I am trying to plan out a trip for next May to Turkey and Greece. The plan is to leave Turkey and set sail to Santorini and Mykonos. I am aware that to get to Santorini I have to take a ferry from Kusadasi, Turkey via Samos. Then the plan is to take another ferry to Mykonos, finally flying or taking another ferry to Athens. My question is really general. I have been trying to find any sort of schedule online for the ferries, but the problem is that tourist season is over for this year and 2011 schedules may not be posted until early next year. I am wanting to know a few bits of info: 1. Is there defintely a ferry that runs from Samos to Santorini (if so, how long is the trip time and approximate cost)? 2. How long is the trip time from Santorini to Mykonos (approx. cost as well). 3. The most important question, Do these ferries run daily in May/June? Or do they operate only certain days? Thank you!
There is definitely NOT any ferry that runs from Samos to Santorini. I don't know for sure but I dont think there every has been a ferry connecting those two islands, at least not in a very long time. This last season there was a ferry from Samos to Mykonos, where you would then board the next ferry to take you the rest of the way to Santorini. so if this route is used next season you can just change your itinerary and go to Mykonos first. The ferry route from Samos changes every couple of years. If the ferry doesn't stop at Mykonos it will stop at both Naxos and Paros instead. Paros is a major ferry hub in the Cyclades Island group from which you can easily reach both Mykonos and Santorini. You can also reach Santorini from Naxos. Your connecting ferry schedules may require you to spend the night on one of these two islands before being able to continue on. Once these schedules are fixed for next year you can find them here: www.gtp.gr www.ferries.gr/hfd www.openseas.gr/OPENSEAS/index_en.vm The ferry from Samos (port of Vathi) to Mykonos or Paros takes around 6 hours and will cost around €45 for a basic economy ticket. In May and June this ferry will be running at least 3-4 times each week. The highspeed ferry between Mykonos and Santorini, the FlyingCat4, takes about 2.5 hours and an economy ticket costs €43. This is a daily ferry except for the twice-monthly 'No-sail' Wednesday (for maintenance). Your other option is a different highspeed ferry, the Seajet, from Mykonos to Paros at 10am (45 minutes) and then the Blue Star car ferry from Paros to Santorini at Noon. Once they're available you can find the ferry schedules for Kusadasi, Turkey to Vathi, Samos here: http://www.feribot.net/feribot/?lang=en
Much appreciated info! I was also wondering about this non-existent ferry from Samos to Santorini. There was a link on Meander Travel for that ferry, which is why I assumed there was one. In any case, I guess I will have to reverse the order of the trip. Not a problem. Thank you very much!
Gabriel,
Another possibility is to ferry to Santorini vis Kos from Bodrum, south of Kusadasi. I believe the ferry runs daily to Kos, but then only on Mon, Wed, Fri to Santorini, departing at 10 pm. The schedules change each year. Don't know the cost. Have fun. Dorothy