Greek islands between Athens and Santorini
Greek islands between Athens and Santorini are islands where the ferry line strings pearls across the Aegean, where you can break a long crossing into swims, sunset dinners and hilltop wanders, and where each stop offers a different shade of blue between the city and the caldera.
They are islands where the journey matters as much as either end, with harbours that welcome you for a night or two, windmills and chapels marking the skyline, and that slow, island-hopping feeling of watching Athens fade behind you and Santorini draw nearer with every crossing.
| Island | Description |
|---|---|
| Paros | Paros is on the core Athens-Santorini corridor with Piraeus-Paros in as little as 2 hr 40 min and ranges from 2 hr 40 min to 5 hr, directly between Athens and Santorini. |
| Naxos | Naxos is on the core corridor with Athens-Naxos 3.5 hr from Piraeus, positioned 90 nautical miles from Piraeus between Athens and Santorini. |
| Ios | Ios is on the core corridor with Athens-Ios 4 hr from Piraeus and Ios-Santorini 35 min, directly between Athens and Santorini on ferry route. |
| Syros | Syros is on the corridor with Piraeus-Syros 2 hr to 4 hr, geographically central between Athens latitude and Santorini. |
| Mykonos | Mykonos has Athens-Mykonos 2.5 hr from Piraeus, directly north of Paros on the Athens-Santorini axis. |
| Milos | Milos is on the western edge of corridor with Piraeus-Milos 2.5 hr to 7.5 hr, geographically between Athens and Santorini via Cyclades. |
| Sifnos | Sifnos lies between Kythnos and Paros on the Piraeus-Santorini ferry network, geographically between Athens and Santorini. |
| Serifos | Serifos lies between Kythnos and Sifnos, between Athens and Santorini with Piraeus corridor positioning. |
| Kea | Kea has Lavrio-Kea 40 min to 1 hr, first Cycladic island south of Athens on the route to Santorini. |
| Kythnos | Kythnos is second island south of Athens after Kea, on the Piraeus-Santorini ferry network between Athens and Santorini. |
| Folegandros | Folegandros is between Milos and Santorini on the southern Cyclades route, directly between Athens and Santorini. |
| Sikinos | Sikinos lies between Ios and Folegandros, directly between Athens and Santorini on the Santorini approach. |
| Santorini | Santorini is the endpoint with Piraeus-Santorini as little as 4 hr 50 min and Athens-Santorini 4 hr, defining the southern bound. |
| Therasia | Therasia is caldera neighbor of Santorini with same latitude 36.4°N, directly between Athens and Santorini as mirror island. |
| Nea Kameni | Nea Kameni is active volcano islet inside Santorini caldera, geographically at the Santorini endpoint between Athens and Santorini. |
| Palea Kameni | Palea Kameni is hot springs islet inside Santorini caldera, at Santorini endpoint between Athens and Santorini. |
| Tinos | Tinos has Piraeus-Tinos 2 hr 25 min to 5 hr 30 min, just north of Mykonos but still between Athens and Santorini latitude corridor. |
| Andros | Andros is north of Tinos but first large Cycladic after Evia, between Athens and Santorini as northern gate to corridor. |
| Delos | Delos lies 2km off Mykonos, between Mykonos and Paros on the Athens-Santorini axis, strong fit due to central Cycladic position. |
| Rineia | Rineia lies off Delos, same central position between Athens and Santorini as Delos. |
| Koufonisi | Also called Ano Koufonisi. Koufonisi lies between Naxos and Amorgos, south of Naxos, between Athens and Santorini on Small Cyclades route. |
| Kato Koufonisi | Kato Koufonisi lies adjacent to Koufonisi, same position between Naxos and Amorgos between Athens and Santorini. |
| Schinoussa | Schinoussa lies between Naxos and Iraklia, between Athens and Santorini on the Naxos-Ios corridor. |
