Sifnos is a small island in the Cyclades that is known for its peaceful, chilled out beaches, great food, ceramics and hiking trails. There is no airport so your options to get travel from Athens to Sifnos are limited.
1. Athens to Sifnos ferry
Most ferries to Sifnos are on the Western-Cyclades route: Piraeus – Kythnos – Serifos – Sifnos – Milos and through to Santorini and beyond.
In Summer there are frequent connections to the Eastern Cyclades – Paros, Naxos, Mykonos etc…in Summer.
There are three ferry ports in Athens and you will need to head to Piraeus, the largest. You can get there by Metro, Bus or Taxi. The new Metro station is right across the road from the Port and now connects all the way to the International Airport.
Once in Piraeus head to Gates E5 or E6, which service the Cyclades Islands.
Ferry schedules are revised each year and fully published by Easter for the coming Tourist Season. If you are looking in the off-season be patient as more routes will likely be added.
There are usually a couple of services each Summer including Seajets which takes 2 hours and 15 minutes and Zante Lines which is bigger but slower and takes almost 6 hours, with several stops along the way.
Tickets can be booked online or at the Ticket office at the Gate in Piraeus.
Further reading: Frequently Asked Questions about Ferries in Greece
2. Tour – Athens to Sifnos Yachts and Tours
Either way, the ability to explore uncharted waters, empty beaches and coves, ancient caves and ruins, and largely design your own itinerary remains a popular and iconic way to enjoy Greece.
It is possible to sail from Athens to Sifnos in a reasonable time frame, and you will likely be able to include other destinations and islands in the Cyclades as well, such as Ios, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, and the Small Cyclades to the east or Milos, Sifnos, Syros, and Kea to the west.
These are our picks of some of the best ways to tour Sifnos;
7 days Athens and Sifnos Delicious Escape
Aegean Sea, Sail & Hike – 9 days
7 day crewed private yacht charter
3. Private transfer – Athens to Sifnos by Helicopter
If you have deep pockets and are keen to get to Sifnos quickly then a private helicopter transfer is the way to do it.
Flying in over the Greek Islands in your private helicopter will be an experience you will never forget and if it’s a special occasion this is one experience you will not regret investing in.
4. Fly & Ferry TO Sifnos
If time is of the essence but a helicopter is not in your budget another option is to fly to a nearby island with an airport and ferry from there.
The most logical island is Milos, where you can catch a ferry to Sifnos in just 40 minutes during the tourist season. The next closest island with an airport is Paros, which is 1 hour and 45 minutes by ferry. Depending on timetables, this may necessitate a day or two in Paros, but it’s an amazing island, so that’s something no-one would regret!
