Getting here
How to Get to Sifnos
Written by Elena Philippou, who hosts Villa Olivia Clara above Platis Gialos.Updated August 2026
Sifnos has no airport. You come by boat, into Kamares, the only port on the island. From Athens that means the ferry from Piraeus, about 2½ hours on the high-speed boats from €68.70, or about 5 hours on the conventional ferries from €40.50. There is also a daily summer catamaran from Lavrio, a flight to Milos and a 40-minute hop across, and the scheduled helicopter from Athens airport.
Most of our guests fly into Athens, take metro line 3 to Piraeus (about an hour) and get on the morning fast ferry. Some fly to Milos instead. It has a small domestic airport and up to seven crossings a day to Sifnos in summer, so you skip the long sea leg, but you connect in Athens first. Hoper flies a helicopter from Athens airport to the Tholos heliport on Sifnos in about 40 minutes. A seat is €443 one way when a shared flight is scheduled, and those do not run every day. The whole helicopter starts at about €2,365. We checked both with Hoper on 30 August 2026, and they move. Do not book the flight home for the same day as your crossing. The meltemi cancels the fast boats first. Sleep a night in Athens on the way back.
Getting to Sifnos at a glance
| Airport | None on Sifnos. The nearest is Milos (MLO), domestic flights from Athens only |
|---|---|
| Port | Kamares, on the west coast, the only ferry port. 14.2 km and 20 to 30 minutes by car from Platis Gialos and the villa |
| Athens, fast ferry | Piraeus to Kamares in about 2½ hours, from €68.70. Two to five sailings a day in summer, the first around 07:45 |
| Athens, conventional | Piraeus to Kamares in about 5 hours, from €40.50. Cheaper, steadier in a swell, and it carries cars |
| Lavrio | High-speed catamaran via Kythnos and Serifos, about 3 h 10, from €55. Daily from late May to mid-September |
| From Milos | 40 to 50 minutes on the fast ferry, from €34.70. Up to six or seven crossings a day in peak summer |
| Helicopter | Hoper, Athens airport to Tholos on Sifnos in about 40 minutes. A seat is €443 one way when a shared flight runs, the whole helicopter from about €2,365. Checked 30 August 2026 |
| Airport to Piraeus | Metro line 3 direct, 55 to 60 minutes. The X96 bus. A taxi in 40 to 50 minutes, traffic allowing |
| Tickets | E-tickets. We send guests to Discover Cyclades, every operator in one place. Book August and car crossings weeks ahead |
| Wind | The July and August meltemi takes the fast catamarans off first. The conventional boats usually sail |
Durations and fares are the operators' published 2026 timetables, verified August 2026. They move each season, so confirm live before booking.
Villa Olivia Clara
Arriving as a group?
Villa Olivia Clara is our house on the hillside above Platis Gialos. Four bedrooms, a private pool, and the whole place goes to one party. We host it ourselves, so ask us about your arrival day before you book.
- 8 guests
- 4 bedrooms
- Parking for 5 cars
How long is the ferry from Athens to Sifnos?
About 2½ hours on the high-speed ferries, about 5 hours on the conventional ones, Piraeus to Kamares. The fast boats are catamarans. They cost more, and the meltemi takes them off first in July and August. The conventional ferries cost less and sit steadier in a swell, and they carry cars. In peak season there are two to five sailings a day, the first conventional boat around 07:00 and the fast ferry about 07:45. In winter it drops to a few a week, so check the live timetable close to your dates.
Which port in Athens, and is the ferry direct?
Piraeus, almost always, and yes, it is direct. Some sailings stop at Kythnos and Serifos on the way. The terminal is big. The Western Cyclades berths are around gates E9 to E10 and the electronic boards tell you which on the day, so give yourself time to find the boat. Lavrio, the smaller port south-east of the airport, has a daily summer catamaran via Kythnos and Serifos, about 3 h 10, and it is the calmer of the two terminals.
What is the easiest way to get to Sifnos?
