Koufonisia is one of the Small Cyclades, the cluster of tiny islands between Naxos and Amorgos, and Naxos is the natural gateway to all of them.
Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
The crossing
Roughly one to two hours depending on the boat and how many calls it makes.
Two kinds of service work the line:
- The local ferry, a small vessel that works the Small Cyclades daily in season, calling at Iraklia, Schinoussa, Koufonisia and Donousa in a rotating order.
- Larger high-speed craft on the Piraeus-Naxos-Amorgos runs, which call at Koufonisia on some sailings.
The local boat is slower, cheaper and the more enjoyable one, and it is what residents use.
What you are arriving at
Ano Koufonisi is the inhabited one and is very small: a single village behind the port, one road, and a walkable coastline of shallow, luminous turquoise coves on the south-east side, connected by a coastal path.
Kato Koufonisi, across a narrow channel, is uninhabited apart from a taverna and a chapel, and small boats shuttle across in summer.
The water here is the reason people come, and the fact that you can walk from one cove to the next all afternoon is the reason they stay.
The trap worth knowing
Koufonisia is small and its accommodation is limited, and it has become very popular in August, when the beaches, the paths and the tavernas are full and the island loses much of what makes it good.
June and September are the months. See the shoulder season.
Practical notes
- Book rooms far ahead for July and August. There are not many.
- No car needed and no car wanted. The island is walkable end to end.
- Bring cash. Facilities are minimal on the Small Cyclades.
- Check the return sailing before you commit, since the local boat does not call everywhere every day.
Last checked August 2026. Small Cyclades schedules are seasonal and change - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
How long is the ferry from Naxos to Koufonisia?
About one to two hours depending on whether you take the local Small Cyclades boat or a larger high-speed service.
What are the Small Cyclades?
The cluster of small islands between Naxos and Amorgos: Iraklia, Schinoussa, Koufonisia and Donousa, served by a local ferry from Naxos.
Do you need a car on Koufonisia?
No. The inhabited island is small enough to walk end to end, and the coastal path links the beaches.
When is the best time to visit Koufonisia?
June and September. August is very busy for an island with this little accommodation and this few beaches.
What is Kato Koufonisi?
The uninhabited neighbouring islet, with a taverna and a chapel, reached by small boats across a narrow channel in summer.
Next
Read Koufonisia, Naxos, or Amorgos.