last edited Dec 11, 2019
Getting Around the Greek Islands
Location Map of Greek Islands
Greek Islands
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Getting Around the Islands
Car, Camper Van
There’s no point bringing your own vehicle on ferries from mainland Greece if you’re only staying a few days in the archipelago. However, renting one can be marginally useful on relatively large islands like Rhodes.
Buses
Two Wheels
Motorcycle:
Bicycle:
Hitchhiking
Which Transport to Choose?
Except on the very largest islands (and even then), a car is far from essential. Buses or renting a bicycle or scooter are better options for exploring.
Inter-Island Transport
By Ferry
With over a hundred routes, more than ten companies, and 75 ports, Greece has one of the world’s most extensive internal ferry networks. Almost every inhabited—and certainly every tourist—island has at least one regular connection, at minimum linking you to a busier port and from there to other islands or Mainland Greece, starting with Athens’ port, Piraeus.
By Plane
While Greece’s domestic air network is extensive (all local airlines operate domestic flights), not all inter-island routes are direct, even in summer when options increase. Outside major routes—especially when traveling between islands—many flights require a connection at airline hubs like Athens (Aegean, Olympic), Crete (Minoan, Sky), Rhodes (Olympic), or Thessaloniki (Astra, Ellinair, with Aegean as a secondary option). Beyond Athens, Thessaloniki, and Crete—which have the "best" connections—the most well-served cities/islands, particularly in summer, are Chios, Corfu, Kos, Mykonos, Rhodes, and occasionally Santorini.
What to Choose?
While flying makes sense for mainland-to-island routes where options are plentiful, ferries are generally the better choice for island-hopping. Often, there simply aren’t other options, especially off-season. Additionally, except on a few high-demand routes where flights and ferries compete at similar prices, ferries are usually cheaper. As for travel time, some crossings are served by fast hydrofoils, significantly cutting time spent at sea.