Ferry RouteKYT to KEA
Kythnos to Kea (Tzia). Compare the operators, a real sailing day and dated fares, then search live times for your date.
Dated numbers: a Ferryhopper check or a one-day timetable sample, never live. The search shows live times and prices.
By George K. · Updated
Kythnos to Kea is a direct crossing of 55 minutes to 1 hr 30 min, but it runs only about two days a week. Blue Star Ferries sails it all year, and in last year's data Karystia Travel added one weekly sailing in March, taking about 1 hr 15 min. Fares started at €6.50 for one adult when we checked Ferryhopper on 24 September 2026, and a car with two people from €29.
Source: Ferryhopper route page and timetable sample · as of
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Ferries sailing between Kythnos (Merihas) and Kea (Korissia) right now.
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01Operators compared
Who sails this route, on what kind of boat, how long it takes and the lowest adult fare we found.
| Operator | Vessel type | Crossing time | Vehicles | Adult fare from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Blue Star Ferries | Conventional ferry | 55 min to 1 hr 30 min | Cars and motorbikes | €6.50 |
 Karystia Travel | Conventional ferry | about 1 hr 15 min | Not confirmed | €14 |
Source: Ferryhopper route page, checked by our editors · as of
02Fares
The lowest fares Ferryhopper showed for each party when we checked on 24 September 2026. Each row can come from a different sailing.
| Passengers | Kythnos (Merihas) → Kea (Korissia) | Kea (Korissia) → Kythnos (Merihas) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 adult | €6.50 | €6.50 |
| 2 adults | €13 | €12.99 |
| 2 adults and a car | €29 | €30 |
| 2 adults, 2 children and a car | €44.50 | €44.50 |
Source: Ferryhopper route page · checked
Lowest fares shown on Ferryhopper when we checked on 2026-09-24, taken from its Kea - Kythnos page, which lists both directions. "Outbound" means Kythnos to Kea. Fares change with the date, vessel and demand; the booking page shows the current price for your date. Each figure is the lowest seen for that party. These fares are on Blue Star Ferries; Karystia Travel was listed from €14.
03Schedule by season
This is a thin route. Ferryhopper lists Kythnos to Kea from January to December, on two days a week. Its monthly table, labelled as last year's data, shows Blue Star Ferries on two days a week in every month, and Karystia Travel adding one weekly sailing in March only. There is no daily boat, so the day of the week is what you plan around. We did not have a sampled timetable for this direction, so first and last departure times are not something we can give you: search your date on the booking page to see which days and times are on offer.
| Month | Frequency |
|---|---|
| January | Blue Star Ferries, 2 days a week |
| February | Blue Star Ferries, 2 days a week |
| March | Blue Star Ferries 2 days a week, Karystia Travel once a week |
| April | Blue Star Ferries, 2 days a week |
| May | Blue Star Ferries, 2 days a week |
| June | Blue Star Ferries, 2 days a week |
| July | Blue Star Ferries, 2 days a week |
| August | Blue Star Ferries, 2 days a week |
| September | Blue Star Ferries, 2 days a week |
| October | Blue Star Ferries, 2 days a week |
| November | Blue Star Ferries, 2 days a week |
| December | Blue Star Ferries, 2 days a week |
The Journey
Kythnos and Kea (also known as Tzia) are the first two islands of the western Cyclades, the ones closest to Athens and the port of Lavrio. Both are weekend escapes for Athenians rather than international hotspots, which is exactly their appeal: real villages, uncrowded coves and a pace of life that has little to do with the cruise-ship islands further south.
Heading north from Kythnos to Kea makes sense on a western Cyclades trip that finishes near Athens. Kea is the greener and hillier of the two, with old paths linking its villages and a hilltop capital, Ioulida. From Korissia, its port, frequent boats run to Lavrio, so Kea is a comfortable last stop before the mainland and Athens airport.
The limitation is the timetable. Ferryhopper lists this direct crossing on just two days a week, all year, almost entirely on Blue Star Ferries. That means your dates need to follow the boat. Check which days it sails in the weeks you are travelling before you book rooms on either island, and have a fallback in mind if the day does not suit.
