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Ferry RouteIRK to KOU

Ferry from Iraklia to Koufonisia.

Iraklia to Koufonisia. Compare the operators, a real sailing day and dated fares, then search live times for your date.

Fastest crossing
55 minSmall Cyclades Lines · checked 24 Sept 2026
Ferry operators
1Small Cyclades Lines

Dated numbers: a Ferryhopper check or a one-day timetable sample, never live. The search shows live times and prices.

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By George K. · Updated

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Iraklia to Koufonisia: live times, seats and prices for your date.

Passengers
2 passengers

Live availability and booking via Ferryhopper, our ferry booking partner.

IrakliaKoufonisia
Map of the ferry route from Iraklia to Koufonisia. Coastlines © OpenStreetMap contributors, Natural Earth

How do you get from Iraklia to Koufonisia by ferry?

Iraklia and Koufonisia are linked by the Express Skopelitis of Small Cyclades Lines, the local boat that runs between Naxos and the Small Cyclades. On 12 August 2026, the timetables we sampled show it leaving Iraklia at 16:10 and reaching Koufonisia at 17:05, about 55 minutes with a stop at Schinoussa. Ferryhopper had no page or fares for this pair when we checked on 24 September 2026.

Source: Ferryhopper route page and timetable sample · as of

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01Operators compared

Iraklia to Koufonisia ferry operators compared.

Who sails this route, on what kind of boat, how long it takes and the lowest adult fare we found.

Ferry companies on the Iraklia to Koufonisia route
OperatorVessel typeCrossing timeVehiclesAdult fare from
Small Cyclades LinesConventional ferryabout 55 min, calling at SchinoussaNot confirmedSee live fares

Source: Ferryhopper route page, checked by our editors · as of

  • Small Cyclades LinesThe Express Skopelitis. On 12 August 2026 our sampled timetables show it leaving Iraklia at 16:10 and reaching Koufonisia at 17:05. It sailed 6 to 7 days a week all year on the Koufonisia to Naxos line in last year's data. Vehicle space is very limited.

02Schedule by season

Iraklia to Koufonisia ferry schedule by season.

We cannot give a full weekly timetable for Iraklia to Koufonisia. What we can say: in Ferryhopper's monthly data for Koufonisia to Naxos, based on last year, Small Cyclades Lines sailed 6 to 7 days a week in every month, calling at Iraklia and Schinoussa. On 12 August 2026, the day we sampled, the afternoon run from Naxos left Iraklia for Koufonisia at 16:10. Other days and seasons can have different times, and in winter the island boats are more exposed to weather. Search your exact date on the booking page before booking your room on Koufonisia.

The Journey

The Iraklia to Koufonisia crossing.

Iraklia and Koufonisia are both part of the Small Cyclades, the scatter of little islands between Naxos and Amorgos, but they feel quite different. Iraklia is the quietest of the lot, small and hilly, with its harbour and main village at Agios Georgios. Koufonisia is the busy one in summer, famous for turquoise water and a lively little Chora around the port. Moving from Iraklia to Koufonisia means swapping silence for a bit of buzz, and it is one of the most natural hops in the group.

The boat that makes this hop is the Express Skopelitis of Small Cyclades Lines, the small local ship that works its way between Naxos, Iraklia, Schinoussa, Koufonisia and on towards Amorgos. We have no Ferryhopper route page for Iraklia to Koufonisia, and no timetable sampled for this exact pair, but the sampled timetables for neighbouring routes on 12 August 2026 fit together: the Express Skopelitis left Naxos at 14:30, reached Iraklia at 16:00, sailed on at 16:10 to Schinoussa, arriving at 16:20, and got to Koufonisia at 17:05.

In Ferryhopper's data for the Koufonisia to Naxos route, which is based on last year, this little ship sailed on 6 to 7 days a week all year, stopping at Schinoussa and Iraklia on the way, so a boat between the two islands is usually there on most days. The exact times change with the season and the direction, so check your date.

