By Aeroplane
Syros has a small airport serving Athens and occasionally Thessaloniki. There are daily flights from Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos to Syros and these flights run throughout the year. The flight duration is around 35 minutes but if you’ve taken into consideration travel time to the airport, time to check in and then pick up luggage once landed, you may find easier to take a ferry from Piraeus instead. For more information click here.
By Boat
From Piraeus
The distance between Athens and Syros is 110 miles. To get to Syros, catch one of the daily ferries from the port of Piraeus, in Athens. Ferries leave throughout the year and the quickest journey is using a high-speed ferry. It is a 2.5-hour boat ride by high-speed ferry, or a four-hour journey by traditional ferry. Slow ferries are larger than the high-speed ones and offer more outdoor deck space to walk around and experience the amazing views of the Greek islands. Tickets on the slow ferries are also cheaper. Both vessel types run from Gates E6 and E7 at the dock in Port of Piraeus. During the summer season, there are frequent crossings from Piraeus to Syros, but note that ferry schedules become much more limited during the low season.
From Rafina
The small port of Rafina is located just 25 minutes from the airport in Athens. You may also find a few ferries leaving from Rafina that sail to Syros, but ferry schedules are limited, so be sure to check that the ferry is running the period you want to travel.
From Lavrion
Additional ferries to Syros leave from Lavrion Port but only during the high season. These are traditional ferries that take nearly five hours to get from Lavrion to Syros.
Connection with other islands
Being the administrative center of the Cyclades, Syros is well connected by boat with other islands in the Aegean Sea. You can travel from Syros to the following Aegean islands:
- Cyclades: Mykonos, Tinos, Paros, Folegandros, Naxos, Sifnos, Serifos, Kythnos, Kea, Andros, Kimolos, Milos, Sikinos, Ios, Santorini, Anafi, Amorgos, Donousa, Iraklia, Koufonisia,Schinousa and Thirasia.
- Dodecanese: Rhodes, Astypalea, Kos, Kalymnos, Leros and Patmos
- North Aegean Islands: Ikaria, Lesvos, Limnos, Inousses, Samos, Fourni and Chios
Travel Tips
If you're prone to seasickness, keep in mind that high-speed ferries can get quite bumpy if it's windy outside, so you might want to consider a slower ferry as an alternative option.