Getting to Alonnisos through Athens via air to the island of Skiathos (Updated July 1, 2010)

The reality is it's not very easy to get to Alonnisos because there is no airport on the island. Many years ago there was interest on the part of some residents to have one constructed, but for whatever reason it never happened. While this makes it more challenging to reach the island, it also tends to limit major tour operators' ability to bring large groups of tourists to the island at one time.

That means Alonnisos doesn't attract anywhere near the same volume of visitors as a neighboring island called Skiathos, which actually has an airport that can accommodate Boeing 737 aircraft with 200 or more passengers per plane. This means that a visit to Alonnisos translates into greater opportunities for experiencing more peaceful and enjoyable holidays.

Flying to Skiathos from Athens

When you fly into Athens, you have the option to fly on to Skiathos via Olympic Airlines and Athens Airways , both of which operate some flights between these two destinations. During the off-season (approximately October through April) there tends to be two flights per week, and during the summer there are usually more available. The challenge is the booking engines used on the Olympic and Athens Airways sites are pretty limited in terms of functionality - you need to keep plugging in prospective dates one-by-one to see if there's a flight available. Overall, I highly recommend booking reservations as early as these airlines will allow, as these flights tend to fill up quite rapidly since the planes used tend to be quite small.

Making a Boat Reservation from Skiathos to Alonnisos using Hellenic Seaways

If you do intend to reach Alonnisos by boat from Skiathos, then prior to your trip you need to reserve and pay for boat tickets in advance. The Hellenic Seaways website is fairly easy to navigate, just be sure to choose your language of choice at the upper right of the screen, then select "Online Booking" at the left side of the screen and follow the prompts. In the summer there are typically four departures per day from Skiathos to Alonnisos.

When you have completed the reservation the site will bill you for thetickets, but will not actually provide you with them. Instead, you will receive a confirmation email that instructs you to take your reservation confirmation to theHellenic Seaways representative in Skiathos (called "Skiathos O.E.", operated by Nikolaou Vasilios).

Making a Boat Reservation from Skiathos to Alonnisos using Speed Cat 1

In addition to Hellenic Seaways, you have the option of using the services of a hydrofoil boat called the Speed Cat 1(see photo to your left) that began service to the Sporades islands during the summer of 2009. This boat is comparable in size to the Flying Cats operated by Hellenic Seaways, and is quite nice inside. We used it when we left Alonnisos to return home in September of 2009, and were pleased with the comforts on-board. In the summer of 2010, the Speed Cat 1 has one departure from Skiathos to Alonnisos every morning at 11:50. To learn more about this boat  visit the Speed Cat 1 website, and to see its itinerary for 2010 click here. Please note that this company does not offer on-line booking but instead requires passengers to deal with travel agencies in the ports it serves. When you visit the website click on the "Contact" tab and you'll find a list of the various port agents (i.e., travel agents) along with their phone numbers and web addresses (where available).

Getting to the Port from the Skiathos Airport

On your day of departure the flight from Athens to Skiathos will take approximately 40 - 50 minutes. After arrival and baggage pickup, proceed to the taxi line and request a ride to the port in Skiathos town (about a five minute ride), and specifically ask to be dropped off near the port agent you need to see to pick up the tickets (i.e., the one for Hellenic Seaways or the one for the Speed Cat 1). Be aware that if your travel party is just 1 or 2 people, the taxi driver will be quite insistent about taking along another 1, 2, or 3 passengers. You essentially have no choice in the matter unless you want to pay the driver double fare. It's just one of the many novel quirks about traveling in the Greek islands!

Upon arrival at the travel agency, if you booked on Hellenic Seaways you will need to present the ticket confirmation form you received via email from the company. They may also ask you for a passport for identification. I'm not certain what the process is for the Speed Cat 1. Once you have your ticket(s), if the boat is leaving shortly I recommend you promptly proceed to the boarding area (across the street and to the right) where there is a small building with some seats in a waiting area. If you have some time to wait (45 minutes or more), there are numerous cafes and bars on the waterfront with outdoor seating; there is also an Internet cafe nearby if you need to check email - just ask someone at the travel agency or any other business on the waterfront for directions to it. When it comes to the boat departure, whatever you do, be certain to be ready and waiting for the boat at least 10 minutes in advance of its scheduled arrival time because Greek boat captains are not known for their patience with dawdling passengers. Once they pull up the gangplank they typically will not put it back out there for you if you happen to arrive just as they are leaving. 

Staying in Skiathos

If, based on your travel schedule your arrival in Skiathos is too late to connect with a Hellenic Seaways Flying Cat to Alonnisos, you will obviously need to book hotel for that evening. To assist you in this regard please review the Category Archives (to your left) under "Hotel in Skiathos" for information regarding a property I recommend.

To contact me via email with any questions regarding this post click here.

Posted by Jeff Maziarek at 12/27/2008 9:23 PM
Categories: Getting to Alonnisos from Athens, Getting to Alonnisos from Skiathos Island
Tags: Olympic Airlines Alonnisos via Athens and Skiathos Hellenic Seaways
 

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