Best ways to get to Koufonisia

Koufonisia

This article covers the best ways to get to Koufonisia from various popular starting locations. It’s definitely worth making the effort to get to Koufonisi if you like the Greek island laid back style of beaches, tavernas and relaxing.

Koufonisia is a small Greek island located in the Cyclades archipelago, (part of the Small Cyclades group) known for its pristine beaches, whitewashed Cycladic architecture, excellent seafood cuisine, and laidback atmosphere. Free of massive hotel complexes and nightclubs, Koufonisia offers a quiet, relaxing island escape perfect for beachgoers, families, couples, and those looking to get away from the crowds.

Despite its small size, getting to Koufonisia takes some planning due to the lack of an airport on the island itself. This comprehensive travel guide provides in-depth information on all transportation options for reaching Koufonisia from Greece, Europe, and beyond. We’ll cover everything you need to know including ferries, flights, transfers, tickets, and more to plan your trip start to finish.

Get to Koufonisia

Now let’s dive into the various options to get to Koufonisia from major transportation hubs.

Is there an airport in Koufonisia?

No. When you visit , you’ll understand why :-).

Athens to Koufonisia ferry

Regular ferry service connects Piraeus and Rafina ports in Athens directly to Koufonisia up to 3 days per week.
The ferry crossing takes 5-8 hours depending on the specific ferry, route, and conditions.
Blue Star Ferries offers the fastest crossing at 5-6 hours on its modern fleet. Upgrades like business class provide more comfort.

Other companies like SeaJets and Golden Star have longer journeys of 6-8 hours.

Ferry Ports in Athens

Ferries to Koufonisia depart from two ports in Athens:

Piraeus Port – Located on the central coast with easy access to downtown and Athens International Airport. More tourist traffic.
Rafina Port – On the eastern coast with less traffic. Closer if staying near the airport.

Booking Tips

Purchase ferry tickets 1-2 months in advance for best fares and availability in peak summer.
Opt for business class or upgraded seating for more comfort on the longer open sea crossings.
Spending a night in Athens helps reduce stress before an early morning ferry departure.

Ferries to get to Koufonisia

There are several major ferry operators that provide transportation services to Koufonisia:

Tips on Greek ferries

Blue Star Ferries

Modern fast ferries and conventional ferries
Offers shortest Athens to Koufonisia crossing of 5-6 hours
Multiple classes of service and onboard amenities
Serves Rafina and Piraeus ports

Golden Star Ferries

Conventional ferries with more basic amenities
Affordable ticket prices
Longer 8 hour crossing from Athens

SeaJets

Catamaran fast ferries with journey of 6-7 hours
Budget focused with fewer amenities
Primarily serves Rafina port

Express Skopelitis (Small Cyclades Line)

The Express Skopelitis is almost a legendary ferry in the area providing a year round link between all the Small Cyclades islands (Iraklia, Donoussa, Schinoussa as well as Koufonisia) – well worth taking if you get the opportunity.

Connects Koufonisia with Naxos, the other Small Cyclades islands and up to Amorgos.

Getting to Koufonisa from other Cyclades islands

Koufonisia from Naxos

Naxos is the best connected island to Koufonisia with Blue Star and the Small Cyclades Line offering connecting services to Koufonisi.

Fly from Athens International Airport to Naxos Airport on a short 30 minute domestic flight.
Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air, and Sky Express have multiple daily flights year-round.
From Naxos Airport, take one of the ferries via the port (which is only 20 minutes from the airport) to get to Koufonisia in 30-60 minutes.
Total travel time is approximately 2 hours from Athens to Koufonisia by combining the flight and ferry.

Koufonisia from Paros

Paros Island has direct summer ferry connections to Koufonisia. Blue Star and Seajets offer services with crossing times ranging between 1.5 and 3.5 hours. The other option is to get to Naxos and follow the connection information above.

Koufonisia from Milos

Not the easiest of crossings and probably the best option is to aim for Naxos and use the Naxos options. And why not have a stop in Naxos anyway?

Koufonisia from Mykonos

It would be quite a contrast to link Mykonos to Koufonisia but there are usually some ferry connections depending on the ferry schedules – maybe have a look at Seajets.

Koufonisia from Ios

No direct services between Ios and Koufonisi so the best option is to travel from Ios to Naxos and take the Express Scopelitis or Blue Star to Koufonissi from Naxos.