On the plus side, it is cheap and quick. One adult started at €6.50 when we checked, and the crossing takes under an hour and a half. If the direct boat does not fit, you can always go from Kythnos to Lavrio and on to Kea, since both of those routes run far more often.
In this direction the crossing takes 55 minutes to 1 hr 30 min, according to Ferryhopper, whose route-wide range of 50 minutes to 1 hr 30 min also covers the Kea to Kythnos run. Blue Star Ferries, the main operator, was listed at 1 hr 30 min in most months of last year's data and at 55 minutes in May and June, which most likely reflects a different routing in those months. The single Karystia Travel entry, in March, was listed at about 1 hr 15 min. Whichever sailing you catch, plan on being across in an hour and a half at most.
04The ports
Departure port
KYT · 37.4167° N 24.4167° E
You leave from Merichas, the port of Kythnos on the west coast, the same harbour used by the boats to Lavrio, Piraeus and Serifos. It is a small, practical harbour village and the only real port for sailings off the island. If you are staying in Chora (Messaria) or at Loutra, you will need a car, taxi or lift to get down in time. With only two direct departures a week, missing the boat could cost you several days, so arrive early.
Arrival port
KEA · 37.6333° N 24.3333° E
On Kea you land at Korissia, the island's port on the north-west coast and the arrival point for the boats from Lavrio too. It is a low-key harbour village. Ioulida, the capital, sits up the hill inland, and the rest of the island is spread out along winding roads, so decide before you arrive whether to hire a vehicle or ask your accommodation to meet you. Korissia is also where you catch the frequent boats back to Lavrio.
05On Board
Nearly every sailing is on a Blue Star Ferries conventional ship, a large vehicle ferry with enclosed lounges, a café and outside decks. On a crossing of about an hour you will not need a cabin; in good weather the open deck is the place to be, with the coasts of both islands in view. There is no luggage check-in, so keep your bags with you or in the luggage area, and be ready to leave promptly at Korissia, where calls are brief.
06Weather and cancellations
The western Cyclades lie open to the meltemi, the northerly wind that blows hardest in July and August, and the stretch between Kythnos and Kea heads straight into it. Blue Star's conventional ships handle rough seas far better than small fast craft, but the port authority can still hold departures in a strong gale. If your boat is cancelled, the operator will rebook or refund you. The problem on this route is the gap to the next direct sailing, often several days, so the practical fix is usually to travel via Lavrio instead.
07Travel Tips
Check the sailing days first: with about two boats a week, build your Kythnos and Kea nights around them.
If the direct boat does not suit, go from Kythnos to Lavrio, then from Lavrio to Kea, which has boats every day.
Bringing a car is cheap here, from €29 for two adults and a car on Ferryhopper.
Kea is well placed to end a trip: from Korissia, boats to Lavrio take about 45 minutes to 1 hr 10 min.
Book as soon as your plans are firm, especially for summer weekends when Athenians fill both islands.
08Alternatives
Travelling the other way? See our Kea to Kythnos page. Neither island has an airport; Athens (ATH) is the nearest, and Lavrio is the closest port to it. If the direct ferry does not fit your dates, sail from Kythnos to Lavrio and then from Lavrio to Kea, both of which run far more often. Kythnos also connects with Athens (Piraeus) and Serifos, and Kea with Lavrio every day.
Times and fares on these links come from one-day timetable samples, not live data.
10Route matrix
Every direct route from Kythnos (Merihas) 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.
| Route | Fastest | Lowest fare | Sailings that day | Operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kythnos (Merihas) → Kea (Korissia)You are here | Blue Star Ferries, Karystia Travel | |||
| Kythnos (Merihas) → Lavrio | Fast Ferries | |||
| Kythnos (Merihas) → Milos (Adamas) | 2h 15m | €57.20 | 1 | Seajets |
| Kythnos (Merihas) → Piraeus | Aegean Sea Lines, Fast Ferries | |||
| Kythnos (Merihas) → Serifos | 40 min | €45 | 2 | Magic Sea Ferries, Seajets |
| Kythnos (Merihas) → Tinos | Golden Star Ferries |
Source: Ferryhopper timetable samples, one sailing day per route · sailing day
Questions
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