Fly to Athens, take metro line 3 from the airport straight to Piraeus (55 to 60 minutes, trains roughly every half hour) and get on the morning fast ferry. Airport to Kamares in about four hours. With small children or a lot of luggage, take a taxi to the port instead, 40 to 50 minutes, and it is worth the money. If you dread the sea leg, fly Athens to Milos and cross in 40 to 50 minutes. Hoper's helicopter, if money is no object, puts you down at Tholos 35 to 40 minutes after leaving the airport. Arrive the evening before and sleep in Athens or Piraeus, so the morning is not a rush.
“Elena was a great host, helped with transport. Easy communication.”
Which ferry is best?
The companies on this route keep changing, so do not go by an old guidebook. For the 2026 season it is SeaJets on the high-speed boats. Fast Ferries, Aegean Sea Lines and Blue Star Ferries run the conventional ferries, Magic Sea Ferries runs the Lavrio catamaran and the small Artemis line goes between the islands. Choose by the wind and your budget. On a calm forecast the fast boat saves you three hours. When it is windy the conventional ferry usually still goes.
Is Sifnos harder to reach than Paros or Naxos?
Sifnos has no airport. Paros, Naxos and Milos do, and guests assume that settles it. Look at where those planes come from. All three take Greek domestic flights only. Nothing lands on Paros from London, or on Naxos from New York. You fly into Athens first whichever island you pick, and then you choose between a second flight and a boat. Two Cycladic islands take flights from abroad, Santorini from 22 countries and Mykonos from 21. From Athens the domestic hop to Paros or Naxos is about 40 minutes in the air. Our fast ferry from Piraeus is about 2½ hours. Add the second check-in and the bus out to the plane, and the gap is smaller than the timetable suggests. Metro line 3 runs from the airport terminal to Piraeus in under an hour, and you keep your bags with you the whole way. One thing does land on Sifnos. Hoper flies a helicopter from Athens airport to Tholos in about 40 minutes. A seat is €443 one way when a shared flight is scheduled, and the whole helicopter starts at about €2,365. Checked 30 August 2026.
| Island | Airport | Direct from abroad | How you arrive from abroad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santorini | JTR | 22 countries | Fly direct in season |
| Mykonos | JMK | 21 countries | Fly direct in season |
| Paros | PAS | None | Athens, then 40 min by air |
| Naxos | JNX | None | Athens, then 40 min by air |
| Milos | MLO | None | Athens, then 40 min by air |
| Sifnos | None | None | Athens, then 2½ h on the fast ferry |
Direct-flight counts from FlightConnections, checked August 2026. Paros, Naxos and Milos take Greek domestic flights only. Seasonal routes change every year, so check before you book.
Ferry routes to Sifnos
The times are approximate, they vary by boat and by operator, and there are far more sailings in summer than in winter. Check the live timetable before you book.
If your guidebook still lists Zante Ferries or Aegean Speed Lines, it is out of date. Zante was absorbed by Fast Ferries and Aegean Speed Lines has gone.
| From | Type | Duration | Fare from | Sailings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piraeus (Athens) | High-speed | ≈2½ h | €68.70 | 2–5 a day (summer), both types together |
| Piraeus (Athens) | Conventional | ≈5 h | €40.50 | 2–5 a day (summer), both types together |
| Lavrio (Athens) | High-speed | ≈3 h 10 | €55 | Daily, late May–mid-Sep |
| Milos | Fast / conventional | ≈40 min–2¼ h | €34.70 | Up to 6–7 a day (summer) |
| Paros | High-speed | ≈55 min | €69.70 | Seasonal |
| Serifos / Kimolos | Ferry | ≈20 min–3 h | €6 | Several a day (summer) |
| Santorini / Mykonos | Fast / conventional | ≈2¾–7 h | €12.50 | Seasonal |
Indicative 2026 fares from each origin. Durations and prices vary by vessel and operator. Confirm live before booking. Verified August 2026.
