Iraklia Travel: Ferries to the Small Cyclades
Iraklia is reached by ferry from Naxos in about 1 to 1.5 hours, or from Piraeus (Athens) in about 6.5 hours, on routes through the Small Cyclades. Three lines call at the island - the little Express Skopelitis, the faster NEL Lines boat and the Blue Star Lines ferry from Piraeus - so most travellers change at Naxos. For the beaches and where to stay once you arrive, see the Iraklia guide.
- Island
- Iraklia
- Group
- Small Cyclades
- From Naxos
- 1-1.5 h
- From Piraeus
- ~6.5 h
The Express Skopelitis
Skopelites Lines runs the small car ferry Express Skopelitis from Naxos to all the Small Cyclades and on to the villages of Egiali and Katapola on Amorgos. It is small, slow and not very comfortable, but the crossing from Naxos to Iraklia takes only 1 hour and 35 minutes because Iraklia is its first stop. The normal route is Naxos - Iraklia - Schinoussa - Koufonissi - Donoussa - Amorgos (Egiali and Katapola) three times a week, running more often in high season, every day from 15 June to 15 September.
NEL Lines from Naxos
NEL - Lesvos Maritime also connects to Iraklia, on the route Syros - Paros - Naxos - Schinoussa - Koufonissi - Katapola - Egiali. This car ferry is faster and more comfortable, and the trip from Naxos takes about an hour.
Blue Star Lines from Piraeus
Blue Star Lines sails from Piraeus (Athens) to Paros - Naxos - Iraklia - Schinoussa - Koufonissi - Amorgos and back. The journey takes about 6.5 hours and runs four times a week in high season.
Ferry timetables and tips
Ferry schedules change with the season and vary from year to year, so always check before you travel. If you look and find no schedules at all, you are probably too early and the timetables have not yet been approved, so try again later in the season. Sometimes the owner of the hotel you have booked knows best, so it is worth asking.