How to Take the Ferry to Kythira

Technically included in the well known cluster of Ionian Islands, Kythira is a hidden gem located on its own and out of the spotlight. Also known as Cythera or Kythera, the quiet island is within arm’s reach for travellers but often overlooked.

Kythira is delightfully off the beaten path. This means that the journey to reach the secluded island isn’t as popular as the route to Mykonos, but oh how it’s worth it!

Anyone visiting Kythira is compensated for their voyage to get there with beautiful beaches and a quintessential island holiday.

In this guide, discover the various routes and ways to reach Kythira by car, plane and ferry.

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The Essentials for Reaching Kythira

🛫 By plane, you can reach Kythira’s domestic airport from Athens with flights that depart daily during the summer season. If you’re flying internationally, you will have a stop in Athens before arriving in Kythira.

⛴ There are only a handful of ferry routes to Kythira but you can reach Kythira by ferry from Athens, Crete, and the Peloponnese peninsula (mainland Greece).

⏱ The shortest ferry route to Kythira departs from Neapoli port with a journey of only 1.5 hours.

🚙 All ferries to Kythira can accommodate vehicles! Having a car on Kythira is a must if you plan on leaving the port of Diakofti and exploring the Kythira’s best beaches.

→ 🏖 Read More: The Best Beaches on Kythira ←

Taking the Ferry to Kythira

Ferry travel is an extremely popular method of transportation, particularly for reaching Greek islands. Diakofti is Kythira’s main port and serves a handful of ferry routes to the island.

The shortest direct ferry journey is from Neapoli Ferry Terminal which is located in the southern region of Peloponnese. The Peloponnese peninsula is the southern coast of mainland Greece which means it’s the furthest point you can drive to without taking a ferry.

Different ferry company operators service trips to Kythera and it will depend on where you are departing from.

Regardless if you are a foot passenger, travelling on bicycle, with a car or even pets, taking a ferry to Kythira is an accessible option for many.

→ 🛳 Compare schedules and ferry tickets to Kythira ←

Kythira Ferry Routes & Schedules

Neapolis to Kythira Ferry

The ferry from Neapoli port to Kythira is operated by Triton Ferries. It is the shortest route and runs the most often with daily departures from Neapoli (also known as Neapolis).

There are certain days in the summer where extra routes are even added due to demand and volume, making it possible to catch a ferry to the island as late as 7pm.

Crossing Time: 1.5 hours

Frequency: Daily. During the peak summer months, ferries depart Neapoli twice a day and also return from Kythira back to Neapoli twice a day.

Price Example: Estimated €12.50 per adult and €44 – €50 per vehicle for a one-way ticket

→ 🛳 Buy ferry tickets from Neapolis to Kythira ←

Gytheio (or Gythio) to Kythira Ferry

Gythio is located about 1.5 hours north of Neapoli and easier to reach from the motorway, especially if you’re travelling from Athens or Patras. What makes departing from Gythio less convenient than Neapoli is the limited number of sailings per week.

Crossing Time: 2.5 hours

Frequency: 2 times per week on Sundays and Wednesdays in the summer

Price Example: Estimated €9 per adult and €31 per vehicle for a one-way ticket

Athens (Piraeus) to Kythira Ferry

For anyone flying or beginning their ferry hopping adventure in Athens, this route is the most convenient. It is also a gas saver if you are travelling with a car and do not feel like driving the 350 km from Athens to Neapoli port.

Crossing Time: 6.5 hours

Frequency: 2 times per week on Tuesdays and Fridays in the summer

Price Example: Estimated €22 per adult and €80 per vehicle for a one-way ticket

Crete (Kissamos) to Kythira Ferry

Combining a visit to Kythira with Crete is a fabulous itinerary idea for exploring the Greek islands. Although only a few hours apart, Kythira and Crete are very different in many ways and experiencing both islands in one trip is easy with the connecting ferry.

Crossing Time: Just under 4 hours

Frequency: 3 times per week on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays in the summer

Price Example: Estimated €14 per adult and €57 per vehicle for a one-way ticket

→ 🛳 Buy ferry tickets from Crete to Kythira ←

How to Buy Tickets for the Ferry to Kythira

All of the routes listed above (with the exception of Neapoli to Kythira) are served by Seajets, a major Greek ferry operator. The most cost effective way to purchase tickets for these routes is through the Seajets website directly.

