Most people reach Santorini from Athens in one of two ways: a 50-minute flight, or a ferry from the port of Piraeus that takes anywhere from about five hours to more than eleven. For a first trip with time to spare, a daytime ferry is the better way in, because the crossing ends with a slow glide in under the caldera cliffs. If your days are limited, fly.
How do you get to Santorini from Athens?
You can fly into Santorini Airport, or sail from Piraeus, Athens' main port, to Athinios, the island's main ferry port. Plenty of travelers do one of each: ferry in for the view, plane out when the vacation ends and the calendar tightens.
Flying from Athens
Flights from Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) take about 50 minutes. Santorini Airport is served by a long list of airlines, among them Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air, Sky Express, Ryanair and Volotea. It's a small airport with parking on site, and it gets crowded in peak season.
Taking the ferry from Piraeus
Ferries run all year. Summer brings up to eight crossings a day, while winter leans on a daily Blue Star service. Three companies work the route: Seajets with high-speed boats, Blue Star Ferries with large conventional ships, and Fast Ferries with conventional ships on long multi-stop runs.
Piraeus sits about 6 to 9 miles (10 to 15 km) south of central Athens and about 28 miles (45 km) from the airport. The least stressful way there is metro Line 1, about 25 minutes from Monastiraki, and Piraeus station sits right across the road from the quays. Taxis, buses and the suburban railway also work.
Piraeus is larger than many first-timers expect, and the gates are strung out along a long stretch of waterfront. Santorini ferries usually board at gates E6, E7, E9 or E10, but the berth isn't fixed, so check your ticket and the departure screens on the day. In summer, arrive 60 to 90 minutes before departure on foot, and at least 90 minutes with a car. With an e-ticket you can walk straight to the ship. With a paper ticket, head to the collection point as soon as you arrive, because lines build just before departure.
Rafina, Athens' other port, is closer to the airport but serves fewer Cyclades routes, so for Santorini most travelers are better off at Piraeus.
Is it better to take the ferry or fly to Santorini?
The ferry swallows most of a day, but it gives you something a plane can't. A conventional ship usually calls at other islands, so you might see harbors like Paros or Naxos along the way before the white villages of Fira and Oia appear on the cliff tops as you slide into the caldera. The flight saves hours and spares you the sea.
- If you want the view: take a daytime conventional ferry and find a spot on the outside deck for the final approach.
- If you're prone to seasickness: fly.
- If you have kids, lots of luggage or a car: take Blue Star. The ships are roomy, with car decks, open decks and lounges.
- If you're on a budget: Blue Star is the best value for most people, starting with a basic economy seat. Seajets costs noticeably more on the same day but can save several hours.
How long is the ferry to Santorini, and what are the boats like?
The crossing takes from about 5 hours to a little over 11, depending on the boat and how many islands it calls at along the way. That's also why a day trip from Athens isn't realistic. Plan on at least a few nights.
High-speed ferry
Seajets runs the high-speed boats on this route, and they take roughly 5 hours to just over 6. Seats are assigned and indoors, in air-conditioned lounges with snack bars, and there are business and first-class options. Outdoor space for watching the view is scarce, and there are no sleeping cabins. Most Seajets boats carry cars, though some smaller catamarans don't.
Conventional ferry
Blue Star takes about 6 to 9 hours, depending on its stops. Conventional ferries on this route have car decks.
Blue Star and Fast Ferries offer cabins with one to four beds, as well as beds in shared cabins. Cabins are handy on late-night sailings that arrive the next morning, since you can sleep through the crossing and skip a night at a hotel. Cabins are limited and sell early in summer.
Luggage and pets
There's no luggage check-in. Pets travel free if you add them to the booking, and small pets can usually stay with you, but check the rules with your ferry company before you go. Bring your pet's health certificates.
Can wind or rough seas cancel the ferry?
Yes, especially in July and August, when the northerly meltemi wind raises a swell on this long open-sea run. The Seajets catamarans tend to be the first affected by strong wind, while the larger conventional ferries are generally more reliable.
If your boat is cancelled, the company will put you on a later sailing or refund you. Blue Star sails almost every day of the year, so it's the usual fallback. Mornings are usually calmer on the water, so try an early sailing in peak summer, and leave yourself a spare day before any flight home from Athens.
If you're prone to motion sickness, a larger ship, a seat low and near the middle, and a steady gaze on the horizon can all help.
How do you get to Santorini from other islands?
