Kea Ios Ferry

The Kea Ios ferry route connects Cyclades Islands with Cyclades Islands. Currently there is just the 1 ferry company operating this ferry service, Blue Star Ferries. The crossing operates up to 1 times each week with sailing durations from around 10 hours 45 minutes.

Kea Ios sailing durations and frequency may vary from season to season so we’d advise doing a live check to get the most up to date information.

Kea Guide

Kea Ferry Port

There is no better metaphor for the laid-back nature of Kea Island than the statue of its mascot: a lion, grinning from whisker to whisker, lounging upon a rock in a state of complete satisfaction. For although Kea is found in the northern reaches of the Cyclades archipelago close to the populous Greek mainland region of Attica, it has somehow managed to escape the boisterous boom of tourism. Instead the island is a peaceful haven shaped by rolling hills and valleys that stretch from coast to coast; the steep slopes covered in straw-coloured shrubs and grasses, and the blossoming trees of the local vineyards and almond groves. The shallows of the Aegean Sea surrounding Kea seem to have been tailor-made for scuba diving too. The rugged shoreline is pitted with isolated coves and underwater caverns that teem with marine life, while the wrecks of old ships (including the world-famous sister-vessel of the Titanic: HMS Britannic), are begging to be explored from their resting places on the sea floor. The port in Kea is found in the picturesque village of Korissia on the island’s jagged northern coast. It sits at the far-end of the concrete promenade that runs along one edge of the ultramarine bay, separating the classic, white-walled villas from the gently lapping waves. It a relatively small facility that, like the rest of Kea, never gets busy enough for the noise to rise above a gentle hubbub. There are no amenities at the port itself, though there a few shops, cafes, restaurants and even an ATM machine nearby. Despite being sparsely populated and largely covered in rough hills, there are plenty of paved road routes that tie together all the villages across the oval-shaped isle. The main route snakes in a vague circle around the heart of Kea; stretching from the centre of Korissia to the village of Kampi further along the coast. A system of buses and taxis regularly run from the port too, whisking passengers towards the island’s major landmarks. A number of ferry routes currently operate from the port in Korissia a few times throughout the week. Services hosted by Hellenic Seaways sail south to the neighbouring islands of Syros, Naxos, Paros and Folegandros as well as heading the short distance north to the port of Lavrio on the Greek mainland.

Ios Guide

Ios Ferry Port

Found deep within the huddle of Cyclades Isles that speckle the Aegean Sea to the south of Greece, is the cliff-edged island of Ios. This small stretch of land is hewn by long stretches of rugged mountains shaded by the earthy colours of rough Mediterranean scrubland. Nestled on the island’s eastern coast, where the rough shores of a glittering bay have taken a chunk out of the mainland, is the picturesque village of Chora. Much of the village is built upon the steep coastal hillsides; the dazzling white, Cycladic buildings rising in tiers towards the parched heartland. As well as being blessed with warm weather and effortless beauty, the village also possesses a rich history. Dig sites on the nearby Skarkos hill have uncovered evidence that prehistoric settlers once called the island home, with structures proving that the human history of Ios stretches back as far as the early bronze age. The port in Chora is found on the southern edge of the bay, just a short walk from the golden sands of Yialos Beach in the Ios district of the village. It is comprised of a wide, rectangular anchorage that juts into the sea from one corner of the local marina. There are no passenger facilities at the port itself, though a number of snack bars and restaurants selling hot food and drinks line the promenade. Due to the rough and largely remote nature of the island, travelling to the port can prove difficult. Only one road route leads into Chora, with the other lanes in the centre of the village far too steep and narrow for vehicles to negotiate. This road, which cuts across the inland mountains and offers lofty views across the rocky wilds of the lowland countryside, weaves all the way to the island’s southern tip and the small village of Magganari. The rest of the island can only be reached by braving the hills on foot, though no settlement is further than 6-miles away from Chora. A vast range of ferries currently run to and from the port in Ios, mainly on island-hopping trips across the Cyclades. Routes hosted by Blue Star Ferries, Seajets and Hellenic Seaways travel to a multitude of destinations including Naxos, Paros, Thira, Mykonos and the mainland city of Piraeus; a route also traversed by Zante Ferries. Other routes include a longer haul trip to Rafina, as well as to the other island ports of Sifnos, Milos, Kimolos, Kythnos, Serifos, Tinos, Folegandros and Heraklion. All of these voyages across the Aegean Sea routes operate at various times throughout the week.