Would you like to know which is the nearest island to Santorini? Where to go from Santorini? To another Greek island, of course!
One the map above you can see Santorini in the middle, surrounded by many other Greek islands. The map is too small to have all of the names of nearest islands to Santorini displayed.
If you’re reading this, you probably want to learn the names of some islands close to Santorini for day trips. Let’s see!
Contents of Nearest Island to Santorini
Best Islands Close to Santorini
There are five Greek islands around Santorini: Ios, Sikinos, Folegandros, Anafi and Anydros. A bit farther on the Greek islands map but still close to Santorini, there are Milos, Paros and Naxos, as well as the smaller islands of Koufonisia, Schoinousa and Sifnos. At about 2 – 3.5 hours distance by ferryboat from Santorini, Mykonos is also near.
Anydros is extremely small and outside of regular ferry routes, so I’m not going to take it into consideration, even though it appears to be the nearest island to Santorini from geographic standpoint.
What’s the use of being the nearest island to Santorini, when there’s no way to visit?
I’ll take the other Greek islands in the proximity of Santorini one by one, with details on distance, ferries and travel times.
Ios: Nearest Island to Santorini
Ios is one of the islands close to Santorini by ferry.
The speed boat journey takes between 35 and 50 minutes. Slower boats take 1 hour and 15 minutes, but they are cheaper.
There are several boats per day. Visiting Ios as a day trip from Santorini is tricky, though.
You have to check the time of the last departure from Ios, in order to ensure you can make it back to Santorini and also have enough time to visit Ios.
Sikinos: Close to Santorini but Less Connected
Located at about 2 hours by ferry from Santorini, Sikinos is one of the nearest Greek islands.
The downside of planning to travel from Santorini to Sikinos is that you only have two ferries per week, one every Monday and one every Thursday.
For island hoping in the Cyclades, you’ll want to travel from Santorini to the near Sikinos, spend a few days there, then either return to Santorini or move on to another Greek island.
Folegandros: Unspoiled Paradise near Santorini
Folegandros is one of the Greek islands near Santorini that still boast unorganized beaches and tranquil spots. This is the place to be to relax and enjoy the blue sea, the scenic views and the good food.
The journey from Santorini to Folegandsros by speed boat takes 50 minutes. There’s only one boat per day, so make sure you plan your island hopping with great care.
Anafi: Fournospita, Venetian Ruins, Chora
The ferry trip from Santorini to Anafi takes between 35 minutes and one hour, depending on the type of boat.
Anafi is one of the smaller Cycladic islands, a great destination for natural beauty and serenity lovers. Its name is tightly linked to the name of one of the coolest neighborhoods of Athens, Anafiotika. Here’s the official website of the Greek National Tourism Organization, where you can read more about Anafi and the main reasons to visit this island near Santorini.
One thing the Greek island of Anafi is known for is the Kalamos rock. Located on the southeastern side of Anafi, Kalamos rock is the second biggest monolith in Europe after Gibraltar.
You can hike Kalamos rock to enjoy a panoramic view of the island and its surroundings.
Next Best Islands Near Santorini
Here are a few more islands that are close enough to Santorini to be worth taking into consideration for your island hopping itinerary.
Milos
Speed boat services such as Seajets take two hours to get from Santorini to Milos. Slower ferries take between 4 and 5 hours to cover the same distance.
Flying between Milos and Santorini is possible, but there aren’t any direct flights, so you need to brace yourself for a long journey. All flights between islands pass through Athens.
Here’s my list of the Greek islands with airports to help with your island hopping planning.
Milos is a wonderful island and it deserves its own week of exploration. If you find Santorini too expensive for you, check out Milos. You’ll have a great time without breaking the bank.
Paros
Depending on the type of boat, you can expect your trip from Santorini to the island of Paros to take from 1 hour and 40 minutes to 3 hours and 15 minutes.
Like Milos, Paros is an island to take more time to explore.
Naxos
You only need 1.5 – 2 hours to get from Santorini to Naxos by ferry. That’s not too close, but not too far, either.
Naxos is the largest of the Cycladic islands, famous for its sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and a vibrant cultural life with many festivals, exhibitions and concerts.
Mykonos
Even though Santorini and Mykonos are the two most sought-after Greek islands, there are no direct flights between them.
All Santorini – Mykonos flights pass through Athens. Ferry trips between the two islands take between 2 hours and 3.5 hours.
Thirasia: The Nearest Island to Santorini
I saved Thirasia for the end of this article for a good reason; it is the small island opposite Oia, the limb of land that closes the circle of the Caldera with the volcano in the center. You can take a trip to Thirassia any day, between your flying dress photo session and your Thira to Oia hike. Just make sure you book all of your Santorini activities in advance, as they are quick to sell out.
Check out this Santorini boat tour that includes a visit to the island of Thirassia at the price of today.
If you’re keen on island hopping, check out this Cyclades itinerary I’m planning for this year.