Getting from UK to Koufonisia

Travelers from the UK have a few options to get to Koufonisia:

Fly directly to Athens on British Airways, EasyJet, Aegean Airlines and other carriers from London airports like Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. Flights take around 3.5 hours.
Connect through another European hub like Rome or Munich for cheaper fares before the short flight to Athens Airport.
Take the Eurostar train to Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam then fly or connect through to Athens. Adds more time but reduces flights.

Once arriving in Athens, follow the instructions above to reach Koufonisia by ferry or flight via Naxos Airport.

Booking Tips from UK

Allow plenty of time between arrivals and departures in Athens to account for delays.
Spending a night in Athens to start trip can reduce stress.
Have contingency plans if missing a connection due to delays.

From the USA to Koufonisia

From the United States, the most common route includes:

Nonstop flight to a major European hub like London, Paris, Amsterdam or Frankfurt. Wide availability from east and west coast cities.
Connect in Europe to a flight to Athens Airport. European airlines provide extensive connectivity.
Follow onward route options above from Athens Airport to Koufonisia.

Alternatively, some airlines like Emirates offer one-stop itineraries connecting through Dubai to Athens Airport which takes slightly longer but reduces stops.

Booking Tips from USA

Schedule long layovers in Europe to reduce the risk of missing tight connections.
Spend a night in Athens at the start of the trip to recover from jet lag before taking ferries.
Have backup plans in case of missed connections.

About Koufonisia

Once you arrive, here’s an overview of the island and how to get around:

Highlights of Koufonisia Island

Chora – The picturesque main village on Ano Koufonisi island. Plenty of places to stay, dine and drink.
Kato Koufonisi – The small uninhabited island next door, accessed by short boat ride from Ano Koufonisi. Home to Italy Beach and pristine swimming coves.
Boat Tours – Day trips to secluded beaches and neighboring islands like Keros. See Mavro G boat tours.
Beaches – Pristine stretches of sand like Foinikas Beach, Italida Beach, and Fanos Beach.
Seafood – Fresh catch of the day at the island’s low-key family-run tavernas.

Getting Around Koufonisia

One of the great things about Koufonisia is that a car is not required – no rental hassles, no driving or parking – just bliss! But there are plenty of other options to get around the island

Boats – the best way!! – regular boats shuttle from the port to teh beaches and between Ano Koufonisi and Kato Koufonisi islands. Or take boat tours to other islands.
Walking – The island is small enough to be explored entirely on foot. From one end of Chora village to the other is approximately 15 minutes and you can even walk to Pori beach if you’re fit.
Bicycle Rentals – Rent a bike to cover more ground at leisurely pace. Well marked bike paths connect villages and beaches
Taxis – there are taxis available for transfers from the port or trips between farther points on the island.

Where to stay Koufonisia

The big decision to make is – do you want to be staying at the Chora on Koufonisi Island or would you prefer a more remote location. If you’re close to Chora, heading out in the evening for food and drinks (and coming home!) is easy – if you’re staying a little further out (eg near Pori) , it might take a little more effort. You may get a bit of noise in busier times around the Chora but it’s not Mykonos level.

Near Koufonisi Chora there are a number of small hotels, villas and rooms. Closest to town you’ve got Keros Art Hotel Koufonisi, Arhipelagos, and Aeris Suites. A little further out but still walkable are Onar Suites, Niriiedes, Sohoro, Oceanides and Nautilus.

Pyrthea Houses Koufonisia offer a comfortable stay just round from Mylos at the windmill and Teal Blue has a nice outlook on the other side of the town beach.

Near Finika Beach you’ll find Pangaia Suites and there’s Mystic Villas a little further inland.

Up behind Pori you’ll find the idyllic Blue Harpist Villas and also Koufonisi Villas and Villa Phaedra.

Things to do in Koufonisia

Let’s start with an overview of Koufonisia to understand why it’s worth the journey to get to Koufonisia and some things to do when you get there!

Island Highlights

Pristine beaches with crystal clear waters in secluded coves and bays
Picturesque whitewashed villages with Cycladic architecture
Laidback, relaxed atmosphere without mass tourism
Excellent seafood tavernas serving the daily catch
Water sports like snorkeling, sailing, windsurfing
Hiking trails and cycling routes across the island
Day trips to neighboring islands like Keros and Donousa

Ano and Kato Koufonisia

Koufonisia is comprised of two islands linked by a short boat ride:

Ano Koufonisi – The largest and only inhabited island with villages, hotels, shops
Kato Koufonisi – Smaller uninhabited island with beaches and tavernas

With a permanent population of only about 400 people, once you get to Koufonisia it offers a quiet Greek island experience away from the major tourist crowds.