Ferry from Milos to Naxos.

The Milos to Naxos ferry is one of the Cyclades' most popular connections, operating one to seven days a week with journey times from about 3h 30m to 6h 20m and tickets from €16. The route is served by Seajets and Blue Star Ferries. Ferries operate all year, with most sailings from spring to autumn.

This crossing links two very different corners of the Cyclades. Milos, in the west, is volcanic and wild at the edges, famous for its sculpted white rocks, sea caves and boat trips around the coast. Naxos, in the centre, is the largest island in the group, with long sandy beaches on the west coast, a mountainous interior of marble villages and a lively harbour town under the Venetian castle.

Because there is no short way across, this is a long run through the middle of the Cyclades, and the longer listed times usually mean intermediate stops. Treat it as a half-day journey rather than a quick hop, and it becomes a handy way to move from the western islands to the Naxos, Paros and Small Cyclades side without going back to Athens.

Before booking, check what runs on your date. In summer the high-speed service is the practical choice but costs a lot more, while the cheap conventional sailing runs roughly once a week and takes most of the day. Cars only fit on the conventional ship, so drivers need to plan around that single weekly departure.

This route crosses open water in the middle of the Cyclades, where the summer meltemi blows hardest. The dry north wind usually peaks in July and August and can make the high-speed catamarans slow, bumpy or unable to sail. The port authority decides when conditions are too rough and can keep departures in port. A cancelled ticket is rebooked or refunded by the operator through your booking, but with at most one direct boat on most days and only the weekly Blue Star in winter, a cancellation can cost you a day or more, so leave slack in your plans and keep a spare night before any international flight.