Ferry from Koufonisia to Donousa.

Koufonisia is the busiest of the Small Cyclades in summer, and Donousa is the one people go to when they want to get away from even that. The hop between them takes you from Koufonisia's famous turquoise coves and lively little village to a remote island of bare hills, footpaths and a single harbour settlement, where evenings are about the taverna and the night sky.

The boat that links them is mostly the Express Skopelitis of Small Cyclades Lines, the local ferry that stitches together the islands between Naxos and Amorgos. It sails this leg on three or four days a week, taking just over an hour. Blue Star Ferries can also call on its way through, but in last year's data that happened only once a week, in September.

So the real planning question is the day, not the hour. Ferryhopper lists 3 to 6 sailing days a week, and summer does not bring a noticeably busier timetable on this leg. Check which days the boat runs in your week, then plan your nights on Koufonisia to finish on one of them. If there is nothing that suits, travelling via Naxos is the usual workaround, since Naxos has boats to both islands.

The fare is tiny: from €6.99 on the Express Skopelitis and €5 on the occasional Blue Star sailing when we checked. On our sample day, 15 August 2026, the only departure left Koufonisia at 17:15 and arrived at 18:25, so expect to land on Donousa in the early evening. Arrange your room and any pickup in advance.

Donousa sits out on the north-eastern edge of the Small Cyclades, open to the meltemi, the north wind that is strongest in July and August. The Express Skopelitis is a small ship, so on the windiest days it is the kind of boat the port authority may keep in harbour, or it may run late as it works through its chain of islands. If your sailing is cancelled, the operator will rebook or refund you. With only a few boats a week, the next one may be several days off, so keep spare time in your plans and consider the route via Naxos.