How can I get to Leros?
Leros island has picturesque little villages: here the fish village of Pandeli is depicted with its medieval fortress, behind is sitting Agia Marina with its signature flour mills, whereas the port (Lakki) features neoclassical architecture and closer to the venue is Alinda, with its relaxing atmosphere, all in all rendering Leros an ideal conference place for making us feel as if we’re worlds away from modern civilization! photo: © frapress.gr
If you are travelling from outside/inside Greece, there are several ways to get to the island of Leros, as detailed in the following.
Option 1 – fly/head to Athens (IATA code ATH) and then directly to Leros (IATA code LRS)
Flying/heading to ATH
There are plenty of scheduled flights to Athens International Airport from many domestic destinations (the two major Greek airlines are Aegean/Olympic and Skyepxpress, whereas some low-cost carries also offer domestic flights) and of course around the world.
You can also reach Athens by bus (the national companies are called "KTEL", and depending from their point of origin they arrive either at "KTEL Kifisou" or "KTEL Liosion" bus stations), train (the national carrier is called "Hellenic Train") at Athens railway station called "Larisa station", or ferry (many companies offer routes via the largest port of Athens called "Piraeus" and the smaller one of "Rafina").
There are of course car rental companies (both local and international franchises) and travel agencies that you can use for getting around Greece and before heading to Athens.
Overnight options near ATH
Although 22M visitors arrived at ATH airport during 2022, there is still only one hotel (Sofitel Athens Airport) which is typically booked but anyway overpriced yet offering 5* amenities. In case you have to stay overnight there are good and cheaper alternative options nearby, e.g., in Spata, Markopoulo, Rafina, etc. They even typically offer free 24H transportation from/to ATH airport.
From/to ATH airport
On the other hand, if you'd like to visit, stay at, or return from the city center please note the public transport ticket costs €6 (the bus lines X followed by a number depending on their final destination, and departing from the arrivals level) or €10 (either with the suburban railway train called "Proastikos" or the Metro line 3 , with both departing from the same station located within 5 min walk from the airport).
Get your tickets: Bus tickets are available from the bus driver and the ticket kiosk at the bus departure area, whereas train/metro tickets from the station.
Whereas a taxi costs €35 - 50 depending on the distance to the final destination, e.g., Syntagma-Monastiraki (city center) on the lower side, Piraeus (the port) on the higher side. However, we advice to prebook with a taxi company (e.g., welcome pickups) since the driver is waiting for you at arrivals and the cars are of the highest standards. Please note the uber application in Athens is linked with official taxis, so there is no difference in prices.
Note on taxis: In case you take a taxi on the spot, always take the official taxis (coloured yellow in front of the arrivals). The prices are fixed and typically they accept payment by card, but please cross check with the driver before boarding.
Note on cash withdrawal: If you have to withdraw cash, there are ATM machines inside the airport (please note Greek banks charge a withdrawal fee), but in any case don't use the exchange offices(!) As in any other busy airport, please be vigilant against pickpocketing.
Flights to/from LRS airport
The ATH-LRS flight (and vice versa) is around 1 hour and is uniquely operated by the Aegean/Olympic airlines, a Star Alliance partner. The flight schedule is already released for September 2023:
- ATH-LRS flights: there are 2 flights per day during Fri-Mon departing at 9.45 AM (flight code OA 30) and 5.30 PM (flight code OA 32), respectively, and 1 flight per day during Tue-Thu departing at 9.45 AM (flight code OA 30)
- LRS-ATH flights: there are 2 flights per day during Fri-Mon departing at 11.15 AM (flight code OA 31) and 6.55 PM (flight code OA 33), respectively, and 1 flight per day during Tue-Thu departing at 11.15 AM (flight code OA 31)
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Note: We strongly advice to book the ATH-LRS flight (or your connecting flight to LRS) well in advance because not only the prices might get higher but most importantly the tickets may subject to availability for your desired date since the airplanes are of ATR 42 type. Also the airline offers unlimited change in the dates w/o a fee, whereas a luggage of 23kg is included by default.
