Travel from Athens to Santorini by ferry

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Traveling by ferry from Athens to Santorini is not a big deal if you know how to do it right!

In this article, we’re going to tell you everything about traveling from Athens to Santorini. From the ferry schedules from Athens to Santorini to ferry companies and from how to get to the ports of Athens to the most useful travel tips.

So, if you want to organize your trip from Athens to Santorini like a pro, stick with us!

Why travel by ferry from Athens to Santorini

oia santorini

Getting the ferry from Athens to Santorini is a great way to reach the island.

Plus, it has many advantages. Some of them are the frequent routes, the delightful trip, and the simplicity of the ferry booking process.

Ferries from Athens to Santorini operate daily all year round. However, the routes are more frequent in the peak season (from May to September). If you’re planning on traveling to Santorini in Greece during the peak season, we suggest that you pre-book your ferry tickets, as the Greek ferries might be overbooked.

Tip: You can do the whole booking process and plan the whole trip online, which will save you a lot of time.

What ports in Athens serve the route from Athens to Santorini

ferries from athens to santorini

Ferries to Santorini depart from Piraeus port and Rafina ports in Athens.

Piraeus port is easily reached by public means of transportation from Athens city center and connects Athens with Santorini all year round. Departing from Piraeus is a better option if you want to stay in Athens for a few days before setting off. What’s more, thanks to the port’s big ferry capacity, there are frequent routes to many Greek islands.

Rafina port is located on the eastern coast of Attica. This port is quite far from Athens city center, but closer to the islands.

So, if you depart from Rafina you’ll get to Santorini faster. Except for Santorini, there are direct ferry connections between Rafina and Andros, Tinos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros and other islands of the Cyclades.

What ferry companies sail to Santorini

conventional ferry piraeus

The ferry companies that connect Athens with Santorini are Blue Star Ferries, Hellenic Seaways, Seajets, Golden Star Ferries, Zante Ferries, and Aegeon Pelagos Ferries. Some of these ferry companies have a fleet of conventional ferries and some have a fleet of high-speed/catamaran ferries. In general, conventional ferries are slower but bigger, while high-speed/catamaran ferries are faster but smaller.

The ferry schedules from Athens to Santorini

fira santorini

Ferries from Athens to Santorini run daily all year round. There are more frequent routes in the peak season (from May to September). However, the Blue Star Ferries have a morning ferry to Santorini at 7.25 every day throughout the year. In the peak season, there are both morning and evening ferries from Athens to Santorini. In general, the first ferry from Piraeus to Santorini departs at 7.00 in the morning and the last at 17.30. But, there’s another ferry at 21.30 at night some days per week.

The duration of the ferry trip from Athens to Santorini

fira

The ferry trip to Santorini lasts for 5-9 hours, depending on the ferry. More specifically, conventional ferries will get you to Santorini in 5-7 hours, while high-speed/ catamaran ferries will get you to Santorini in 7-9 hours.

The cost of a ferry ticket from Athens to Santorini

santorini

The cost of a ferry ticket from Athens to Santorini varies depending on the ferry type and the seat type. A deck ferry ticket from Athens to Santorini costs 20-80 euros, a business class ferry ticket costs approximately 90 euros and a ticket for a cabin approximately 120 euros.

How to get to the ports of Athens

piraeus ferry

The best way to get to the port of Athens (in case you don’t have a private means of transportation) is either by taxi or by public means of transportation.

Getting to the ports of Athens by taxi

taxi in athens

Taking the taxi to Piraeus is a good option to reach the port fast, but it’s rather pricey. A taxi will get you from the airport to Piraeus port in an hour and will cost 50-60 euros.

Rafina port is closer to the airport, so a taxi ride lasts for about 15 minutes and costs 25-35 euros.

In general, Rafina port is the best port to depart from if you’re planning on traveling to Santorini right after arriving in Athens. Piraeus port is the best port to depart from if you’re planning to stay in Athens for a few days before your trip to Santorini.

Getting to the ports of Athens by public means of transportation

athens airport

The public means of transportation you can use to get to the ports of Athens are the bus and the metro.

X96 bus line, which operates 24/7, connects Athens airport with Piraeus port. This bus has frequent routes and will get you to Piraeus port in approximately 90 minutes for 6 euros.

An alternative for getting to Piraeus is the metro line 1 that connects Monastiraki with Piraeus. The ticket for the metro costs 1.40 euros and will get you to Piraeus in 20 minutes.

If your ferry leaves from Rafina port, your best bet is to take the bus to Rafina from the airport. The bus that connects the airport with Rafina port departs from the bus stop between Exit 2 and Exit 3 of the airport and the bus ticket costs 3 euros.

To sum up, getting from Athens to Santorini is way easier than you think if you know how to do it right. Follow our guide for an effortless trip to Santorini!

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