Kimolos is the small, quiet neighbour of Milos, a volcanic island of chalk-white rock, clear water and one main village, Chorio, above the port. Most visitors arrive via Milos, but the direct boat from Lavrio lets you reach it straight from Athens without changing ships or heading to Piraeus.
This route is really two different services. In the summer months Magic Sea Ferries makes the trip in about 4 hours, which turns it into a sensible way to start a western Cyclades holiday. The rest of the year, the only direct option is a Blue Star Ferries sailing once a week, which calls at many islands along the way and can take more than 15 hours. Same two ports, very different journeys.
Lavrio itself is a practical choice for travellers coming from the airport or the eastern suburbs of Athens. It sits on the south-east tip of Attica and serves Kea, Kythnos and the western islands, and it is a much smaller port than Piraeus. The trade-off is that it is a long way from central Athens, so allow for the road trip as well as the sea crossing.
Before booking, look carefully at the duration shown for your date, because the difference between the summer boat and the weekly ship is huge. Vehicles are carried, but car fares on this long route are high. Kimolos is also a short hop from Milos and Sifnos, so it slots easily into a longer island-hopping trip.