Santorini makes a natural stop on a Cyclades loop, and ferries from many islands dock at Athinios. Typical crossing times:
- Ios: a short hop
- Naxos: about 1 to 2.5 hours
- Paros: a bit longer than Naxos
- Mykonos: about 2 to 3.5 hours
- Heraklion, Crete: about 1.5 to 3 hours
Many visitors spend three or four nights on Santorini, then continue to Ios, Naxos, Paros or Crete instead of heading straight back to Athens. If you're island hopping, you can stop at an island such as Paros, Naxos or Ios along the way and continue to Santorini afterward.
How do you book ferries to Santorini?
In summer, cabins, car spaces and the cheapest fares go first. Outside the summer peak, booking is usually less urgent, and many travelers reserve closer to their travel date.
Prices shift depending on the date, the vessel and how busy it is, so the booking page will show the current fare for your day. Cars travel on a separate vehicle fare and space is tight in summer. Blue Star also takes campers and motorhomes. Ferry companies often offer discounts for children and other passenger groups, though the rules vary by company, so check when you book.
Book your return in advance too. In summer, the travel agencies near Athinios fill up with people chasing last-minute tickets.
How do you get from the port or airport to your hotel?
From Athinios port
Athinios lies on the island's west coast beneath the caldera cliffs, about 5 miles (8 km) from Fira and 12 miles (20 km) from Oia. It's small, hot and crowded in summer, and not a place to set off on foot. A single steep, winding road climbs to the top, and it clogs when two ships arrive together, so don't plan a tight connection right after you land. Near the port you'll find cafés, banks, car rentals and a parking lot.
- Bus: KTEL buses wait in the port parking area and go straight to the Fira bus station, about 20 minutes in normal traffic. They're timed around ferry arrivals. Tickets bought on board are usually paid in cash, so it helps to carry some euros. Put big bags in the compartment underneath, and expect summer buses to fill up.
- Pre-booked transfer: taxis are scarce when big ships arrive and run out quickly in the evening. Arrange a transfer through your hotel or a transfer service before you sail. It's the safest plan, especially for a late arrival.
- Rental car: pick one up near the port and drive. Fira is about 20 minutes away and Oia roughly 40.
There's no direct bus from the port to Oia or the other villages. Fira is the center of the bus network, so you ride there first and then change to another bus for your village.
From the airport
A public bus leaves from right outside the arrivals doors for Fira, where you change for villages like Kamari, Perissa, Akrotiri and Oia. You buy your ticket from the conductor. Service is frequent by day in summer but thin late at night and in winter, so after a late landing or before an early flight, take a taxi or a pre-booked transfer.
What should Americans know before they go?
U.S. citizens can enter Greece without a visa for up to 90 days, and a passport should have at least three months of validity beyond your planned departure date. Don't travel on a passport you've reported lost or stolen, because you'll be refused entry. The State Department calls Greece generally safe, though pickpocketing and purse-snatching are common at tourist sites and on public transport, especially the Athens metro you'll likely ride to Piraeus.
Strikes and demonstrations happen with little notice and can interrupt public transport, taxis, seaports and airports, so build slack into any ferry or flight connection. If you rent a car on the island, Greek law requires a valid U.S. driver's license plus an international driving permit, even if the rental desk doesn't ask for one. Thieves in Greece are known to break into rental cars, so avoid leaving passports, valuables or luggage inside. Carry your passport or another photo ID at all times.
Sources
- ferryhopper.com (https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/blog/ferry-news/athinios-port-santorini), checked October 17, 2026
- ferryhopper.com (https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/ferry-routes/direct/athens-piraeus-to-santorini), checked October 17, 2026
- discovercyclades.gr (https://discovercyclades.gr/en/ferry-routes/direct/athens-piraeus-to-santorini), checked October 17, 2026
- santorinidave.com (https://santorinidave.com/santorini-buses), checked October 17, 2026
- omio.com (https://www.omio.com/ferries/piraeus/santorini-pzaf8), checked October 17, 2026
- U.S. Department of State (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Greece.html), checked October 15, 2026
- santoriniports.gov.gr (https://www.santoriniports.gov.gr/en/cruise), checked October 15, 2026
- jtr-airport.gr (https://www.jtr-airport.gr/), checked October 15, 2026
- ktel-santorini.gr (https://www.ktel-santorini.gr/images/ktel.pdf), checked October 15, 2026
- Visit Greece (GNTO) (https://www.visitgreece.gr/islands/cyclades/santorini/), checked October 15, 2026
- U.S. Department of State (https://travel.state.gov/content/tsg_aem/us/en/home/international-travel/travel-advisories/destination.grc.html), checked October 15, 2026
- seajets.com (https://www.seajets.com/), checked October 15, 2026