Piraeus (Athens) → Sifnos
The main route, and by far the most frequent. About 2.5 hours on the high-speed ferries, about 5 hours on the conventional ones, which cost less. Several departures a day in July and August, fewer in the shoulder months.
Fast catamaran ≈ 2½ h, from ~€68.70 | conventional ≈ 5 h, from ~€40.50 | 2–5 sailings a day in summer | first boat ~07:00, fast ferry 07:45 in peak season
Lavrio → Sifnos
The other mainland port. A high-speed catamaran leaves daily from late May to mid-September and reaches Kamares in about three hours, calling at Kythnos and Serifos on the way. Lavrio is smaller and calmer than Piraeus, and a little closer to Athens airport.
About 3 h 10 | around €55 | daily, late May to mid-September (Magic Sea Ferries)
Milos → Sifnos
About 40 minutes on the fast ferry, up to two hours on the slower boats. Milos has a small domestic airport (MLO) with several flights a day from Athens, so you can fly there and do the short crossing instead of the long one from Piraeus.
Fast ≈ 40–50 min, from ~€34.70 | conventional from ~€6.50 | up to 6–7 crossings a day in peak summer
Paros → Sifnos
About 55 minutes on the summer high-speed, 2–3 hours on the cheap local line that runs all year. Paros has its own airport and ferries from many islands, so it works as a stop if you are island-hopping. The high-speed boat is seasonal, so check the dates.
55 min on the summer high-speed, from ~€69.70 | about 2–3 h on the cheap year-round local line, from ~€4.50
Serifos / Kimolos → Sifnos
Short hops. Serifos is under an hour, Kimolos up to an hour and a half. Both sit on the Piraeus line with Sifnos, so you can string them together.
Serifos about 20–50 min, from ~€6 | Kimolos about 50 min–3 h, from ~€6 | several boats a day in summer
Santorini / Mykonos → Sifnos
Roughly 2.5–4 hours, seasonal and not frequent. Most of the time you need a connection or one of the island-hopping ferries. Check the timetables before you plan around it.
Santorini fast ≈ 2¾–3 h, conventional ≈ 7 h from ~€12.50 | Mykonos about 2 h on the summer high-speed | both seasonal
Durations and indicative fares are drawn from the operators' published 2026 timetables and Discover Cyclades. Schedules and prices change each season, so always confirm live before booking. Verified August 2026.
Where and when to buy tickets
Everything is an e-ticket now. For ferry tickets we send our guests to Discover Cyclades, which has the schedules and every operator in one place. Each season's timetables firm up in spring. Book August crossings weeks ahead, and anything with a car. The rest of the year a few days ahead is usually fine.
If you are already on the island and need to change a paper ticket, you have to go to that ferry company's own representative at Kamares. There is no single agency that handles all of them.
Book ferry tickets on Discover CycladesWhat we tell guests before they travel
Book August ferries weeks ahead. The popular routes fill up, especially if you are bringing a car.
The meltemi, the north wind, peaks in July and August and takes the fast catamarans off first. The conventional ferries usually keep sailing. On a windy forecast take the slow boat. If weather cancels your crossing you are entitled to a full refund or a free rebooking on the next departure. And never book a flight home for the same day as an island hop. Stay the night in Athens and fly the next day.
Kamares port is on the west coast, 20 to 30 minutes by car from Platis Gialos.
The Piraeus terminal is big, so give yourself time. Look for the Western Cyclades berths, around gates E9 to E10, and check the electronic boards for your boat.
Timetables change every season. Check the live one close to your dates.
In a hurry, or worried about the wind? Hoper flies a helicopter from Athens to the heliport at Tholos, about 40 minutes in the air. Shared seats exist, but not every day. Most of what they sell on this route is the whole aircraft. Check with Hoper before you count on either.
