Which means of transport to use Cyclades?

From the airport to the city centre Cyclades

You will usually arrive in Greece through Athens international airport. The capital offers very cheap shuttle buses (6 €) to the ports of Piraeus or Rafina and then to the Cyclades. There is also a very interesting subway connection to the capital and Piraeus (10 € one way). Since October 2022, the Greek capital has inaugurated three new subway stations: Maniatika, Piraeus and Dimotiko Theatro, located on the extension of line 3 (blue) which leaves the airport. Check just beforehand which station is closest to your departure platform.

Cabs also offer packages (from €38 during the day) to Piraeus. In Athens, the website Athens transport (www.athenstransport.com) has interesting information in English.
Six islands of the Cyclades have an airport: Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Santorini and Syros. If you calculate carefully, you will find a connection on the day of your arrival in Athens. Another option: from France, Mykonos and Santorini are also served in high season by charter or low-cost flights, allowing you to reach the Cyclades without a connection. These regional airports are rarely far from the cities and easily accessible by cab at moderate prices.

Arrival by boat Cyclades

To reach Greece by sea is possible from Italy. Boats from Bari or Ancona arrive in Igoumenitsa in Epirus or in Patras in the Peloponnese (see the connections on www.minoan.gr). But to reach the Cyclades, you will rather embark in Piraeus, in the port of Rafina, or even in Lavrio.
You can also continue or dream your itinerary in Greece online (www.gtp.gr) and book your tickets in advance, again via the Internet (www.openseas.gr) or at the travel agencies in Piraeus.

Ferries in Greece (Ferriesingreece.com) is a very good site in French to book your boat.

Public transport Cyclades

The bus is a very developed, flexible (often with many daily departures) and cheap means of transportation. The islands of the Cyclades all have a regional Ktel network (see www.ktel-santorini.gr or https ://ktelparou.gr for example). You can buy your ticket before departure in the bus stations or at the small kiosks next to the main stops.

Bike, scooters & co Cyclades

Everywhere in the islands, the use of bicycles is growing. However, as far as two-wheelers are concerned, motorcycles and scooters are still the most popular. Anyway, don't imitate the locals and wear a helmet... on your head! The roads are not necessarily well maintained, the wind blows strongly and an accident can happen quickly: without a helmet, the insurance will not cover you. Many rental companies do not insist on wearing a helmet, so ask specifically for one. Another important piece of information is that the classic French B license includes driving scooters up to (but not including) 125cc scooters. However, some rental companies will refuse to let you have a scooter (even a 50cc) if you do not have a special motorcycle/scooter license or if you cannot prove that you have completed the two-wheeler training that is now mandatory in France. Again, in case of an accident, the Greek insurance may not cover you.

With a driver Cyclades

Cab fares in the capital and the islands are significantly lower than elsewhere in Europe. Cab fares are normally flat rates set annually by the national government, which means that every trip has a fixed, pre-determined fare based on the distance traveled. Most cities, even small ones, usually have cab drivers, although not necessarily in sufficient numbers. This is one of the reasons - and it should not be surprising - why most drivers will not hesitate to pick up other passengers going in the same direction as you...

By car Cyclades

Some clichés have a hard time. Nevertheless, if you rent a car in the islands, you should know that Greeks have their own customs. Speed limits are rarely respected and it is common to drive on the hard shoulder for example. Parking is difficult and often anarchic and leaving your car in double lane with a phone number on the windshield is common. Wearing a seatbelt is optional and using the phone while driving is an individual freedom, it seems. Nevertheless, the car is probably the most efficient way to discover Greece. We simply recommend you to be very careful when driving. On the islands, the roads are often poorly maintained and narrow, so you will not have much choice but to limit your speed.

Accessibility Cyclades

The fate of people with reduced mobility and strollers is unfortunately not a priority in Greece, far from it. This results in poor accessibility, especially in all public transport, trains and local buses. In Athens, however, access is finally available in the most recent metro stations and on some important tourist sites such as the Acropolis. On the sea side, ferries and other boats are not always very accessible either: on the big ferries, access is theoretically assured for all, but in practice, it is another story (the escalators used to get on the boat are deactivated when it comes to disembarking...). Elevators are provided, but do not necessarily serve all the floors of the ferries.

Tourist traps Cyclades

Apart from a universal classic (in cab, watch the meter or check your airport pass), not much to report...