How To Get To Amorgos Island In Greece

Here’s how to get to Amorgos island in Greece. Includes flight information and ferry routes from the port of Piraeus near Athens and other islands in the Cyclades.

Where is Amorgos island?

Amorgos is one of the Cyclades group of islands, which are located in the Aegean Sea, to the east of mainland Greece. It is geographically close to the better known Santorini and Naxos.

Amorgos largely became famous because of a French movie which was partially filmed here, called “The big blue”. The film put Amorgos on the map as a dream destination, especially for French and Italian tourists. Here are a few more movies about Greece.

Visitors looking for relaxed, laid-back holidays will love Amorgos island. You will find rugged landscapes, quiet hiking paths, a few wild beaches, and some of the best diving in Greece.

There are three main towns on the island – the picturesque capital, Chora, the port of Katapola and the port of Aegiali. In addition, there is a handful of little villages, where you can enjoy the traditional Cycladic architecture with the white-washed houses.

Reaching Amorgos can be challenging if you don’t know how. This is why I’ve put together this guide on how to get to Amorgos island in Greece!

How to get to Amorgos by ferry

There is no airport on Amorgos. Unless you are on a sailing cruise around the Greek islands, the only way to get to Amorgos is by ferry.

Most Greek islands only have one major port, but Amorgos has two: the port of Aegiali, and the port of Katapola. You will have to be careful when booking your ferry tickets, as the two ports are about a half-hour drive from each other.

Ferries to Amorgos depart from the main Athens port, Piraeus, on a daily basis. On the way, they first stop at several other ports, including Paros and Naxos.

I use Ferryscanner or Ferryhopper to compare routes and book my tickets to the various Greek island destinations.

Ferries from the port of Piraeus in Athens to Amorgos

There are two ferry operators running the Piraeus – Amorgos route: The Blue Star Ferries, and Hellenic Seaways.

The ferries from Piraeus to Amorgos take several hours. Bring a book, a movie, or something else to pass your time, or just spend an hour or two looking at the blue sea.

My suggestion for ferry travel in Greece is to bring a few warm clothes. The air-condition on board can get incredibly chilly!

Tip: If you are staying in downtown Athens, allow for plenty of time to get to Piraeus port, either by metro or taxi. It’s best to get to your ferry at least a half-hour before departure, and make yourself comfortable.

Taking the ferry from Piraeus to Amorgos

The Blue Star Ferries are large ferries that carry passengers and vehicles. They have a range of amenities on board, like snack bars, restaurants and showers.

There are several ticket options, from a simple deck ticket to a cabin. Prices start from 51.50 euro and vary a lot, depending on the type of seat.

There are Blue Star routes to both Aegiali and Katapola Amorgos, typically on alternate days. The ferry will first stop at other ports, like Paros, Naxos, and the Small Cyclades.

The duration of the trip from Piraeus to Amorgos on a Blue Star ferry is typically around 8 – 10 hours. This depends on the number of ports of call, and any delays.

The Blue Star Ferries run year round, though there may be fewer routes in the shoulder season and winter. Departure times also vary by time of year. If you are travelling outside peak season, you will probably arrive at Amorgos in the early morning hours.

I prefer to travel with the Blue Star Ferries whenever I can, as their ferries are large, comfortable, and they set the mood for island exploration!

Another ferry that travels from Piraeus to Amorgos on some days a week is Highspeed 4, by Hellenic Seaways. This is much faster, taking only 6 hours from Piraeus to Amorgos. Ticket prices start at 85.50 euro.

You can check Ferryscanner or Ferryhopper to check routes and book your ferry tickets to Amorgos.

Best way to get to Amorgos from abroad

Understandably, the long ferry ride from Piraeus would discourage many people from visiting. However, there are other ways to get to Amorgos, without including Athens in your trip.

The best idea is to search for direct flights to another island in the Cyclades which is connected to Amorgos, such as Santorini and Mykonos.

During the summer, dozens of flights arrive to these two famous islands from many European countries.

From there, you can take a short ferry trip to Amorgos with a ferry company called SeaJets. This will minimize your travel time and give you more vacation days.

Taking the SeaJet high speed ferry to Amorgos

SeaJets are a ferry company known for their high speed vessels, which only run during summer.

It only takes 1 hour 15 minutes to get to Amorgos from Santorini on the SeaJet, and tickets start at 77.70. Similarly, the trip from Mykonos to Amorgos is just a couple of hours, and prices start at 89.70.

One thing to know, is that the SeaJets travelling from either Santorini or Mykonos to Amorgos are quite small, and are passenger-only ferries.

For some people, these ferries can be a challenge to travel on when it’s windy. And yes, it can get windy in the Aegean Sea, even during the summer! Here is some information on the meltemi winds.

