Greece

How to get from Kos to Astypalea

Compare all transport options: bus, ferry, train, flight. Prices, durations and practical tips.

⏱
FASTEST
1h 50min
💶
From
59€
📍
Distance
95 km
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⚡ Quick answer

Checked offer from Kos to Astypalea: Ferry, about 1h 50min, from €59. Main companies selling this route on 12Go (checked on November 4, 2026): Dodekanisos Seaways; main departure point: Kos Port.

Distance: 95 km. Data updated on .

One option to get from Kos to Astypalea

Select an option below to see the route details and compare prices. Secure booking via our partner 12go.asia.

Ferry
1h 50min
59 €
View
🚌 Departure from Kos
📍Ferries to Astypalea usually leave from the main port of Kos Town, next to the Castle of the Knights. Ticket desks and cafés are close by. Check your ticket for the exact quay and boarding point before you go.
🚇The port is right in Kos Town and easy to reach on foot from most central hotels. From farther away, use a local taxi or a bus to the town centre, then walk to the harbour with your luggage.
⏰Sailings on this route are not necessarily daily and vary by season. Check the timetable for your date, as departure times and frequency change between summer and winter.
💸 Transport from 59€ per person
⚡ Fastest: 1h 50min
🗓 Book now Secure payment · via 12go.asia

Companies selling this route on 12Go

Offers listed on 12Go on November 4, 2026 for a departure on November 25, 2026. Timetables and prices change with the date: check them before booking.

CompanyModeDeparts fromFromOffers
Dodekanisos Seaways Ferry Kos Port €59 1
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Practical tips

💡
Book early in summer

Boats serving smaller islands like Astypalea have limited capacity and can sell out in July and August. Secure your ticket as soon as your dates are fixed, especially if you travel with luggage or on a weekend.

💡
Check the days of operation

Island-to-island links often do not run daily. Before booking accommodation, confirm which days a sailing exists on your date, so you do not end up stuck on one island waiting for the next boat.

💡
Confirm your departure port

Always check the departure port on your ticket before heading out. Greek routes can leave from different harbours, as with Athens (Piraeus, Rafina or Lavrio), so a quick check avoids going to the wrong quay.

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Leave a buffer for the wind

Strong winds can delay or cancel crossings in the Aegean. Avoid scheduling a flight or a tight onward ferry on the same day, and keep a spare day if your trip home depends on this crossing.

💡
Arrive at the port early

Reach the port well before departure to find the right ticket desk or boarding area, load your luggage and pick a good seat. Keep your confirmation and an ID handy on your phone.

The journey experience

Getting from Kos to Astypalea is a classic island-hopping leg between the Dodecanese, and the good news is that the choice is simple: the ferry is the transport option to plan around. You do not need to weigh up coaches, trains and flights, so you can focus on picking the right sailing and booking it early.

The crossing is a seagoing link between two very different islands. Kos is a busy hub with a big port, while Astypalea is a quieter, butterfly-shaped island with a whitewashed Chora crowned by a Venetian castle. On board you will find the usual Greek ferry set-up: indoor seating, a snack bar, open decks for the views and space for luggage. It is a comfortable way to travel for independent visitors with a backpack or a suitcase and no car.

Your main task is to check the current timetable for your exact travel date, because Greek ferry schedules change with the season and some island-to-island links only run on certain days of the week. Book ahead in summer, when boats fill up, and avoid planning a tight onward connection on the same day. Keep a day of flexibility in case strong winds disrupt sailings. Booking online gives you instant confirmation and removes most of the stress.

Frequently asked questions — Kos → Astypalea

Why visit Astypalea?