Older listings on our own site named other companies and a 2 hour crossing; we could not match them to any dated timetable, so we do not rely on them here. Search your date on the booking page, and on an island this small, have your onward plans on Koufonisia sorted before you leave Iraklia.

How long the crossing takes

On the sailing we can trace, the trip took about 55 minutes: on 12 August 2026 the Express Skopelitis left Iraklia at 16:10, called at Schinoussa at 16:20 and arrived in Koufonisia at 17:05. That is typical of the Small Cyclades, where the boat stops at each island in turn, so the crossing time depends on the calls in between rather than the distance. We have no Ferryhopper range for this exact pair, so on another day or in the other direction the time may differ a little. Check the arrival time shown for your sailing, and allow for small delays when the boat is working through several stops.

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03The ports

Where the Iraklia to Koufonisia ferry docks.

Departure port

Iraklia

IRK · 36.8333° N 25.4667° E

You board at Agios Georgios, Iraklia's only port, on the west side of the island. The harbour is also the main village, so many visitors can walk to the quay from their room. It is a simple place, with no big terminal building, so buy water and snacks in the village beforehand and wait by the pier. When the Express Skopelitis is due, the little harbour fills with locals, deliveries and travellers, and the boat does not linger, so be ready with your bags and your e-ticket a little before the scheduled time.

Arrival port

Koufonisia

KOU · 36.9333° N 25.6000° E

You arrive at the port of Ano Koufonisi, the inhabited island of Koufonisia, on its south side, right in Chora, the only village. It is a tiny harbour, and you step off almost straight into the village, with cafés, restaurants, shops and places to stay a short walk away. Many visitors never use a car here, getting around on foot or by bicycle. Ask your host in advance how far your room is from the quay, and whether they can meet you, especially if you arrive with heavy luggage in the evening.

04On Board

On board the Iraklia to Koufonisia ferry.

The Express Skopelitis is a small local ship, not one of the big ferries you may have taken from Athens. It works as a lifeline for the Small Cyclades, carrying islanders, supplies and visitors, and it has a friendly, informal feel. There is seating inside and on deck, and on a calm evening the short run past Schinoussa is a pleasant way to arrive. Being small, it moves more in a swell than a large ferry, so if you are prone to seasickness sit outside and look at the horizon. Keep your bags close, since the stops are quick.

05Weather and cancellations

Wind, weather and cancellations on the Iraklia to Koufonisia route.

The Small Cyclades sit in open water between Naxos and Amorgos, and the meltemi, the strong north wind of July and August, can make the sea rough here. A small local ship like the Express Skopelitis is more likely to be delayed or held in port than the big ferries, and the port authority decides when it can sail. If your sailing is cancelled, the operator will rebook or refund you. Because Iraklia has few departures, a cancellation can mean waiting until the next day, so keep this hop well away from a connection to Athens or a flight.

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06Travel Tips

Iraklia to Koufonisia ferry travel tips.

  1. Check your date on the booking page: we can confirm only one sampled day, and times change with the season.

  2. Be at Agios Georgios harbour a little early; the boat does not wait long at each stop.

  3. On a calm day, sit on deck for the stop at Schinoussa and the run into Koufonisia.

  4. Book your room on Koufonisia early in July and August, when the island is at its busiest.

  5. Do not plan to bring a car: vehicle space on the Express Skopelitis is very limited.

07Alternatives

Other ways between Iraklia and Koufonisia.

For the opposite direction, see our Koufonisia to Iraklia page. Neither island has an airport; the nearest is on Naxos (JNX). If the local boat does not suit your date, you can go back to Naxos and change there: Naxos has frequent summer boats to Koufonisia, including Seajets high-speed sailings of 35 to 40 minutes. Blue Star Ferries also serves both islands on its Small Cyclades sailings, though we have no dated trip between them.