If you are prone to sea-sickness, I recommend bringing with you ginger tablets, which I personally find very effective.

Other islands directly connected to Amorgos are Paros, Naxos, and Milos. All of these all have small, domestic airports where you can fly to from Athens, or take a ferry from Piraeus. From there, you can take the ferry trip to Amorgos.

Again, Ferryscanner or Ferryhopper are both good platforms where you can check routes and book your ferry tickets to Amorgos and other Greek islands.

Island hopping from Amorgos

Amorgos is a fantastic destination to include in a Greek island-hopping itinerary. Apart from the islands mentioned above, there are direct connections to a few more of the Cyclades, like Folegandros, Syros and Sifnos.

In addition, there are daily connections with the Small Cyclades – Iraklia, Schinoussa, Koufonisia and Donoussa. These tiny islets have very few permanent residents and are very quiet. They are all ideal if you are just looking to swim, relax and get away from it all.

On some days, there are also connections to Astypalea, Patmos, Leros and Kos in the Dodecanese. If you wanted to explore more than one island groups in Greece, this is a good opportunity.

Again, you can check ferry itineraries and book your tickets on Ferryscanner or Ferryhopper.

The “Express Skopelitis” connecting Naxos, Amorgos and the Small Cyclades

At this point, I need to mention a very special ferry, the legendary “Express Skopelitis”, which runs the route between Amorgos, Naxos and the Small Cyclades on a daily basis. It reaches both Katapola and Aegiali Amorgos, before it sets off for its itinerary around the small archipelago.

Don’t let the name fool you – the Express Skopelitis is a really slow ferry. Yet, it provides an invaluable year round service to the permanent residents of these remote islands. I support it whenever I can!

Just one thing: if you are prone to sea-sickness, it’s probably best to avoid this little boat, as it’s really affected by the winds. It’s better to go for the Blue Star, or even a SeaJet, if it suits your dates.

Which of the two ports in Amorgos is better, Aegiali or Katapola?

As mentioned above, Amorgos is one of the few Cyclades with two ferry ports. Generally speaking, there are more routes running to / from Katapola compared to Aegiali.

Katapola Amorgos is the most spread out of the 2 ports. You will find many hotels and rooms to let, as well as cafes, restaurants and shops. There is also a town beach, but it’s not so great.

Aegiali, to the north of the island, is smaller than Katapola. It’s a resort village, with a long sandy beach, ideal for children. There are a few rooms to let, tavernas, and some of the island’s legendary beach bars.

When I visited Amorgos, I enjoyed staying in Aegiali. People who are not planning to rent a car will probably be better of in Katapola, which is also closer to Chora, the main town.

Should I rent a car in Amorgos?

Regardless of where you decide to stay, I would personally recommend renting a car, quad or motorbike in Amorgos. Then you can be independent and see the whole of the island, including the little villages and more remote beaches.

There are car rental agencies in both ports as well as in Chora. Prices depend on the season and the duration of the rental period.

If you’d rather not drive, you could check out the rather infrequent bus services. You can find bus timetables here, though they are not always up-to-date. Alternatively, you can get a taxi – you will find posters with taxi information as soon as you arrive at the port.

Finally, Amorgos has several hiking paths, many of which lead to some wild beaches. If you visit during the peak season, you might find that it’s too warm to hike, in which case it’s best to take the small boats that take you around the island.

A word of warning: In summer 2024, a tourist who went for a hike in Amorgos disappeared, and, sadly, he has not been discovered at the time of writing this guide. PLEASE do not go hiking in hot weather, even if you are fit and healthy – you don’t want to be on the news for all the wrong reasons.

Example 2 week itinerary for Greece, including Amorgos

Here are a couple of example itineraries, for people who want to include Amorgos in an island-hopping trip. These are only indicative, as there are many other island destinations to visit!

Option A: Santorini – Amorgos – Naxos – Athens

Fly into Santorini international airport
3 nights in Santorini
High speed ferry trip to Amorgos (just over 1 hour)
3 nights in Amorgos
Blue Star ferry to Naxos (3 hours)
5 nights in Naxos
High speed ferry to Athens (3 hour 20 minutes)
3 nights in Athens
Fly home from Athens international airport

Option B: Santorini – Amorgos – Naxos – Mykonos

Fly into Santorini international airport
3 nights in Santorini
High speed ferry trip to Amorgos (just over 1 hour)
3 nights in Amorgos
Blue Star ferry to Naxos (3 hours)
5 nights in Naxos
High speed ferry to Mykonos (under 1 hour)
3 nights in Mykonos
Fly home from Mykonos international airport

You can check ferry routes and book your tickets at Ferryscanner.