Koufonissi – Iraklia
Ferries to Cyclades Islands
Koufonissi – Iraklia
Ferries to Cyclades Islands
The Koufonissi Iraklia ferry route connects Cyclades Islands with Cyclades Islands and is currently operated by 3 ferry companies. Blue Star Ferries operate their crossing up to 3 times per week, SeaJets 7 times per week & the Small Cyclades Lines service is available up to 6 times per week.
There are a combined 16 sailings available per week on the Koufonissi Iraklia crossing between Cyclades Islands and Cyclades Islands and with 3 ferry companies on offer it is advisable to compare all to make sure you get the best fare at the time that you want to travel.
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Koufonissi is a small island belonging to Greece, and a former community in the Cyclades. The island got its name of Koufonissi, which is literally translated as ‘Hollow Islands’, due to the many huge caves that are dotted around the shores, giving the impression to pirates that the islands were hollow. The island is popular for those that are looking for a relaxing holiday on the beach, basking in the sun and admiring the beautiful landscapes. There are no bars or clubs on Koufonissi; any noise heard in the evening will be from the conversations of diners enjoying the delicious food and ambience of the restaurants. There are no cars on the island, therefore all visitors are required to travel by foot. Fortunately it is small enough to walk across in just about a day, with the main beaches being in relatively close proximity to each other. For the more adventurous, there are boat excursions on offer throughout the day, allowing visitors the chance to swim around the azure waters of the Aegean Sea. The ferry routes from the port cross to several of the other Greek islands; they are typically very short with the majority lasting under an hour, and the longest taking around four hours.
Sandwiched between the party isles of Ios and Naxos in the Cyclades archipelago is the tiny Greek island of Iraklia, a destination oft-forgotten in the shadow of its larger neighbours. While the other islands fight for the spotlight, the few inhabitants of Iraklia have gone about their usual business; a business that hasn’t changed for decades. It comes as no surprise, then, that the island has retained its tranquil, rural charm. The isle’s landscape is shaped by rugged, shrub-covered hills that tumble towards the rocky coastline edging the sapphire surf of the Aegean Sea. Only a few, sparsely populated villages nestle between these untouched slopes; all flaunting the traditional white-walled stylings of Cycladic architecture. The port in Iraklia is found along the shores of a bay in the village of Agios Georgios, a small settlement by the island’s north-eastern corner. There are no passenger facilities here. Instead the port consists of just a single pier that extends from the edge of the village promenade and into the shallows of the bay. Those looking to buy food or drink before departure will find one or two cafes and stores between the twist of village streets that scale the surrounding hillsides. Due to the island’s largely remote nature and its lack of public transport, travelling to and from the port can prove difficult. Only the eastern half of the island is inhabited and just a few narrow, country roads connect the region’s three villages. Most of Iraklia can only be reached on foot, though settlements are no more than 2-miles away from each other. A number of short-distance ferry routes currently operate from the port throughout the week. Services hosted by Blue Star Ferries hop over the Aegean to destinations scattered across the neighbouring islands; including Schinoussa, Koufonissi, Naxos, Katapola and Paros. Another, longer route heads north to the Greek mainland and the city port of Piraeus near the capital of Athens.