Getting around once you're here
For most of the island you want a car. The roads between the villages are winding and there are no taxis waiting at the port. Buses run from the hub at Artemonas, through Apollonia, to the main villages and beaches, and if you stay in Apollonia or Platis Gialos you can do your beach days without a car. Our where-to-stay guide goes through it village by village.
Getting to the villa from the port
Tell Elena which boat you are on and she will get you a number for the port run, or point you at a car-hire desk. You book whichever you want. From Kamares it is 14.2 km, a 20 to 30 minute drive up to the house above Platis Gialos.
The house sleeps eight in four bedrooms, and the beach is a 7 to 10 minute walk downhill. See the four-bedroom villa above Platis Gialos.
Quick answers on getting to Sifnos
How do you get to Sifnos?
By ferry. Sifnos has no airport. The main route is Piraeus, the port of Athens, to Kamares, about 2.5 hours by high-speed ferry or about 5 hours on a conventional one. You can also come from Lavrio (about 3 h, in summer), from Milos (about 40 to 50 minutes by fast ferry), from Paros or from other Cyclades islands.
Can you fly to Sifnos? Does it have an airport?
No. Sifnos has no airport. The only scheduled thing that lands on the island is Hoper's helicopter from Athens airport, 35 to 40 minutes. The nearest airport is Milos (MLO), domestic flights from Athens, then a 40–50 minute fast ferry across, and that is how you skip the long Piraeus crossing. Otherwise fly to Athens (ATH) and take the ferry from Piraeus, about 2.5 hours by high-speed or about 5 hours on a conventional boat.
How long is the ferry from Athens (Piraeus) to Sifnos?
About 2.5 hours by high-speed ferry, or about 5 hours on a conventional one. It runs from Piraeus, the Western Cyclades berths around gates E9 to E10 (check the boards), to Kamares on Sifnos. Schedules change each season, so check the live timetable close to your dates.
How do you get from Milos, Paros or Santorini to Sifnos?
From Milos it is about 40 to 50 minutes by fast ferry, or around 2 hours on the conventional boat, and there are sailings most days in season. Paros is about 55 minutes on the summer high-speed, longer on the year-round local line. Santorini takes 2.5–4 hours, often with a connection, and only in season. Check the timetables. Outside July and August there are far fewer sailings on all of these.
What is the best way to get to Sifnos from the UK?
Fly to Athens and take the ferry from Piraeus. Most major UK airports fly direct to Athens in three and a half to four hours. Flying to Milos cuts the sea leg to a 40–50 minute ferry, but Milos takes domestic flights only, so you still connect through Athens. And leave a buffer before the flight home, in case the ferry runs late.
Do you need a car in Sifnos?
For most of the island, yes. The roads between the villages are not for walking, there is no taxi rank at the port, and the buses thin out outside peak season. The exceptions are Apollonia, which is central and on every bus route (the lines run from the hub at Artemonas), and a stay by the beach in Platis Gialos or Kamares. For July and August book the car in advance.
Which port in Athens do ferries to Sifnos leave from?
Piraeus, from the Western Cyclades berths around gates E9 to E10. Check the boards on the day. Lavrio also runs a daily summer catamaran, about 3 h 10 via Kythnos and Serifos.
How do I get from Athens airport to the Piraeus ferry?
Metro line 3 runs direct from the airport to Piraeus, 55 to 60 minutes, roughly every half hour, and the X96 bus does the same run. A taxi takes 40 to 50 minutes, depending on traffic. The airport's flat fare, €40 by day and €55 between midnight and five, covers central Athens and not Piraeus, so the run to the port is on the meter. Be at the port an hour and a half before the ferry leaves.
Is Sifnos harder to get to than Paros or Naxos?
By one leg, and only from Athens. Paros, Naxos and Milos take Greek domestic flights only, so anyone flying in from abroad connects in Athens whichever of them they choose. From Athens it is a 40 minute domestic flight to Paros or Naxos against about 2½ hours on the fast ferry from Piraeus to Sifnos. Santorini and Mykonos are the two Cycladic islands with flights from outside Greece. Checked August 2026.