This June, my friends and I will be starting our Greek excursion in Athens and finally ending up in Ios for our last days in Greece. We must get back to Italy in a relatively cheap and efficient manner. We are leaving Ios June 20th and need to be in Switzerland by the 23rd. SO first question, what is the most efficient way to get from Ios to Italy (I know there is no direct way from Ios). Second question: Is taking the ferry from Greece to Italy, then a train from Italy to Switzerland the most efficient/cheap route? Third question: Is it realistic to leave Ios on the 20th and arrive in Switzerland on the 23rd by way of ferries and trains?
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
Take a highspeed ferry from Ios to Santorini. It only takes 30 minutes. Then fly from Santorini to Athens. From Athens, you can easily fly to your desired destination in Italy or Switzerland.
Posted by
OP
overland park
6 posts
Thank you , I truly appreciate your help. I have recently purchased a Global Eurail Flexi pass and I would like to utilize it as much as possible.. but if flying is the best way to go, all things considered, then that's what we will have to do.
Posted by
OP
overland park
6 posts
So the flight prices from Greece to Switzerland are ridiculous. We will need to take a ferry from Greece back to Italy, then a train to Switzerland. The last island of our Greek trip is Ios....this is rather inconvenient considering we need to get back to a Greek port that ferries to Italy...what would be the best route and how long will it take? (if using high speed ferry)
Posted by
Centennial, CO, US
2186 posts
You didn't say where in Switzerland you're going, but a quick check on Expedia shows 4-hour flights from Santorini to Milan, for about $300. I would imagine you could find a train from Milan to your Swiss destination, perhaps even using your railpasses.
Posted by
Gaston, Oregon, USA
931 posts
I just did a quick check of the flight prices on Skyscanner and came up with $167. I bet there are better ones available.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32353 posts
amanda, I agree with a previous reply that the easiest and quickest method would be a Ferry from Ios to Santorini, and then a flight from Santorini to Milan / MXP. Depending on the travel date and flight, Aegean has flights as low as ~€129 PP. Those flights require a short layover in Athens. Travel by Ferry to Italy (Brindisi) will be MUCH longer and more tiring, and probably not much cheaper as you'll still have to get from wherever you land in Italy to your ultimate destination. The flight is absolutely the best option, regardless of the cost (IMHO). In order to provide more specific suggestions, it would help to have more information on your plans. Are you planning to spend any time in Italy, or is this just a transit point on the way to Switzerland? Where are you going in Switzerland? On my trip last year, I purposely planned Santorini as my last stop in Greece precisely because it facilitated easy transportation to my next stop in Switzerland (I travelled to Lugano from Santorini, via MXP). Good luck!