Inter-island ferries are not prohibitively expensive, but don’t expect dirt cheap either. And not every island-pair is connected by a direct ferry service, but you can almost always expect for neighboring islands to be connected to each other. And islands further from each other but within the same island grouping/chain are also likely to be connected with each other by ferry (like islands within the Cycladic group or within the Dodecanese group). Many ferries that depart Athens for the Dodecanese islands do make a stop at one or more Cycladic Islands, so it’s definitely possible to hop between island chains this way. Blue Star Ferries www.bluestarferries…. is one ferry company that does this, offering direct ferry service from Rhodes to Santorini, Naxos, Paros, or Syros.

Ferry prices are reasonable. If you’re interested in going off the beaten path, ferry routes to under-visited islands are cheap because they are subsidized by the government (because these routes are not commercially viable and these small island communities would otherwise be stranded). But ferry routes to/from heavily populated islands (like Rhodes, Crete, Lesvos, and Corfu) and/or heavily touristed islands (like Mykonos, Santorini, Kos, Samos, Paros, etc) are very busy and will not be cheap.

Island airports are mainly served by flights to/from the mainland and by international flights. But inter-island flights do exist, mainly between the most touristed Aegean islands like Heraklion(Crete)-Rhodes, Rhodes-Santorini, Heraklion-Santorini, Santorini-Mykonos, and Heraklion-Kos. The number of inter-island flights has increased recently thanks to a new regional airline www.skyexpress.gr that connects quite a few Aegean Islands to each other. Unfortunately, the success of a small inter-island airline has not been replicated on the Ionian side. For a while there was Corfu-based Airsea Lines which started with an ambitious Ionian network, which was then reduced, and now their website isn’t working. But Sky Express on the Aegean side is so far very successful, offering a number of inter-island flights.

For ferries you don’t need to book in advance, unless you want a cabin. Many people [primarily backpackers] tough it out on overnight ferries (like Crete-Athens) without a cabin as “deck passengers” which means they lounge around the ship’s hallways and food court. For a little extra money, but cheaper than getting a cabin, you can be a “lounge passenger” which means you have access to a big lounge where you can get comfortable on a nice couch and sleep there, although the lounge can get pretty packed. Some ferries also have an airline-type seating option, but I think this is becoming less and less common [as newer vessels replace old ones] in favour of lounges…except on the fast ferries. The fast ferries www.hellenicseaways…. do half the time and everyone sits in airline-type seating. For flights, I would recommend booking in advance, but if you don’t, you can always contact the airline last minute to see if there’s any available seats. The current global economic downturn is expected to hit the country’s tourism industry this year, which may come to your advantage.

I think that’s fine. Another option is Kusadasi-Rhodes-Crete-Santorini-Athens.

Ferries are inexpensive and plentiful (lots of competition between companies)…the faster the ferry, the more expensice it is (i.e the hydrofoils tend to cost the most). As mentiooned don’t bother to get a cabin or a seat, lots of places to lounge around on deck in the sunshine and it it’s cheaper

they come in greek only. i make quiz… what were greek mens in white robes do in greek sauna?

Slower ferris can definitely be fun…you see Greece from a different perspective. Dolphis jumping beside the ferry’s bow is not an uncommon sight. Make sure to bring some food and a bottle to share with others

Sultan,

You’re Borat-immitating persona isn’t funny, and your jokes are unoriginal and stale.

greco american make afraid of ghetto trash not russian speaking people……

Tell us what country you’re really from. Maybe we can make some biggoted and racist jokes about your real country and nationality.

look me in the eye friend & tell me I ams not Real Russian Man

That’s what I thought.

i am greek and i have to comment that the best way to travel through greek islands,(or crete-athens) is by ferry… and you don’t have to check ticket from before, in summer there are all day plenty of routes from island to island…. definately not air-flights… and one great advice for all travelers who travel in greece especially during high-tourist period…. DO NOT TRUST TAXI-DRIVERS!!!! i mean there are good taxi-drivers or you can ask for advice but they always take more money for routes when they deal with non-greeks……so do not take taxis to travel through a greek island, preferable way is buses or even hitch-hike….

Personally, I don’t recommend hitchhiking.

With regards to taxi drivers ripping off foreigners: most cab drivers are honest, but there are some bad apples. Cab drivers, particularly in Athens, form a powerful union, and they will do whatever necessary to fight regulation of their industry. Unlike New York where cab dirvers work for a company, each cab driver in Athens owns his car, so it’s literally his own business, but they all work together as members of a powerful trade union that will shout and whine whenever there’s proposals to regulate the industry to make it more honest and transparent (and now they’re demanding that cabs be allowed into bus lanes….they’re a spoiled bunch). Thankfully, various steps to help consumers and regulate the industry have been achieved, particularly in Athens (and the conusmer should always feel free to ask about the fare before stepping into the cab), but if you still chose to avoid cabs, this is entirely possible. The public transport system within Athens is swift, extensive, and reliable. Outside the capital, all smaller cities have their own public transport systems made of a fleet of buses, but almost all points of interest are within walking distance of each other in city centers. For intercity travel, the rail system is not very extensive, but the intercity bus network goes pretty much everywhere.