getting off Ikaria

It might depend on where you want to go next, and you didn't say. I'm finding an October 1 departure on NEL Lines for Athens/Piraeus, leaving Agios Kirykos at 8:20pm and then leaving Evdilos at 9:50pm. This same ferry also goes in the opposite direction to Samos. These are not yet "officially approved" timetables but because this is an established route that's been around for a long time I'm pretty sure it will be. October is considered off-season and as such the schedules are can sometimes not be available until September. http://www.gtp.gr I'm also seeing 2 cheap flights to Athens on Olympic Air for October 1, €68, 9:55am (one seat left) and 3:20pm. Olympic Air

Thanks Lee, We'd like to hit a few islands on the way to Santorini and then on to Crete and possibly flying to Corfu and then to Athens to fly home. We have 3 weeks. Is this too ambitious? Ikaria to Samos could be fun. Where does the next ferry go from Samos? I guess I can just wait for the schedules to be published but any insight you may have are welcome. Thanks,
Samantha

This is the route that ferry takes: PIRAEUS - SYROS - EVDILOS (Ikaria) - AGIOS KIRYKOS (Ikaria) - FOURNI - KARLOVASSI - VATHY - KARLOVASSI - FOURNI - AGIOS KIRYKOS - EVDILOS - SYROS - PIRAEUS So, from Ikaria if you go east it stops at Fourni and Samos. If you go west it stops at Syros and Athens/Piraeus. If you're going to Santorini you have to go to Syros to catch that ferry. This is the route that ferry takes: SYROS - PAROS - NAXOS - IOS - SIKINOS - FOLEGANDROS - RIVA - SANTORINI - ANAFI From Samos you can take a daytrip across into Turkey to see Ephesus, one of the most amazing archaeological sites in the Med. From Santorini you can take a ferry south to Crete, but to get to Corfu from Crete means returning to Athens first for a flight. With 3 weeks (3 weeks will fly by!) to spend in Greece I'd go with 3 islands and Athens so you can relax and get into the rhythm of your surroundings, but you have earmarked islands in the far corners of the Aegean that are not really easily connected, meaning you waste a lot of time in transit between them, so it might be better for you to pick islands closest to your main choice. If that's Santorini, and if for certain you're going to be on Ikaria, I'd go with Syros, Naxos and/or Paros, and/or Crete, and forget about Corfu. Be advised that Crete is huge and really takes a minimum of a week with a rental car just to barely scratch the surface. Save Corfu for another time. And one last very important point: Not all ferries are daily, and the ones between Athens and Samos and between Syros and Santorini certainly are not. You're going to have the added challenge of coming up with an itinerary that's compatible with the ferry schedules, so don't book your hotels until you're sure you can get around as needed.

Lee! This is the best info that I've received so far! I talked to my husband and told him that corfu and crete may need to be left for our next trip. I read up on Paros and it sounds really nice. We're just gonna take it easy and float. Your info has really helped. Thank you so much for being so kind! Best,
Samantha

Paros is one of my favorites. Be sure to read up on Antiparos too. It's just a short hop across from Paros and makes for a nice daytrip.

I read about it and want to go there for the cave of antiparos. It sounds amazing. What do you think of Koufonisi?

I haven't been there but I have been to Sikinos, which is a small island, quieter than Antiparos with only 2 villages, one at the seaport and one up at the highest elevation. There are some nice beaches accessible by hiking and you can get there by ferry from Paros, and from Sikinos you can get to Santorini. I think the biggest challenge for going to Koufonisia is getting there and then moving onward in a timely fashion. Ferry service is limited.

Do you recommend a place to stay on Paros?

Depends on your budget. I'm a confirmed tightwad. I stayed at Alexandra's Rooms (Next to Paros Hotel) last time, which was nice and clean with fridge, TV, A/C and coffee maker and a sliver of a sunset view. Great water pressure and hot water in abundance. There's a larger unit with a nice outdoor terrace and a better view. Easy to find and within 15 minutes' walk from the ferry dock along the waterfront past the marina, to the left as you leave the ferry.