Sikinos is one of the quietest islands in the Cyclades, a steep, dry ridge between Ios and Folegandros with a single small port, a hilltop village and very few visitors even in August. That is the appeal: walking paths, terraced hillsides, slow evenings in the lanes of Kastro, and beaches you reach on foot or by boat. Getting there takes some commitment, and the direct ferry from Piraeus is the simplest way in from Athens.
The line is essentially a Fast Ferries service. Its conventional ship leaves Piraeus and works its way across the Cyclades, calling at several islands before Sikinos, so the trip takes most of the day. On 12 August 2026, the day we sampled, the Dionisios Solomos left at 07:00 and was due in at 16:00. In August Seajets also listed a single weekly high-speed sailing at just over four hours, but that is the exception, not the pattern.
Frequency is the thing to plan around. Ferryhopper shows sailings on 3 to 6 days a week across the year, never every day, so pick the ferry first and then book your room, which will also be in short supply in summer. If the direct days do not fit, Sikinos is also connected with Santorini, Ios, Paros and Milos, and there is a separate line from Lavrio, the port south-east of Athens that serves Kea and the western islands.
Fares are reasonable for such a long crossing: from €48 for one adult and €189 for two adults with a car when we checked. The ship has cabins and numbered seats, and on a nine-hour day it is worth paying a little more for a seat you can rest in. Bring food, water and something to read.
