Ferries to Ios

The ferry port of Ios is in the sheltered bay of Ormos on the west side of the Cycladic island, below the Chora, and sits conveniently on the axis between Piraeus, Paros, Naxos and Santorini. From here you can reach 21 destinations, among them Thira, Paros and Naxos. Together the services add up to as many as 87 departures a day. Crossings take between 30 minutes and 12.25 hours. The port is served by 6 operators, among them Blue Star Ferries, Cyclades Fast Ferries and Golden Star Ferries.

Getting there and the terminal

The port is called Ormos and is known locally as Gialos; it is around two kilometres from the Chora, about 20 minutes uphill on foot. Ticket agencies, cafés, shops and car hire offices are right on the quay, as is the island's health centre. Local buses run from the port to the Chora and on to Mylopotas, frequently in summer. There are only a few taxis, and in high season it is worth booking one in advance. The port is small and easy to take in, but it has several berths that are worked in parallel in summer.

Check-in

For the Cyclades routes, Blue Star Ferries and Hellenic Seaways ask you to be in the boarding area at least one hour before departure, with a vehicle as well as on foot. That is the strictest requirement among the operators at the port.