Looking down onto Drymonas as the plane comes in to land on the island of Leros photo: © David Lecky-Thompson
Option 2 – fly/head to Athens (code airport ATH) and then take a ferry to Leros
Option 2 is identical to option 1 but taking a ferry from Piraeus to Leros instead. The ferry (offered by the company "Blue Star Ferries") typically stops in 1-2 islands before Leros, takes about 8 and a half hours to reach Leros, and costs ( one way prices in 2022) €50 - 150 depending on the type of the ticket, i.e., economy, numbered seat or cabin. We recommend to purchase at least a numbered seat, otherwise the trip might be a bit tiring given it's duration. Also there is a free member discount program (Seasmiles Loyalty Programme) thay you can self-subsribe and use in order to get a 20% discount while purchasing the tickets. Assuming the trip happens in daylight (NB not always the case!), don't forget to take some nice picture from the intermediate island stops.
Example of the ferry from Athens port (Piraeus) to Leros. In certain weather conditions, the ferry calls into Agia Marina instead of Lakki photo: © David Lecky-Thompson
Note: The schedule for summer 2023 is now released. You can check it either directly to the company's site at Blue Star Ferries or third-party sites like greekferries.gr.
Option 3 – fly to Kos or Rhodes then take a ferry or catamaran to Leros
From April to October, there are charter flights to Rhodes and Kos from many European airports. Bookings outside the peak season or at the last minute can mean real bargains.
One of the catamarans approaches the harbour in Agia Marina photo: © David Lecky-Thompson
The catamaran is generally quicker than the ferry
A one-way ticket from Kos costs €19.10 - 24.00 and the journey takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes whereas a ticket from Rhodes costs €44.00 - 52.00 and the journey takes around 4 hours.
Dodekanisos Seaways operate the two catamarans, Dodekanisos Express and Dodekanisos Pride, that connect Leros to Kos, Rhodes, Patmos, Lipsi, Kalymnos, Symi and Agathonissi.
The catamaran may arrive/depart from the port of Lakki or Agia Marina - and sometimes this can be changed at the last minute because of the weather conditions.
The company was set up by brothers Yorgos and Yiannis Spanos who were born in the village of Temenia here on Leros. There is a history of the company, and a fascinating biography of the chairman, Yorgos Spanos, in their Dodekanisos magazine which you can read online. (Choose issue 1.) Their aim is to provide a metro-style service that is reliable and punctual for the smaller islands of the Dodecanese. The company employs local people from the Dodecanese so if you use the catamaran, you are supporting the local economy.
A ferry is the cheapest way to reach Leros from Kos or Rhodes
A one-way ticket from Kos costs €10.50 - 14.50 and the journey takes around 2 hours. A ticket from Rhodes costs €24.50 - 31.50 and the journey takes around 6 hours.
Ferries to Leros are operated by Blue Star Ferries and usually call into the port of Lakki.
Check the Blue Star website for further details.
You can quickly check timetables and book ferries and catamarans online at greekferries.gr.
You can also buy tickets for the catamaran and ferry at agents on Rhodes, Kos or Leros.
Option 4 – fly to Samos and then take the catamaran to Leros
As an alternative to Rhodes and Kos – or if you would like to include Leros on an island-hopping route through the North Dodecanese islands – there are charter flights to the island of Samos.
The Dodakanisos Express (catamaran) in Agia Marina photo: © David Lecky-Thompson
The catamaran between Samos and Leros calls at Patmos and Lipsi. On certain days it also calls at Fourni and Ikaria. On other days it calls at Agathonisi and Arki.
Go to the website of Dodekanisos Seaways to check timetables. You can also book online.
Note: all details correct, to the best of my knowledge (updated April 2022), but prices and timetables are subject to change.
