as a student... and i fell in love with :) ( that was quite some time ago....)

Thank you Clausar, I'm going to include Amorgos on my list as Heimdall mentioned, it seems a little easier to get to than one or two others and I have looked at it on the internet many times.

Hi Clausar

I should also have mentioned my favourite Greek song is Aspri Mera, lyrics by Nikos Gatsos.

golfernz1
Aspri Mera was the song my mother used to sing to me when i was a baby.....
For those who are curious here is a you tube link :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilimx4tkK_4

and here is another song from Manos Hadjidakis with lyrics of Nikos Gatsos, one of the nicest and most popular Greek songs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUHkBUNi-UQ

Hope you will like it :)

Hi Clausar

Yes, Manos Hadjidakis was a genius composer, not only for the music with lyrics but just the instrumental music he wrote as well. Do you live in Greece?

Hi Clausar

Oh yes, of course, Hartino to Fengaraki, Nana Mouskouri's most famous Greek song and this version is beautiful, sung with great emotion as only Nana can do. I have seen her sing it a number of times on stage. Hearing it again I have a big lump in my throat, so many lovely memories of Nana's concerts.
Thank you for the link.

Hello golfernz1


Yes , i live in Athens :)

I have been to Greece many times and never prebooked the ferry. I usually travel in May and buy the ticket before boarding in Pireus. I loved my trip to Amorgos and want to go back. I based myself in Aegialis because it was off season and quiet. Where else can you stand on your balcony and watch the local donkeys eating the flowers of the hotel next door.

Hi Chania

Sounds like my idea of a gorgeous place to go to, thanks for that. Which island did you come from to reach Amorgos?

I was in Sifnos in June. Because of the limited ferry schedule getting, we had to plan our entire itinerary around it. It was very worth it! Sifnos was our favorite island.

When planning, the schedules weren't out yet, so I ordered a book that had all the Greek ferry schedules; if interested, I can check the name of the book once I get home tonight. It simplified the planning process.

HI Jackie

Thanks for that. I'm interested that you enjoyed Sifnos the best, was that because it was less touristy?

I loved the mountains, the views from mountains, the walks, and interesting sites within short distance of one another. Then, there was a really neat beach club where we hung out (Lazarus??) and the hotel we stayed at was fantastic (Nieredes). I just felt really relaxed and at home on that island. (We were on Antiparos, Naxos, and Sifnos.)