Milos to Santorini is the classic volcanic double: from the coloured cliffs, sea caves and quiet coves of Milos to the caldera views of Santorini. Many travellers use it to finish a western Cyclades trip in style, or to reach Santorini's wider ferry network and head on to Ios, Naxos or Crete.
The route is really two different products. Seajets runs the fast option, a high-speed boat that usually crosses in around two hours but costs close to a hundred euros per person. Fast Ferries runs the slow option, a conventional ship that calls at other islands on the way and takes about five hours, for a fraction of the price: one adult started at €15.99 when we checked. The choice comes down to how you value a morning of your holiday against the fare.
Frequency shapes everything here. The Fast Ferries ship sails only once or twice a week, and Seajets runs from a single weekly sailing up to daily depending on the month, with no Seajets service at all in some months of last year's data. Decide your travel date around what actually sails, not the other way round.
At the Santorini end you land at Athinios, a small port at the foot of the caldera cliffs that gets very crowded in high season. Arrange your transfer before you board, particularly if you are arriving in the afternoon when several ships tend to come in.
