Ferry to Skyros 2027: routes, prices & tickets

How to get to Skyros by ferry

There is no direct ferry from Piraeus: Skyros is reached from Kymi, on the east coast of Evia. The main route is Kymi – Linaria, operated by the Skyros Shipping Company with the ship ‘Achilleas’. The crossing takes about 1 hour 45 minutes. From Athens, this means the journey is split into two legs: first by road, or by intercity KTEL bus, to Kymi, and then the ferry.

The leg to Kymi takes around 2.5 hours by road via Chalkida, or around 3 hours by KTEL bus. An alternative route for those coming from the Athens area is the Oropos – Eretria ferry, which takes about 30 minutes. Allow plenty of time to reach Kymi before departure. If your bus or car is delayed, there is no second sailing the same day to rescue you.

How many sailings are there, and when?

This is where Skyros differs from islands with frequent ferry services. In winter and spring there is one sailing per direction per day, while in summer there are two on most days. With only one ship on the route, planning has some specific consequences:

• Out of season, the ferry usually leaves Skyros in the morning (for example 08:00, arriving in Kymi at 09:45) and returns from Kymi in the afternoon. Times and days change from one season to the next, so don't rely on last year's timetable.
• One ship means a disruption affects the whole route. October 2026 saw cancelled sailings due to bad-weather sailing bans and a period of maintenance for the ship. On Sundays, public holidays and days of rough weather, leave some slack in your plans.
• The full 2027 timetable has not yet been announced. Schedules usually change between the winter, spring and summer seasons, with extra sailings in August, at Greek Easter and at Christmas.

When to book

For July–August, 15 August, Greek Easter and Carnival (Skyros has a well-known carnival of its own), book as soon as the timetables are released. The first thing to sell out is space for cars, so book your vehicle space early. For a foot passenger, outside July–August, a few days ahead is usually enough. The passenger fare is low: as a guide, €8.70 on a Kymi – Skyros sailing, with a different price for a car or motorbike. Check the exact price for your date before you pay.

With a car or without?

Skyros is a big island and the best spots are some way apart. With a car you can easily reach beaches and villages, but the fare and the vehicle reservation push up the cost. One alternative is to travel as a foot passenger and rent on the island. There is also a local bus linking Skyros Town (Chora) with Linaria, Molos and Pefkos, with tickets at €1.60–1.80, plus special services from the airport to Chora, Molos and Linaria. To explore properly, a hire car or motorbike is still the most flexible option.

Ferry or plane?

If you don't have a car, flying is the fastest way. The Athens – Skyros flight takes about 40 minutes and the Athens and Thessaloniki routes usually operate 3 times a week as PSO (Public Service Obligation) flights, with seasonal timetables published on skyros.gr. Prices start low out of season, while in summer Aegean shows fares from €45 for Athens – Skyros, with many days at €60–70. If you're travelling with a vehicle, or as a family with a lot of luggage, the ferry via Kymi is usually more practical. If you only have a few days, look at both together: the ferry one way and a flight the other gives you flexibility.

Skopelos, Alonissos and Volos

Skyros is also linked with Skopelos and Alonissos, but connections with the Northern Sporades are usually seasonal. From Volos there are indirect routes with intermediate stops, which take 8–14 hours depending on the combination. If you're planning island hopping in the Sporades, first check that the dates line up, then book.

Tips before you book

• Don't book a same-day onward flight from Athens that depends on the last ferry; bad weather can cancel it.
• If you're taking the KTEL bus from Athens, make sure it reaches Kymi well before the ferry departs.
• Check the timetable a few days before travel. Schedule changes and cancellations are announced by the operator.
• On arrival at Linaria, arrange your transport to Chora (taxi, bus or hire car). Don't assume you'll easily find a vehicle late in the evening.