Greece/Cyclades/Donoussa
The Independent Hospitality Network

Donoussa.

Donoussa is the northernmost of the Small Cyclades — a 13 km² island east of Naxos where a single ferry a week defines the pace of life.

2 stays
1 stayswipe to explore
More stays here
Listed with the owner’s own details. Contact them directly — no commission, no middleman.
Studios
Maritsa's
Οικογενειακή boutique στη Δονούσα
Know before you go
A short guide to Donoussa.
About Donoussa

Donoussa is the northernmost of the Small Cyclades — a 13 km² island east of Naxos where a single ferry a week defines the pace of life. There are four villages: Stavros (the port), Mersini, Kalotaritissa, and Mesaria, connected by a narrow road that loops the island in under an hour. Beaches like Kedros and Livadi are reached on foot from Stavros through low scrub and over dry stone walls. Visitors come for the quiet, leave with a tan, and tend to return. The independent stays here are small — a handful of rooms each, run by families who know everyone who arrives — and they fill in August. June and September are the windows worth flying for.

Ferry schedules · live
Oct. – Nov.
MIKRES KYKLADES N.E. · EXPRESS SKOPELITIS3h 45m
14:00Naxos
17:45Donoussa
ViaIrakliaSchinoussaKoufonissi
BLUE STAR FERRIES · Blue Star Naxos7h 30m
17:30Piraeus
01:00 +1 dayDonoussa
ViaParosNaxos
Also boards atNaxos 23:50
Schedules may change — confirm before you travel.Source: official ferry company systems
Getting there
  • Ferry: Blue Star Ferries from Piraeus, 7–8 hours, 4 times a week in summer. Small Cyclades Ferry from Naxos, 1.5 hours, most days in summer.
  • No airport. The closest is Naxos (JNX), then ferry.
  • On the island there are buses and taxis. The road loop is 12 km. The island offers scooter rental and depending of the stay, pickup from Stavros port.
When to visit
Best
May · June · September
Avoid
August (busy) · November–March (very limited services)
Suggested itineraries
3 days
Stavros port + Kedros beach + a single hike to Mersini's spring.
5 days
All four villages on foot, plus a boat to Koufonissi for the day.
7+ days
Slow living. Read on the beach. Take the ferry to Schinoussa and back. Stop counting days.