How to travel from Ios to Santorini by ferry
Everything you need to know about getting from Ios to Santorini on a ferry. Includes Ios Santorini ferry route schedules and day trip info.
Ferry Snapshot: Ios to Santorini
- 2–6 sailings per day
- Crossing time from 35 min, up to 1 h 20 min
- Earliest departure 00:05, latest 23:30
- Operated by Blue Star Ferries, Fast Ferries, Golden Star Ferries, Maistros Santorini N.E. and Seajets
- Tickets from €10
- Boats on this route typically have: cabins, vehicle garage, restaurant, cafe bar, shop, Wi-Fi
Ios to Santorini September 2026 Ferry Timetable
| Departs | Days | Duration | Ferry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00:05 | Sat only, from 19 Sep | 1 h 15 min | Fast Ferries – Dionisios Solomos | Book |
| 00:50 | Thu only, until 24 Sep | 1 h 15 min | Fast Ferries – Dionisios Solomos | Book |
| 01:20 | 13 Sep only | 1 h 20 min | Blue Star Ferries – Blue Star 1 | Book |
| 08:10 | 13 Sep only | 1 h 10 min | Seajets – Supercat Jet | Book |
| 11:10 | Mon, Fri | 1 h 14 min | Maistros Santorini N.E. – Maistros Santorini | Book |
| 11:25 | Daily | 35 min | Seajets | Book |
| 11:55 | Daily, until 20 Sep | 45 min | Golden Star Ferries – Golden Princess | Book |
| 13:30 | Daily, until 21 Sep | 40 min | Seajets – Olympic Champion Jet | Book |
| 20:30 | 13 Sep only | 40 min | Seajets – Champion Jet 2 | Book |
| 20:30 | Daily | 40 min | Seajets – Eurochampion Jet | Book |
| 23:30 | Mon only | 1 h 15 min | Fast Ferries – Dionisios Solomos | Book |
Ios to Santorini October 2026 Ferry Timetable
| Departs | Days | Duration | Ferry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00:05 | Sat only | 1 h 15 min | Fast Ferries – Dionisios Solomos | Book |
| 00:50 | Thu only | 1 h 15 min | Fast Ferries – Dionisios Solomos | Book |
| 11:10 | Mon, Fri, until 16 Oct | 1 h 14 min | Maistros Santorini N.E. – Maistros Santorini | Book |
| 11:25 | Daily, until 18 Oct | 35 min | Seajets | Book |
| 20:30 | Thu–Sun, until 4 Oct | 40 min | Seajets – Eurochampion Jet | Book |
| 23:30 | Mon only, until 26 Oct | 1 h 15 min | Fast Ferries – Dionisios Solomos | Book |
On this page
- Ferries from Ios to Santorini
- Ios Santorini - Dave's Note
- Ios Santorini Ferry Times
- Ios to Santorini Ferry Ticket Costs and Information
- Cheap Ferry Tickets
- Ios to Santorini Day Trip
- Ferry Ios Santorini Departure
- Arriving in Santorini
- Santorini Travel Information
- Ios Santorini Ferry Schedules FAQ
- Ferry Ios to Santorini
Ferries from Ios to Santorini
The Ios to Santorini ferry route is popular during the summer with visitors who want to travel around the Cyclades islands in Greece.
As the two islands of Ios and Santorini are close together, the ferry trip is short, and there are plenty of options to choose from.
In the high season months, there are usually six or seven ferries a day sailing from Ios to Santorini. In the shoulder seasons this frequency will be less.
To look at ferry schedules and book ferry tickets online, I recommend Ferryscanner. It's a great place to plan the logistics for your Greek island hopping adventures.
Ios Santorini - Dave's Note
Travel Tips: If you are trying to plan and book ferry tickets for the Ios - Santorini route online months in advance, you should be aware that a ferry schedule may not yet be available.
I would suggest using openseas.gr in order to see what ferries were running on your desired dates in the previous year. This will give you an indication as to the expected availability when the schedules get online.
Typically, the summer schedules for the Ios to Santorini crossings may not be published until after Greek Easter.
Also read: Best things to do in Ios, Greece
Ios Santorini Ferry Times
Depending on the type of ferry, the time it takes to get from Ios to Santorini can be very quick indeed. The fastest boats on the route make the crossing in as little as 35 minutes.
You should be aware that the quicker boats traveling between the Greek islands of Ios and Santorini also tend to be the most expensive option of course.
