Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
The crossing
Roughly forty-five minutes to an hour on high-speed craft and up to about two hours on a conventional ferry, on the western Cyclades line that links Santorini with Milos, Sifnos, Kimolos and Serifos.
Sailings are frequent in high summer and thin quickly outside it. In April or October, check before you count on a same-day return.
The boat lands at Karavostasi, a small port with almost nothing at it; the village is up the hill, and a bus meets the boats.
What you get for the hour
Folegandros has a Chora perched on a cliff edge several hundred metres above the sea, and it is one of the two or three finest villages in the Cyclades. There is no caldera and no sunset industry, and the same evening light falls on far fewer people.
Above the village, the church of Panagia sits on a rock reached by a zigzag path, and the walk up at dusk is the island’s ritual.
The beaches take effort: Katergo by boat or a rough walk, Agali by bus and then a path over the headland. That difficulty is the reason the island is not busy.
Day trip or stay
Do not day-trip it. The point of Folegandros is the evening in the Chora after the boats have gone, and a day visit gets you a hot afternoon and none of it.
Two or three nights is right, and it works extremely well as the second half of a Santorini trip: the famous island first, then the quiet one, then fly home from Santorini.
Practical notes
- The port is not the village. Do not plan to walk it with luggage.
- The Chora is car-free in its centre, which is part of why it is what it is.
- Rooms are limited. August books out far ahead.
- Wind cancels the fast craft, and Folegandros is exposed.
Last checked August 2026. Ferry schedules change every season - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
How long is the ferry from Santorini to Folegandros?
About forty-five minutes to an hour on high-speed craft, and up to two hours on a conventional ferry.
Is Folegandros a good day trip from Santorini?
Not really. The island is at its best in the evening once the boats have gone, and a day visit misses the whole point.
Where do ferries arrive on Folegandros?
At Karavostasi, a small port with little at it. The Chora is up the hill and buses meet the boats.
Why go to Folegandros instead of Santorini?
For a cliff-top Cycladic village with a comparable view and a small fraction of the crowds, and for beaches that take effort to reach.
Are there many hotels on Folegandros?
No. Accommodation is limited and August books out well in advance.
Next
Read Folegandros, Santorini, or Milos.