By going straight to the source, you will receive the best price for ferry tickets.

In terms of service, coverage and cancellation options, utilising a third party site such as Ferryhopper is highly beneficial. For a slight premium, you’re gaining access to handy customer service and travel insurance in case anything does go wrong during your trip.

Booking the Neapoli to Kythira ferry can be done through this website or through the official website of Triton Ferries. From our experience, we opted for booking a ticket through the first website and had zero issues.

You will however be prompted to pickup your physical ferry ticket from an office at the port, before embarking the ship. This isn’t out of the ordinary but can confuse some people who always expect a digital boarding pass.

→ 🛳 Compare schedules and ferry tickets to Kythira ←

Good to Know Ferry Details

Flights to Kythira

There is one airport on the island of Kythira named Kythira Airport Alexandros Onasis. The domestic airport is located about 20 km and 30 minutes from Chora, the island’s most popular town.

Since it is not an international airport, the route options are slim and best utilized if you are travelling from Athens.

During summer months, flights depart from Athens to Kythira on a daily basis, often times even twice a day. There are three airlines which service this route: Olympic Air, Aegean Airlines and Sky Express. The short voyage takes less than one hour and can cost as little as €60 for a one-way ticket.

On specific dates during peak season, additional flights to Kythira from other Greek destinations may be available.

However, unless your itinerary is organized accordingly, relying on getting to Kythera by plane from another island isn’t the most sound idea. These flight paths aren’t scheduled well in advance which makes booking flights a bit challenging.

→ 🛩 Browse flight paths and tickets to Kythira Airport ←

Getting Around Kythira

Kythira is a lesser known Greek island which comes with countless benefits and reasons to visit. The use of public transportation is unfortunately just not one of them. You will undoubtedly want a car during your time in Kythira, particularly if you are staying for a few days.

If you intend to explore different parts of the island, driving is the best and really only way to accomplish this. For a day trip, it is doable to remain near the port and on the beautiful beach of Paralia Diakofti if you are arriving by ferry. In this case, you can get away with not renting a car or using a taxi and just walking.

Booking a car rental in Kythira is possible at a few locations around the island but you’ll want to make sure it’s convenient. If you are arriving by plane, picking up a car at the airport is the most suitable option.

Reserving a rental car near Diakofti port is recommended if you’re taking the ferry to Kythira. By booking a small vehicle with a manual transmission that simply gets the job done, you’ll be able to reserve a super affordable rental.

In some cases, finding a rental car on Kythira can be challenging. If you are visiting during peak season, you run the risk of a rental car shortage given it’s an island and there are naturally less options.

An alternative solution which will avoid you getting stranded without a car is to rent a car on the mainland which you’ll then take to Kythira by ferry.

→ 🚙 Book a rental car for exploring Kythira ←

The Best Time to Visit Kythira

The island of Cythera experiences lovely and relatively warm weather year round. During the winter months, temperatures still don’t tend to drop below 9°C / 48°F. A visit during colder months means you’ll virtually have the entire island to yourself.

If you’re looking for a classic summer holiday, beaches are likely on your agenda. Cythera and its beautiful coastline is unquestionably most enjoyed when it’s under the sun.

Unsurprisingly, June – August can get crowded and hotel prices are at their peaks. As a result, the best time to visit Kythira is in September or even October. This has give the sea a chance to warm up and for other tourists to disperse.

→ 🛌 Read More: Where to Stay on Kythira ←

Travel Resources for Visiting Kythira

☔️ TRAVEL INSURANCE: EKTA or VisitorsCoverage

✈️ FLIGHTS: Skyscanner, CheapOair or Kiwi.com

🚙 CAR RENTALS: Discover Cars or Rentalcars.com

🚊 TRAINS & BUSES: Busbud, Trainline or Omio

🛳 FERRIES: Direct Ferries

🛌 ACCOMMODATION: Booking.com, Agoda or Trivago

☎️ ESIM / CELL PHONE DATA: Airalo

📸 TOURS & ACTIVITIES: GetYourGuide or Viator

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