During the winter, the ferry service between Ios island and Santorini is much reduced, and direct boats run far less often than they do in summer.
Ios to Santorini Ferry Ticket Costs and Information
The cost of a ticket for the ferry from Ios island to Santorini will depend on which boat you decide to take. The quicker ferries are the pricier ones.
The slower ferries, which can take up to an hour to make the crossing but at awkward times in the morning, are where the cheapest seats are, with fares on the route starting from around 10 Euro.
Book tickets at: Ferryscanner
Cheap Ferry Tickets
If you're looking to save money traveling on your vacation between the popular destinations of Ios and Santorini, consider taking the Blue Star Ferries crossing.
Passenger fares on it sit at the cheap end of the scale, but the journey begins at odd times. The Blue Star sailing to Santorini has tended to leave Ios in the small hours of the morning.
Ios to Santorini Day Trip
It is just about possible to plan a day trip from Ios to Santorini. It would involve taking the earliest ferry that leaves Ios for Santorini, and then returning on the last ferry leaving Santorini to Ios.
In the summer months, you can do an Ios to Santorini day trip on most days of the week. Keep in mind that you might only have 4 or 5 hours on Santorini though.
Personally, I don't think this is enough time, but check out my one day in Santorini guide to see what you might be able to see and do when there.
The best place to look at timetables to plan a day trip by ferry from Ios to Santorini is at Ferryscanner.
Ferry Ios Santorini Departure
The ferry to Santorini island from Ios will leave from the main port, which is 2 km away from Ios Chora. It is possible to walk down to the port from the Chora, but you may prefer to take a bus or taxis instead.
Down at the port, there are a selection of tavernas and cafes so you can have a drink or something to eat while you wait for your boat from Ios to Santorini.
It is recommended that passengers arrive at the port an hour before ferry departure.
Arriving in Santorini
All ferries to Santorini currently arrive at the main ferry port. Officially it is called Athinios or the 'New Port'. You'll probably mostly just see it referred to as Santorini (Thira).
The port in Santorini is located at the bottom of the towering Caldera. It's not really worth the effort of walking out of the port. My suggestion is to get off the ferry as quickly as you can, and then onto one of the waiting buses.
Alternatively, you can pre-book a taxi to wait for you in Santorini port. More here: Welcome Taxis
If you need to get to the airport right away, read this guide: Santorini ferry port to airport
And here's how to travel from Santorini Athinios ferry port to Fira
Santorini Travel Information
If you're planning to spend any time on Santorini, you may find the following guides useful:
Ios Santorini Ferry Schedules FAQ
Readers who want to travel between the popular Greek islands of Ios and Santorini often ask questions similar to:
How long is the ferry from Ios to Santorini?
The trip duration times for the Ios to Santorini route vary depending on the ferry company that you choose and the time of year. A high speed ferry may take as little as 35 minutes, whereas conventional ferries sailing Ios to Santorini may take an hour or more.
Can I fly from Ios to Santorini?
No, Ios does not have an airport. The only way to get to Santorini is by ferry.
Do Golden Star Ferries sail the Ios Santorini route?
Yes, Golden Star Ferries operates a ferry service between Ios and Santorini.
Can I take a day trip to Santorini from Ios island?
As Santorini can be as little as 35 minutes away from Ios by ferry, it may be possible to take a day trip from Santorini provided that you can get a suitable return boat to Ios in the evening. You'd want to spend at least 6 hours in Santorini in order to make the day trip worthwhile.
What ferry operators run between Ios and Santorini?
It varies from year to year, but the companies running services between Ios island and Santorini include Seajets, Blue Star Ferries, Golden Star Ferries, Fast Ferries and Maistros Santorini N.E.
For up to date information on ferry operators on the Ios Santorini route check Ferryscanner.
How far in advance should I turn up at the port in Ios?
Half an hour before the scheduled departure is the safe minimum. Ferries on this stretch can arrive slightly ahead of time and they do not hang around once loading is done.
Ferry Ios to Santorini
If you found these insights on taking the Ios to Santorini ferries useful, please share it on social media. If you have any questions, leave them at the bottom of the blog post and I'll answer them as soon as I can!
Looking for onward travel options from Santorini? Check out this Santorini island hopping guide.
Dave is a UK travel writer living in Athens since 2015. With 20 years of firsthand travel experience and over 80,000 km of bicycle touring across six continents, he's been blogging at Dave's Travel Pages since 2005. Every guide is based on places he's actually been.
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