If you’re planning a trip in the Sporades islands of Greece it’s useful to know the ferry ports on each island. This guide lists all the passenger ferry ports in the Northern Sporades islands.
The Sporades Islands
Nowadays, when people talk about the Sporades Islands, they refer to the Northern Sporades islands which consist of 4 islands: Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos and Skyros. There are also 11 uninhabited islets in the area.
The island chain is located in the Aegean Sea, to the east of mainland Greece and to the north of the island of Euboea. Even before the Mamma Mia film that was shot on location in Skopelos, the Sporades were becoming a popular tourist destination for Greeks and international visitors alike.
These Greek islands are well known for their natural beauty, with green landscapes, lovely beaches, and crystal clear waters. There are also a number of interesting archaeological sites and medieval castles to explore.
Of these 4 islands, three are well connected: Skiathos, Skopelos, and Alonissos. Skyros presents more of a problem – more on this later!
Ferry ports on Skiathos
The island of Skiathos is the most developed and busiest of the Sporades islands. It’s also the closest to mainland Greece. As it is the only island in the Sporades to have its own airport, it’s a popular gateway to the rest of the islands.
There is just the one ferry port in Skiathos located at Skiathos Town. Known as the port of Skiathos, it’s where all the passenger ferries to and from the island arrive and depart.
The port is located on the southeastern side of the island, just a few minutes’ walk from the town centre.
Ferry connections from Skiathos island to islands close by include:
- Skiathos to Volos (on mainland Greece)
- Skiathos to Skopelos
- Skiathos to Alonissos
For more information read here: Skiathos ferry port
Ferry Ports on Skopelos
If you wanted to include the Mamma Mia island in your vacation in Greece, you’ll want to head for Skopelos! This is the second largest island in the Sporades and has two main ferry ports. There are several islands near Skopelos you can visit.
The first port is located at Glossa, on the northwest side of the island. The second port is located at Skopelos Town, on the southeast side of the island. You can read more here about the Skopelos Ferry Ports.
Skopelos Glossa Ferry Port
Glossa should be considered the minor ferry port on Skopelos as there are only a few connections. It has the quicker crossing duration from Skiathos, but unless you actually want to stay in Glossa, you’re better off taking the ferry to Skopelos Town.
Ferry connections from Glossa port include:
- Skopelos Glossa to Skopelos Town
- Skopelos Glossa to Skiathos
- Skopelos Glossa to Alonissos
- Skopelos Glossa to Volos
For more information read here: Skopelos Glossa Ferry Port
Skopelos Town Ferry Port
The main ferry port on Skopelos is located at Skopelos Town, on the southeast side of the island.
This is where the vast majority of passengers will arrive and depart when travelling to or from Skopelos. It’s a good place to be based, as this is where most of the accommodation can be found, and there’s easy transport access to other areas on the island.
Ferry connections from Skopelos Town port include:
- Skopelos Town to Skopelos Glossa
- Skopelos Town to Skiathos
- Skopelos Town to Volos (on mainland Greece)
- Skopelos Town to Alonissos
For more information read here: Skopelos Town Ferry Port
Ferry Ports on Alonissos
Alonissos is a popular return destination for people who have been to the Sporades islands before. It’s less developed than the other two islands mentioned, and has just one ferry port.
The port of Patitiri is located on the southeast side of Alonissos, close to where most of the accommodation on the island can be found. From Alonnisos you can travel to several islands nearby.
Ferry connections from Alonissos are as follows:
- Alonissos to Skopelos Town
- Alonissos to Skopelos Glossa
- Alonissos to Skiathos
- Alonissos to Volos (on mainland Greece)
For more information read here: Alonissos ferry port
Ferry Ports on Skyros
As mentioned previously, Skyros presents more of a problem when it comes to ferries. This is because it’s only served by a few ferries each week, and these don’t run to a very regular schedule.
Skyros has just the one ferry port and has connections with Kymi in Evia. During the summer, it might be possible to take small boats from Alonissos from time to time.
Ferry companies and tickets
A number of different ferry companies operate ferries to Sporades islands ports. These inclue:
- Blue Star Ferries
- Hellenic Seaways
- Aegean Flying Dolphins
- ANES Ferries
- Magic Sea Ferries
- Skyros Shipping Company
When travelling to the Sporades islands, it’s important to book your ferry tickets in advance. This is especially true during the peak summer months, when demand is high and tickets can get sold out.
To find and book Sporades ferry tickets, we recommend using a reputable online booking service such as Ferryscanner. This website makes it easy to compare ferry companies, prices and schedules, and book tickets quickly and easily.
Northern Sporades Island Hopping FAQ
People who want to visit the Sporades islands and travel around by ferry often have similar questions they want to ask such as:
How do you get to Sporades island?
You can reach the Sporades islands by flying into Skiathos from overseas, Athens or Thessaloniki. You can also get to the Sporades islands of Greece by taking a ferry from Volos ferry port.
Where do you catch the ferry to Skopelos?
Places which have a ferry connection to Skopelos island include Skiathos, Alonissos and Volos.
Where do ferries go to from Skiathos?
The ferries go to the following places: Skiathos to Skopelos Skiathos to Alonissos Skiathos to Volos.
How do you get from Athens to Sporades?
You can travel to from Athens to the Sporades by flying in to Skiathos island. Alternatively, you can travel by road from Athens to Volos, and then take a ferry trip and sail over to one of the Sporades islands.
Where can I find ferry timetables in Greece?
You can find schedules for a ferry easily on the Ferryscanner website. You can also buy a ticket online there for crossings to destinations in the Sporades of Greece.