Naxos and Mykonos sit side by side in the middle of the Cyclades, and this short hop links two islands with very different personalities. Naxos is the big, green, self-sufficient one: long sandy beaches south of Chora, mountain villages inland, local cheese and potatoes, and the marble Portara gateway standing over the harbour. Mykonos is compact, glamorous and busy, built around Chora's lanes, the windmills and its beach clubs. Many travellers do Naxos first for the space, then Mykonos for a few livelier nights.
At well under an hour on most boats, this is one of the easiest crossings in the islands. The fastest high-speed craft take just 35 minutes, and even the conventional Fast Ferries ship needs only about 70 minutes. That means you can check out of a Naxos hotel after breakfast and be on a Mykonos beach by early afternoon.
Price is where the choice matters. On our 12 August 2026 sample the cheapest seats were around €36, on both high-speed and conventional boats, while other Seajets sailings the same day cost €57.70. Timing also changes the picture: the quick direct boats and the slower ones that stop elsewhere can leave within an hour of each other, so compare arrival times, not only departures.
The main limit is the season. Ferryhopper lists this direction only from March to November, so plan a detour for a winter visit. In summer, book ahead for the popular sailings and arrange your transfer from the Mykonos port in advance, as taxis there are scarce when several ships arrive together.
