Kos to Santorini tickets

About the ride from Kos to Santorini 

 

If you’ve never been island hopping in Greece before, you’re in for a real treat. This country is blessed with some of the world’s most beautiful islands. There’s nothing better than skipping merrily from one to the next to find your favorite place to enjoy an ice-cold frappe.

The relatively short distance from Kos to Santorini makes these two Greek beauties the perfect place to start an island-hopping adventure. It’s about five hours by high-speed ferry, so just enough time to catch a few rays or find a quiet spot and curl up for a nap.

As only one service provider is operating in this area, you’re going to be traveling with Blue Star Ferries. They’re a very well-known and long-established local company. Vessels are very large and transport everything from cars and cargo to trucks and travelers.

Onboard you’ll find a spacious air-conditioned seating area below deck as well as a restaurant and bar selling hot food, snacks and drinks. Restrooms are also onboard, and WiFi access is available. Most people tend to find a spot and stay there for the duration of the trip.

There is an outdoor seating area on the top deck with plenty of space to roam around. Blue Star has two ferry departures every day to get from Kos to Santorini. Ticket prices start from US$55 per passenger for a one-way trip. 

Use the time onboard to walk around and stretch your legs. You can bring your own food and drinks which will save you money as restaurant prices are often expensive. Passenger luggage allowance is 20kg plus a 7kg carry-on bag. Plenty of room to stow a few finikias (specialty scones from Kos).

Ferries are the best way to travel from Kos to Santorini because they give you so much free time to spend looking out over the Aegean. Make sure you relax and enjoy the ride. Catch up on some reading or do some research when it comes to discovering the secrets of Santorini. In this writer’s opinion, the south is by far the island’s best side.

If you really don’t fancy the ferry, there are also several flights to the island via Athens. Ryanair and Olympic Air cover this air space. One-way tickets cost from US$85 to US$166 for a 4-5 hour flight. Even with a layover, it’s worth it if you can’t stand the motion of the ocean.

 

What to see when traveling from Kos to Santorini 

It’s often quite a long way between the Greek islands. For example, the Kos to Santorini distance is 213 kilometers (132 miles). This gives you plenty of opportunities to enjoy life on the ocean wave. Just don’t forget the sunscreen if you’re sitting up top for five hours!

Keep an eye out for the island of Astypalaia. It’s such a beautiful sight to watch the sunset beyond the white-washed buildings clinging to the hillside. Also, numerous uninhabited tiny islets surround Astypalaia. See if you can spot any signs of life. 

Elsewhere within the Aegean, you might get to see flying fish, porpoises and dolphins. Although dolphin populations are on the decline across the Mediterranean, pods have been sighted around the islands in this area, particularly in the summer months.

Another experience to enjoy on the Kos to Santorini ferry is the fishermen bringing in their catch. Many Greek islanders still depend on fishing for their livelihoods. Watching them unfurling their nets and hanging out octopus to dry on harbor walls is still a daily event.

Make sure you’re on the top deck as you depart Kos and when you finally arrive in Santorini. The shouts and cries from the industrious local workers on the harbor also add to the experience. It’s like stepping back in time and preparing you for what lies ahead. 

 

How to get from Kos to Santorini 

Taking a bus/ferry from Kos to Santorini 

Getting ferry tickets to Santorini is very easy. All you have to do is book your place on the next available boat, and away you go. Ferries in Greece will often travel between the islands on a schedule. So if you miss one sailing, another ship will usually be along a couple of hours later.

Ferries are basically the only form of transport from Kos to Santorini for cars as well as passengers. There aren’t any huge bridges or underwater tunnels leading from one island to the next. It’s a simple yet effective way to travel. One that allows you to rest, relax and enjoy the ride. 

And that’s how to get from Kos to Santorini. It’s a tried and tested method. Sometimes you can sleep on the top deck covered by a blanket of stars. Other times you’ll have the best seat in the house as you lounge about on the sundeck. 

 

Taking a flight from Kos to Santorini

You can also fly to Santorini from Kos. Although there’s nothing direct, you can go via Athens. The whole journey takes anything from 3-5 hours.

Whichever way you go, don’t forget to send us a postcard!