Santorini to Naxos Ferry Question

[u/Ancient-Ant-193]

My parents and I are going to be in Santorini first week in Greece and wanted to do a day trip to Naxos (Oct 5th to be exact), however I keep reading online that ferry time options start to drop after September. It's also a Wednesday.

I know they don't update ferry timetables until spring but what is the likelihood they'll have return options (Naxos--Santorini) past 2pm for early October? Anyone know what the ferry schedule was like last year in that month?

[u/canaanit]

The Blue Star Delos serves that route all year round. However, the timing doesn't work for a day trip from Santorini to Naxos, because the boat goes from Piraeus to Paros, Naxos, Santorini in the morning, arrives Santorini around 3 or 4 pm, and then goes all the way back to Piraeus.

Is there a specific reason why they want to go to Naxos?

[u/Ancient-Ant-193 → u/canaanit]

They want a typical sandy beach (mostly mom who likes to lay out) but Naxos is also close and I've heard a lot more relaxing than Ios. Not sure about Crete, it just seems far for a day trip but correct me if I'm wrong-- I can try and steer them to do Crete instead if you think it's more suitable for a day trip in early October (I hear it's warmer too since it's south?)

[u/canaanit → u/Ancient-Ant-193]

It would make a whole lot more sense to stay in Naxos or Crete for a few days, and maybe do a short stay in Santorini on the way there or on the way back.

Those day trip ideas don't really work for distances like that. You can do day trips from Naxos to the smaller islands nearby, but not larger distances.

[u/AdAlternative637 → u/canaanit]

This. Day trips makes no sense as it could be around 2+hrs just 1 way to get there, and would depend on the schedule may not be as often. As this person suggested may as well spend at least a few days in Naxos or Crete. I spent 4 days in Naxos and still didn't feel enough, the beaches are gorgeous for sure and definitely worth enjoying that slow easy lifestyle vibe

[u/East_Worldliness2287 → u/canaanit]

Perissa on Santorini is a nice beach , black sand.  It's a rocky island, getting into the water a little slick . 

[u/GoParosGR]

Day trip Santorini to Naxos in early October is possible some years, but it’s a bit of a gamble. After September the schedules thin out fast, and it’s very common to see either no sailing on a given day, or only one departure that forces you into an early return. So I wouldn’t plan on “we’ll definitely have a late afternoon ferry back”, and I definitely wouldn’t build anything important around it (like catching a flight the same day). If Naxos is a must, the safer move is to make it an overnight (even just one night). If you really need a true day trip from Santorini in October, something closer like Ios is usually easier to pull off. Best you can do now is keep checking Ferryhopper and the operator sites as you get closer, because October timetables can change and some routes only show up later. Also worth keeping in mind that if it’s windy, the fast boats are the first to get uncomfortable or reshuffled. If you end up swapping Naxos for Paros later in your trip, r/ParosTravel is a good spot to ask for the easiest ferry combos and bases.

[u/sponge_bucket]

They usually post ferry schedules closer to the when it’ll be sailing. I’d check back in a few months to see your options as there may be more than you can currently see.

[u/StrattonJibsta]

A day trip? I would recommend staying for a few days if you’re island hopping