The return crossingKoufonisia → Iraklia
Change boat in Naxos
  1. Leg 1: Iraklia → Naxos
  2. Leg 2: Naxos → Koufonisia35 min · from €8
Change boat in Schinoussa
  1. Leg 1: Iraklia → Schinoussa10 min · from €4.50
  2. Leg 2: Schinoussa → Koufonisia

Other ferries to Koufonisia

Times and fares on these links come from one-day timetable samples, not live data.

08Island Hopping

Island hopping from Koufonisia.

All direct ferry routes

09Route matrix

All ferry routes from Iraklia.

Every direct route from Iraklia with a page on Discover Cyclades, with the fastest crossing and lowest fare from its one-day timetable sample. The route you are reading is marked.

Direct ferry routes from Iraklia: fastest sampled crossing, lowest sampled adult fare and sailings on the sampled day
RouteFastestLowest fareSailings that dayOperators
Iraklia → KoufonisiaYou are hereSmall Cyclades Lines
Iraklia → NaxosBlue Star Ferries, Seajets
Iraklia → PiraeusBlue Star Ferries, Small Cyclades Lines
Iraklia → Schinoussa10 min€4.501Small Cyclades Lines

Source: Ferryhopper timetable samples, one sailing day per route · sailing day

Questions

Iraklia to Koufonisia ferry: frequently asked questions.

  • About 55 minutes on the sailing we can trace. On 12 August 2026 the Express Skopelitis of Small Cyclades Lines left Iraklia at 16:10, stopped at Schinoussa at 16:20 and reached Koufonisia at 17:05. Times vary with the day and season, so check the arrival time for your sailing.

  • We did not have a Ferryhopper fare table for this pair of islands, so we cannot quote a price. Search your date on the booking page to see the exact fare for the Small Cyclades Lines sailing before you buy.

  • The Express Skopelitis of Small Cyclades Lines, the small local ship that links Naxos with Iraklia, Schinoussa, Koufonisia and beyond. Blue Star Ferries also calls at both islands on its Small Cyclades sailings, but we have no dated Blue Star trip between the two.

  • In Ferryhopper's data for Koufonisia to Naxos, based on last year, the Express Skopelitis sailed 6 to 7 days a week all year, calling at Iraklia and Schinoussa, so there is usually a boat on most days. We only have exact times for one sampled day, so check your date.

  • On 12 August 2026, the day we sampled, the Express Skopelitis left Iraklia at 16:10 on its afternoon run from Naxos. Times change with the season and the day of the week, so treat that as an example and check the booking page for your date.

  • We have no record of a high-speed boat between the two. The Seajets fast boats in the area run between Naxos and Koufonisia, in 35 to 40 minutes, so if you are coming from Naxos that is the quick option; from Iraklia, the local boat is the way.

  • Not realistically. The Express Skopelitis has very limited vehicle space, and Koufonisia is small enough to explore on foot or by bicycle. If you need a vehicle on Koufonisia, ask locally about hiring one once you arrive.

  • Only if the timetable allows a morning boat out and an evening boat back, which we cannot confirm. On our sampled day the boat reached Koufonisia at 17:05, too late for a day trip. It is better to spend at least a night on Koufonisia.

  • From Agios Georgios, Iraklia's only port and main village, on the west coast. Many places to stay are within walking distance of the quay. There is no terminal building, so wait by the pier and be ready before the boat arrives.

  • At the port of Ano Koufonisi, in Chora, the only village, on the south side of the island. Cafés, restaurants and many rooms are a short walk from the quay, and most visitors get around on foot or by bike.

  • Small local boats are the first to be held in port when the meltemi blows in July and August. The operator will rebook or refund you. With few departures from Iraklia, you may wait a day, so keep a spare day in your plans, especially before heading back to Athens.

  • The same local boat runs the other way. On 12 August 2026 the morning Express Skopelitis left Koufonisia at 09:30 and reached Schinoussa at 10:00, on its way towards Iraklia and Naxos. See our Koufonisia to Iraklia page for details.

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