Ferry from Folegandros to Anafi

The ferry from Folegandros to Anafi links two of the quietest and most unspoiled islands in the southern Cyclades, making it an appealing choice for travellers who prefer low key destinations and authentic villages. This route sits on the same southern island line that connects Folegandros, Ios, Sikinos, Santorini, and Anafi, and in practice it is often served either by direct sailings from companies like Saos Ferries or as a combination of Folegandros–Santorini and Santorini–Anafi ferries on different days. Direct information from some booking sites is inconsistent, with several currently indicating that there are no active direct Folegandros–Anafi ferries in some seasons, even though travel planners and local guides still mention Saos Ferries running a car ferry a couple of times per week with a journey time of about 3 hours 40 minutes. Other ticket platforms summarise the route as a distance of about 43 to 44 nautical miles, with multiple weekly sailings operated by Maistros Santorini and similar companies within a wider network. Because of these variations, the most reliable way to travel between Folegandros and Anafi is often to use Santorini as a hub and combine the well established Folegandros–Santorini and Santorini–Anafi routes, checking schedules close to your travel date for any direct Folegandros–Anafi option that might appear.

Key Information about the Folegandros to Anafi Ferry

Ferry duration

Where direct Folegandros to Anafi ferries are listed, sources such as Rome2Rio and Anafi ferry guides suggest a journey time of roughly 3 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes on a conventional car ferry. If you travel indirectly via Santorini, you should allow about 1 hour 15 minutes to 3 hours between Folegandros and Santorini depending on the vessel, plus around 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes for the Santorini–Anafi leg, making the total travel time typically between about 3 hours 30 minutes and 5 hours including connection time.

Ferry companies

Historically, Saos Ferries has operated a direct car ferry between Folegandros and Anafi a couple of times per week, while Maistros Santorini runs a regional vessel linking Santorini with Folegandros, Ios, Sikinos, and Anafi. In practice, many travellers now rely on the combination of larger operators such as Blue Star Ferries and Maistros Santorini on the Santorini–Anafi route, together with Seajets, Fast Ferries, or Maistros Santorini on the Folegandros–Santorini section, rather than a single direct Folegandros–Anafi ferry.

Fast vs slow ferry

On the direct Folegandros to Anafi route, Saos Ferries uses a conventional car ferry which is slower but spacious and more stable, taking around 3 hours 40 minutes according to travel planners, and is suitable if you prefer a calmer ride and want to bring a car. If you choose to travel via Santorini, you can mix faster vessels (such as high speed ferries between Folegandros and Santorini) with conventional ships on the Santorini–Anafi leg, so your overall speed depends on the combination you book.

Best time to travel

The best time to travel from Folegandros to Anafi is between late May and early October, when the southern Cyclades routes are most active and both Folegandros–Santorini and Santorini–Anafi connections run frequently. In the low season from late autumn to early spring there are still ferries to Anafi from Piraeus and Santorini several days per week, but direct Folegandros–Anafi services may be suspended, so you will almost certainly need to connect via Santorini and plan carefully around the available days.

Sea conditions and wind

This route crosses open water in the southern Aegean, which is strongly affected by the Meltemi wind in July and August and can be breezy at other times as well. Conventional ferries such as those used by Saos Ferries and Blue Star Ferries tend to handle these conditions well, but strong winds can still cause some movement, occasional delays, or cancellations, so it is wise to keep your schedule flexible and avoid very tight onward connections on the same day.

Port guide

In Folegandros, departures are from Karavostasis port, a small harbour with a few shops, cafés, and accommodation options, plus buses and taxis that connect you to Chora and the island’s beaches. Anafi’s port is Agios Nikolaos on the south coast, a simple harbour settlement with basic services, tavernas, and the road up to Chora, giving a very relaxed and traditional first impression when you arrive.

Car rental advice

Direct Saos Ferries sailings between Folegandros and Anafi accept vehicles, and ticket examples indicate that travelling by car ferry can be an economical way to move a car between southern Cycladic islands compared with hiring separately on every island. However, Anafi is a very small island with a limited road network, so many visitors prefer to travel as foot passengers and, if needed, rent a scooter or small car locally for a day or two rather than paying to ship a vehicle for a short stay.

Foot passenger tips

As a foot passenger you should arrive at Karavostasis port at least 45 minutes before departure for a direct Folegandros–Anafi ferry, and at least 1 hour early if your journey involves changing ferries at Santorini on the same day. Because this route can take several hours in total, it is sensible to bring water, snacks, sun protection, and any medication you might need, and to keep your luggage compact and easy to move between ferries if you are connecting in Athinios port on Santorini.

Is this route worth it?

The Folegandros to Anafi ferry route is very worthwhile if you enjoy peaceful, less developed islands and want to experience the quieter side of the Cyclades away from the big crowds. Folegandros offers dramatic cliffs and a charming Chora, while Anafi has simple villages, walking trails, and quiet beaches, so combining them (often via Santorini) gives you a unique slow travel itinerary that feels far from mass tourism.

Alternative route if cancelled

If a direct Folegandros to Anafi ferry is not running or is cancelled, the most practical alternative is to route your trip via Santorini, using established year round services on both legs. You would normally sail from Folegandros to Santorini in around 1 to 3 hours depending on the ferry, then continue from Santorini to Anafi in around 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, adjusting your day to match the available departures and, if needed, spending a night in Santorini between connections.

Reverse route internal links

The reverse Anafi to Folegandros route can work in the same way, either on occasional direct ferries or more reliably via Santorini using the Anafi–Santorini and Santorini–Folegandros services. On your website it is helpful to link clearly between the Folegandros → Anafi page and a dedicated Anafi → Folegandros page, so that travellers can compare options in both directions and decide whether to travel directly or via Santorini according to the latest schedules.