Tips for tackling the infamous Greek Island ferry system
As there is no airport on the island of Ios, the only way to get there is by braving the Greek Island ferries.
And with millions of tourists visiting the Greek Islands every year, catching the ferry is not the faint-hearted.
But don’t worry, I have you covered with all the best tips and tricks to navigate the wonderfully chaotic and unpredictable world of Greek Island ferries.
Ios ferry companies
Several ferry companies run in the Aegean Sea but you will most likely be onboard a Blue Star Ferries or SeaJets.
Should you fly to Santorini, Athens or Mykonos?
Where you board the ferry will depend on which destinations you’d like to visit first and how long you want to spend at sea.
The quickest way to get to Ios is from Santorini – you can fly into Santorini airport and catch the ferry to Ios in about 1.5 hours.
Or if you’d prefer to hit up two party destinations in one trip, you can fly into Mykonos and catch the ferry to Ios in around 2 hours.
Your third option, if you’d like to visit the capital of Greece first, catch the ferry from Athens Piraeus port to Ios in about 4-5 hours.
The faster the boat is, the more expensive your ticket will be.
My advice: Unless you can line up your flight and ferry times with 4-5 hours in between I would suggest staying a night somewhere then getting your ferry to Ios.
Delays can and do happen in the beautiful Greek Islands, and the airports in Mykonos and Santorini are about a 30-minute drive from the ferry port.
How do I book my ferry to Ios?
The easiest way to secure a spot on the ferry is to book online. My favourite websites are:
My advice: I recommend booking in advance to secure a spot. The boats however are usually huge and packed with tourists in summer so I’ve never really seen any sell out.
With some companies, you can book an assigned seat, but most are just first on best dressed.
How early do I need to arrive for my ferry?
Do I need to check in for my ferry?
I recommend arriving at the ferry port at least 30 minutes ahead of schedule. If you’re a bit stressed about the process, my best tip is to head to a cafe with a view of the gates an hour before departure.
That way you can order some snacks and keep a watchful eye on the incoming boats. If you didn’t check in online you will need time to go to the check-in office and get your ticket. In Ios, the office is about 200m from the ferry gates just near Peri Anemon cafe.
If you’re in Ios I love the brunch/food at Thai Me Up (it goes from brunch at 3pm to Thai food afterwards, so you’re in for a treat either way). And it has a perfect incoming ferry viewing spot!
How do I know if my ferry is on time?
I’ve got a secret tip for anyone heading on a Greek Island ferry! Make sure you save this website https://www.ferriesingreece.com/live-boat-traffic/, it tracks all the ferries around Greece and can tell you if they are delayed or changed etc.
Where does my luggage go when I get on?
As you stand in the 30-degree heat waiting to board your ferry with 300 other travellers you might be thinking what the f*ck are we going to do with all our bags. And it’s a valid concern!
Essentially each ferry has a storage area for bags and cars and sometimes even container trucks. When you all board (all 300 of you, at the same time) you’ll enter through this storage area.
You leave your bigger suitcases here and take smaller bags with you – make sure you remember where you put them!
Exiting the ferry is the same process in reverse, head downstairs, push through the crowd to your bags and then you all disembark at the same time
How do I know when to get off?
With most announcements in Greek or muffled on a loud speaker, my best tip is to check the order of stops and try not to fall asleep!
I have known one too many people to sleep though their stop and end up in Athens rather than Santorini. If you’re concerned, ask around and follow someone you know going to your stop.
Will I get seasick?
The Aegean Sea can get pretty rough during the summer so if you’re worried I would recommend picking up a sea sickness tablet just in case. And try and sit outside if you can.
How do I get from the Ios port to my accomodation?
Once you arrive, if you’ve got suitcases I would recommend either catching the bus or calling a Taxi.
The local Taxi number is +306977760570, just remember you will need international calls and there are only 6 Taxi’s on the whole island, so you might be waiting a while.
Otherwise the local bus system in Ios is fairly easy to navigate, just walk to the bus stop and look at the timetable.
In peak season they come every 10-20 minutes. They stop at both Chora (Ios town) and Mylopotas beach depending where you are staying.
Remember: you will need coins/cash to get on the bus – in 2023 the price was €1.60.
Also if you are staying at Far Out or Hermes they have transfer services available, you just need to organise this with them beforehand.