  • ✓ Explore the Chora hilltop village, with its whitewashed houses cascading below a Venetian castle and rows of windmills
  • ✓ Swim at Livadia beach, a long pebble-and-sand bay right below Chora, and at the quieter coves of Vatses and Agios Konstantinos
  • ✓ Hike the trails to the Agios Ioannis and Panagia Portaitissa monasteries for sweeping views over the Aegean
  • ✓ Discover the butterfly-shaped island by boat, visiting the isolated beaches of Kaminakia, Steno and Vai
  • ✓ Spot the island's Mediterranean wildlife and stargaze under dark skies, far from the crowds of the bigger Cyclades and Dodecanese
🌙
Recommended stay
3 to 5 nights — enough to see Chora, swim at several beaches and hike without rushing

When to visit Astypalea?

MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND CLIMATE

June to September — hot, dry and sunny weather, with calm seas ideal for swimming and ferry connections at their best

Jan 😞
Feb 😞
Mar 😐
Apr 😐
May 😊
Jun 😊
Jul 😐
Aug 😐
Sep 😊
Oct 😊
Nov 😐
Dec 😞
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In Astypalea — Plan your stay
Accommodation, activities and tips selected for you
🏨 Accommodation
Hotels in Astypalea
Compare the best rates available
via trip.com

What to do in Astypalea?

Local experiences, must-see sights and activities selected for you

MUST-SEE
🏰
Chora Venetian Castle at Sunset
The 15th-century Quirini castle crowns Chora, reached by a stepped lane past whitewashed houses and windmills. Entry to the grounds is free and open all day. Climb about 20 minutes before sunset for the best light over the Aegean, and bring a light jacket since the hilltop wind picks up.
🏘️
Wandering Chora's Whitewashed Lanes
Chora's cubic houses, blue shutters and tiny chapels spill down the hillside in a layout that recalls Cycladic villages more than Dodecanese ones. Explore early morning or after 18:00 to avoid the heat and catch the best light. Wear grippy shoes, as the marble steps are slippery.
🌬️
Windmills Above Pera Gialos
Row of restored windmills overlooking the harbour of Pera Gialos, the island's main port. They are free to see at any hour and make an easy photo stop on the way up to the castle. Walk up from the waterfront in 10 minutes and finish with a drink at a harbour café.
🏖️
Livadi Beach Swim and Tavernas
Livadi is a long sandy-pebble beach with calm, shallow water, a short walk or 5-minute drive from Chora. Sunbeds start around 10€ for two, but the tamarisk shade is free. Eat at a beachfront taverna and order the grilled fresh fish by weight, asking the price first.
🍯
Local Honey, Cheese and Saffron
Astypalea's thyme honey, goat cheese and local saffron-flavoured specialities are best bought directly from small producers and shops in Chora. Expect to pay from 8€ for a jar of honey. Ask for a taste first, and buy early in the season when stocks are fullest.
⛪
Panagia Portaitissa Church
This church inside the castle walls holds the island's most venerated icon and a carved wooden iconostasis. Entry is free, usually open mornings and again in the early evening. Dress modestly with covered shoulders and knees, and keep voices low if a service is on.
🛥️
Boat Trip to Remote Coves
Small boats leave from Pera Gialos for the island's wild southern coast and islets such as Kounoupes, with turquoise coves unreachable by road. Day trips cost from 40€ per person, usually with a swim stop. Book the day before and check the wind, as the meltemi can cancel departures.
🥾
Hike to Agios Ioannis Monastery
Follow old paths across the island's dry, rocky interior toward the remote chapel and monastery sites near the coast, well away from the crowds. Carry at least 2 litres of water, a hat and sturdy shoes, since there is no shade or shop. Start before 9:00 and download offline maps.

How long to visit Astypalea?

3 to 5 days

Plan 3 to 5 days. In 3 days you can explore Chora with its hilltop castle and windmills, relax at Livadia beach and take a boat trip to the Koutsomytis or Vatses areas. With 5 days you can add hikes to Agios Ioannis and Kaminakia, visit Analipsi and the Maltezana (Analipsi) beaches, and still keep a slow day. Book ferries and accommodation early in summer, and rent a car or scooter since public transport is minimal.

Related searches

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