Donoussa is a place to go off-grid and get away from it all.

Part of the Small Cyclades, this mountainous island to the east of Naxos and north of Amorgos, is as uncomplicated and unhurried as it gets.

A speck in Aegean Sea, it takes up just five square miles, making it smaller than some international airports; the fact it doesn’t actually have its own airport won’t come as too much of surprise.

Everyone arrives on the island by ferry, so it takes a bit of intention and planning, and Donoussa has fewer services and a less frequent schedule than others. Despite this, it’s actually relatively well-connected to Athens as well as several neighbouring islands.

Thankfully though, most people still don’t know about it, and tourist numbers remain blissfully low.

Most of you considering Donoussa will be visiting a few Greek islands on the same trip, and the truth is that - for logistical reasons - it’s better as a second, third, or fourth stop, rather than your starting point.

Over in our main guide, we’ve shared all the best things to do, and in this short explainer we’ll help you understand the transport connections for your own trip to Donoussa.

How To Get To Donoussa

There’s no airport and no high-speed passenger boats.

There’s also no convenient ‘fly in + ferry’ hack. Whilst Mykonos and Santorini serve as the main flight entry points for onward travel to the smaller, lesser-visited Cycladic islands, neither of those two have direct ferry connections to Donoussa.

Instead, you only have two options: The Blue Star Ferry and the Express Skopelitis.

*there are options from Mykonos and Santorini, that involve a ferry connection in Naxos, but the journey times and price often stack up to an unattractive level.

The Blue Star Naxos Ferry

The Blue Star Naxos is a huge, modern passenger and vehicle ferry operated by Blue Star Ferries, and the primary ferry for the Cyclades.

Starting from Athens’ main port - Piraeus (Google Maps) - its regular itinerary includes stops at Paros, Naxos, Donoussa, Amorgos, Astypalaia. It’s affordable, reliable, and comfortable, making it a preferred choice for both locals and tourists navigating the popular and lesser-known islands.

Whether you’re starting off from Athens or another island, this is one of your best options for island-hopping and going to Donoussa.

The only catch? It doesn’t run daily - there are four crossings a week (Monday - Wednesday - Friday - Saturday).

Typical travel time and one-way ticket prices to Donoussa from the other stops are:

Piraeus - 7 hours - €52
Paros - 2 hours - €25
Naxos - 70 mins - €7
Amorgos - 45 mins - €5
Astypalea - 2.5 hours - €13

Check ferry schedules and prices here or on Direct Ferries, whilst you can also book on the official Blue Star website.

Travel Tip // There are lots of affordable, convenient direct flights to Athens International Airport (Google Maps). From the airport, you’ll need to travel onward to Piraeus by taxi, 24-hour express bus, or metro. However, the Blue Star Naxos usually leaves at 6.45am, so you may need to spend a night near the port.

The Express Skopelitis

The slower, more romantic option to arrive on Donoussa is offered by the Express Skopelitis ferry.

Operated by Small Cyclades Lines, it's a smaller, quainter boat with space for 340 passengers and a dozen tightly-parked cars. As the name suggests, it links up the cluster of islands known as the Small Cyclades - Amorgos, Donoussa, Koufonisia, Schinoussa and Iraklia - and also stops at Naxos.

This boat really is a lifeline for the locals, but also the main method of transport to reach some lesser-visited Greek islands: we actually travelled from Donoussa to Koufonusia on it, whilst we also spent a few days on Amorgos.

Typical travel time and one-way prices to Donoussa are:

Amorgos (Katapola) - 2 hours 15 mins - €7
Amorgos (Aegali) - 1 hours 15 mins - €7
Koufonisia - 1 hour 10 mins - €7
Schinoussa - 2 hours - €7.50
Iraklia - 2 hours 15 mins - €7.50
Naxos - 4 hours - €8

There are however a few potential issues when it comes to planning your own journey:

during the summer season (June to mid-October) it has 6 crossings per week BUT Donoussa is not included on all of them
the Donoussa service currently only runs three times per week
there are no Sunday services at all

This means, like us, if you’re depending on this ferry to go to/from Donoussa, you really do need to plan your accommodation bookings and itinerary around the ferry’s schedule.

We should also point out that if the winds are up and the waters choppy, from personal experience we can tell you that this boat makes for a much more…interesting…crossing than the bigger, stable Blue Star. However, if the sun is out and the waters are calm, this is the one we’d have as our first pick!

Tickets | It’s not possible to buy your tickets on the official website, but you can see schedules, compare prices and buy tickets for the Express Skopelitis on both FerryHopper and Direct Ferries. Alternatively, you are able to purchase them in person at the designated agency on each of the Small Cyclades.

If you’re flexible on dates and/or on a budget, make sure to activate the ‘show alternative date & routes’ button on Direct Ferries.

Quick Tips for Your Donoussa Ferry

· We visited Donoussa after Amorgos and before Koufonisia - and you can find out whether they should feature in your own island-hopping itinerary by reading our dedicated travel guides.

· Alternatively, Naxos would be a good jumping off point for Donoussa given that both ferries call here.

· It’s a very good idea to turn up at least 30 minutes before departure, and be aware that we saw several ferries leave Donoussa a few minutes before the scheduled departure time.

· The famous Meltemi winds are strong, dry northerly winds that blow across the Aegean Sea from June to September, peaking in July and August. They can cause rough seas, ferry cancellations, and flight delays, especially in the Cyclades. We don't intend for this to cause concern, but it is a defining feature of visiting these particular Greek islands. Travellers should appreciate that potential ferry disruptions are a risk, and ensure they've got good travel insurance - though policies vary on what’s covered for weather-related delays.

· If you know your dates for Donoussa, then it’s a good idea to purchase your tickets in advance for summer, especially if depending on the Express Skopelitis.

· You don’t need a rental car for Donoussa, but if you’re travelling with one it’s important to book the ferry much further in advance than foot passengers.

· You can book directly on the individual ferry company website for Blue Star but not for the Express Skopeltis. To ensure you know all the options and find the best crossing, we recommend looking + booking via FerryHopper and Direct Ferries

· Make sure to read our guide to help you travel better: The Best Things To Do in Donoussa.

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