| Irakleia | Irakleia lies between Schinoussa and Ios, directly on Naxos-Ios-Santorini route between Athens and Santorini. |
| Donousa | Donousa lies east of Naxos, between Naxos and Amorgos, between Athens and Santorini as eastern Small Cyclades. |
| Amorgos | Amorgos lies southeast of Naxos, between Naxos and Astypalaia, between Athens and Santorini on eastern edge. |
| Anafi | Anafi lies east of Santorini, 10 nautical miles from Santorini, between Athens and Santorini as eastern Santorini satellite. |
| Astypalaia | Astypalaia lies southeast of Amorgos, between Cyclades and Dodecanese, still between Athens and Santorini longitude. |
Who it suits and why
Best for travellers who want to break up the long Athens to Santorini trip with swims not just a ferry seat. Islands between Athens and Santorini suit hoppers who want 2 to 4 islands in one go – headed by Paros 3 hours to 4 hours from Piraeus and 1 hour 30 to 2 hours to Santorini for Naoussa harbour and Antiparos, Naxos 3 hours 30 to 5 hours 30 from Athens and 1 hour to 1 hour 45 to Santorini for Portara and huge beaches, Ios 4 hours 30 to 7 hours from Athens and 30 to 50 minutes to Santorini for Mylopotas party cove, plus Milos 2 hours 30 to 4 hours 45 from Athens and 1 hour 30 to 2 hours 30 to Santorini for Sarakiniko moonscape, and Syros 2 hours 20 to 3 hours 30 from Athens and 2 to 3 hours to Santorini for capital life. Ideal if you want to avoid one 5 to 8 hour slog and collect varied islands.
Less suited to those who want a direct non stop hop. If you want fastest Athens to Santorini with no change, direct fast ferries 4 hours 45 to 5 hours 45 or flights 45 minutes are quicker than stopping, as breaking into islands adds nights and check ins.
What to keep in mind
The Athens to Santorini line runs south east through the Cyclades. Standard route is Piraeus port 12km from Athens centre to Syros, Paros, Naxos, Ios then Santorini with Blue Star traditional 5 to 8 hours cost 45 to 70 euro and SeaJets fast 3 hours 45 to 5 hours 30 cost 75 to 130 euro, operating April to October with 2 to 5 daily sailings in high season. Milos is slightly south west so adds a detour but connects to Santorini 1 hour 30 to 2 hours 30 with SeaJets.
On the ground hop north to south to avoid backtracking. Do Athens to Syros to Paros to Naxos to Ios to Santorini as all are in line, book 2 to 3 nights per island, reserve ferries 1 to 2 days ahead in August, carry cash for small port taxes and stay near port on transit nights. Choose Paros and Naxos for most ferry choice, Ios for closest to Santorini, Milos if you want moonscape caves then backtrack via ferry.
Sources
- Ferryhopper – Athens (Piraeus) – Paros – in as little as 2 hr 40 min – https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/ferry-routes/direct/athens-piraeus-to-paros
- Ferryhopper – Athens (Piraeus) – Paros – ranges from 2 hr 40 min to 5 hr – https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/ferry-routes/direct/athens-piraeus-to-paros
- Ferryhopper – Ferries Piraeus – Piraeus-Paros 2 hr 45 min to 5 hr, Piraeus-Naxos 3.5 hr, Piraeus-Mykonos 2.5 hr, Piraeus-Santorini 4 hr – https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/ferries/greece/piraeus
- Ferryhopper – Ferries Piraeus – Piraeus-Santorini as little as 4 hr 50 min – https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/ferries/greece/piraeus
- Ferryhopper – Piraeus-Aegina 30 min and Piraeus-Hydra 1 hr 10 min to 2 hr – https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/ferries/greece/piraeus
- Ferryhopper – Lavrio-Kea – 40 min to 1 hr – https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/ferry-routes/direct/lavrio-kea-tzia
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Last Updated on August 17, 2026 by admin