Posted by Getting There, Ports, Timetables & Tips 2025 🚢✈️
The Cycladic island of Sifnos is a true hidden gem: small, charming, authentic, and not yet overrun by mass tourism. It’s especially popular with independent travelers, hikers, and anyone wanting to experience unspoiled Greece. Since there’s no airport on Sifnos, you almost always reach the island by ferry – either directly from Athens or via one of the neighboring islands.
Here you’ll find everything you need to know about traveling to Sifnos by ferry: departure points, ferry companies, prices, schedules, and helpful tips. We’ll also show you how to combine flying and ferries for a faster and more stress-free journey to the island.
Since there’s no airport on Sifnos, you’ll almost always need to take a ferry – either directly from Athens or via one of the neighboring islands.
See also: Sifnos Sights Sifnos Beaches Sifnos Insider Tips
🛳️ 1. Overview: How to get to Sifnos
Sifnos is located in the middle of the Aegean Sea between Serifos, Milos, and Paros and is only accessible by ferry. Most travelers arrive via one of two routes:
By ferry directly from Athens (Piraeus) → Sifnos
By plane to Athens, Santorini, or Milos → then by ferry to Sifnos
The main ferry connection runs from the port of Piraeus in Athens to Kamares, the small port town on Sifnos.
✈️ 2. Arriving by plane + ferry (quick & easy)
Since Sifnos doesn’t have its own airport, the fastest way to get there is usually a combination of plane and ferry. There are two tried-and-tested options:
🛫 Option 1: Fly to Athens + ferry from Piraeus
✈️ Flight time: approx. 2.5–3 hours from Germany, Switzerland, or Austria
🚆 Transfer: From Athens Airport (ATH) by metro, bus, or taxi to the port of Piraeus (approx. 1–1.5 hours)
🚢 Ferry: Continue to Sifnos (approx. 2.5–5 hours)
👉 Advantage: Daily flights to Athens, many ferry connections, affordable and flexible
👉 Disadvantage: Requires two modes of transport, allow for a short transfer time
💡 Tip: Book a morning flight to Athens and an afternoon ferry – this way you can complete the onward journey stress-free in one day. [wp-osm id=39]
🛫 Option 2: Fly to Milos or Santorini + island-hopping ferry to Sifnos
If you If you’re planning an island-hopping trip or find a flight to Athens too long, you can also fly to Milos (MLO) or Santorini (JTR) and then take a ferry to Sifnos.
✈️ Flight to Milos: Direct flights from Athens (approx. 45 min.), daily ferries from Milos to Sifnos in summer (approx. 40–60 min.)
✈️ Flight to Santorini: Direct flights from Germany and Austria, then a ferry (approx. 3–5 hours)
👉 Advantage: Perfect for island hopping, ideal for longer trips
👉 Disadvantage: Fewer ferry connections depending on the season
🚢 3. Ferries from Athens (Piraeus) to Sifnos
The main connection is the ferry from Piraeus to Sifnos, operated by several shipping companies. There are several departures daily in the summer.
| route | Travel time | frequency | Price (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piraeus → Sifnos (fast ferry) | 2.5 – 3 hours | Daily (April–Oct.) | 50 – 80 € |
| Piraeus → Sifnos (conventional ferry) | 5 – 6 hours | Daily | 35 – 55 € |
🔎 Ferry companies: Seajets, Zante Ferries, Aegean Speed Lines, Blue Star Ferries
💡 Tip: For fast and comfortable travel, take a high-speed ferry. For a more affordable and relaxed option, choose a traditional car ferry.
🗺️ 4. Ferries from other islands to Sifnos
Sifnos is excellently integrated into the Cyclades ferry network, making island hopping easy to plan. Here are some important routes:
| Departure island | Travel time | Departures (summer) |
|---|---|---|
| Milos → Sifnos | 40 – 60 Min. | daily |
| Serifos → Sifnos | 30 – 45 Min. | daily |
| Paros → Sifnos | 2-3 hours | 3-5 times per week |
| Santorini → Sifnos | 3 – 5 hours | 3-4 times per week |
| Mykonos → Sifnos | 4 – 5 hours | 2-4 times per week |
💡 Tip: Milos is particularly well-suited as a stopover island, as many ferries depart from there to Sifnos.
🚢 5. The Itinerary of a Typical Ferry Trip
Here’s how your trip to Sifnos will work in practice:
Arrival in Athens – flight from Germany, Switzerland, or Austria
Continue to Piraeus – approx. 60–90 min. by metro or bus
Ferry crossing to Sifnos – 2.5–6 hours depending on the ship
Arrival in Kamares – a small port town with bus connections to all destinations
👉 Tip: It’s best to book your ferry ticket 2–4 weeks in advance, especially in July and August.
📍 6. Port of Sifnos – Kamares
The island’s only port is Kamares, a small, charming settlement with tavernas, shops, and hotels right on the seafront. From here, buses run to all the main towns on the island, e.g. B.:
🏙️ Apollonia – Capital of Sifnos
🏘️ Artemonas – Traditional village with beautiful views
🏝️ Platis Gialos – Popular beach resort
⛪ Chrisopigi – Famous monastery by the sea
💡 Tip: If you’re traveling without a car, you can reach almost all the destinations by public bus – the bus stop is just a 2-minute walk from the port.
🧭 7. Tips for your ferry trip to Sifnos
✅ Book early: High-speed ferries sell out quickly, especially in summer.
✅ Allow plenty of time: Leave at least 3 hours between your flight and ferry transfer.
✅ Choose your seat: Seats inside are cheaper, while deck seats offer better views.
✅ Bring a car: If you want to explore Sifnos by rental car, book a space in advance.
✅ Beware of wind: Ferries may be delayed or canceled due to strong Meltemi winds.
✨ 8. Conclusion: Getting to Sifnos – Relaxing and full of adventure 🚢🌅
Even though Sifnos doesn’t have its own airport, getting there is easy and flexible. The most convenient option is to fly to Athens and take the ferry from Piraeus, but traveling via Milos or Santorini is also ideal – especially for island-hopping enthusiasts.
The ferries are reliable, comfortable, and offer breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea during the crossing. Whether you travel quickly on the high-speed ferry or leisurely on a classic car ferry, the journey itself is part of the Greek experience.
Once you arrive on Sifnos, you’ll be rewarded with one of the most charming Cycladic islands – full of sunshine, style, history, and nature.
Ferries in Greece
| Ferries in Greece | Island hopping Greece |
| Ferries Crete | Ferries Santorini |
| Ferries Corfu | Ferries Sifnos |
| Ferries Karpathos | Port Piraeus |
| Transportb´Greek islands | Buses Greece |