Greece Ferries: How to Get Around the Islands by Sea

Ferries carry most travelers between Athens and the Greek islands, and Piraeus and Rafina are the two main ports serving the capital. Two choices shape a ferry trip in Greece: the port you sail from, and the type of boat, either a large conventional ferry or a high-speed catamaran. Book early for summer, and check the timetable again as your date gets close. Schedules shift from season to season.

Where do ferries leave from in Athens?

Piraeus, Greece's largest seaport, handles the most routes. Boats sail from here to the Cyclades, Crete, the Dodecanese, the Saronic islands and the northeast Aegean as far as Chios, Lesvos and Limnos. From central Athens, take a cab, the X96 bus or a pre-arranged driver. The port is split into several gates, and each serves different destinations, so confirm yours before you set out. Ferries to Rhodes, for example, leave from a dedicated gate at Piraeus.

Rafina is the closest port to Athens International Airport and mainly serves the northern Cyclades. Boats run daily to Andros, Tinos and Mykonos, and the Rafina route continues to Naxos and Paros. If you're heading straight from the airport to Mykonos or Tinos, sailing from Rafina spares you the trip across the city to Piraeus.

Lavrio serves Kea and Kythnos, and one long route continues through Syros, Paros, Naxos, Ios, Sikinos, Folegandros, Kimolos and Milos. Another heads north to Chios, Lemnos and Kavala.

The Sporades are reached from other mainland ports: Volos, Agios Konstantinos, Thessaloniki and Mantoudi.

What types of ferries are there in Greece?

Greek ferries come in two broad types. Conventional ferries are the large, slower ships, and they're usually the cheaper ticket. High-speed boats such as catamarans cut journey times sharply and charge more for it.

On long routes the gap runs to hours. Athens to Heraklion on Crete takes around 10 hours on a conventional ship and about 6 on the fastest boats. Athens to Santorini takes around 9 hours on many ferries, and some Blue Star sailings cover it in about 7. A catamaran or hovercraft from Rafina can make the trip in roughly 4 hours. Catamarans are the quickest way to get from Santorini to Crete, with a crossing of about 2 hours.

Overnight sailings take much of the strain out of long crossings, since you sleep while the boat does the work. Athens to Rhodes takes 12 to 17 hours, so sleeping aboard keeps you from losing a day. Cabins are available, and on Blue Star your cabin key can live on your phone.

Which Greek ferry companies should you know?

Attica Group is the parent company of Blue Star Ferries, Hellenic Seaways, Anek Lines and Superfast Ferries. Blue Star, founded in 1992 and one of the leading Greek companies, sails from Piraeus to the Cyclades and the Dodecanese, and also runs Piraeus to Heraklion in Crete via Serifos. Hellenic Seaways, founded in 1999, runs comfortable, fast vessels to islands all over the Aegean. Anek Superfast, formed in 2011, runs Piraeus to Heraklion, plus Patras to Igoumenitsa and Ancona in Italy. Minoan Lines, founded on Crete in 1972, links the islands with Piraeus and Greece with Italy.

SEAJETS runs high-speed ferries with up to four daily routes in summer to Andros, Tinos, Mykonos, Paros and Naxos. Golden Star Ferries sails its large Superferry II every day on the same Rafina run.

Smaller lines fill the gaps. Aegean Sea Lines connects Piraeus with Serifos, Sifnos, Milos and Kimolos. Magic Sea Ferries runs high-speed boats from Lavrio to Kythnos, Serifos and Sifnos, and from Piraeus to some of the Saronic islands. Small Cyclades Lines has a single ferry, the Express Skopelitis, which runs from Amorgos to Naxos by way of Donoussa, Koufonisia, Schinoussa and Iraklia. In the Dodecanese, Dodekanisos Seaways makes it possible to move between islands in a single day, and ALKO Ferries links Rhodes, Halki and Tilos. Close to Athens, Alpha Lines is a small company that sails the Saronic Gulf from Piraeus to Poros, Hydra and Spetses.

How do you book ferry tickets in Greece?

Book online, either on an operator's own site or through a booking platform that searches many companies at once. A platform lets you compare schedules, prices and availability across routes in one place.

The Attica Group sites and the seamore app share one login. Your details, your co-travelers, your vehicle and even your pet fill in automatically, so repeat bookings go quickly. Electronic tickets and web check-in are available; follow your operator's instructions. If you're taking an electric, hybrid, LPG or natural gas vehicle aboard, read the rules on battery and fuel tank levels before you sail.

How much do ferries in Greece cost?

Fares vary by route and by boat, and the faster crossings on a given route usually cost more.

Discounts can trim the bill considerably. Early booking takes up to 50% off on some routes. Young travelers can save up to 50% with the European Youth Card, and some routes offer student fares. Offers change often, so read the conditions on each one.

When do ferries run, and what about weather and strikes?

High season runs roughly from June to September, and outside those months there are fewer ferries. In low season, Piraeus to Rhodes sails on just a few days each week. Santorini, Paros, Naxos and Ios are easy to reach all year, while Folegandros, Sifnos, Milos, Serifos and Kimolos take more planning. Schedules also change from year to year, so check the timetable for your dates.

Orthodox Easter is the other crunch, since many Greeks travel home to their families. Book ferries for Easter well in advance.

Bad weather can change itineraries, and operators post the changes on their sites. Sailings are sometimes scrapped at the last minute, so build a spare day into your plans and don't sail back to Athens on the day of your flight home.

Strikes can also stop boats. Transportation sector strikes are common in Greece and interrupt seaports, airports, taxis and public transportation. Large demonstrations may arise with little notice and disrupt transportation too. Check the news and your operator in the days before you sail.

What should first-time ferry travelers in Greece know?

Island hopping takes more planning than the map suggests. Not all of the Cyclades are linked to each other, the day of the week matters, and many trips stop at one or more islands on the way. Santorini to Mykonos, for instance, takes about 3 hours with stops. Ferries leaving Heraklion usually continue through the Cyclades, which makes Crete a handy starting point if you're working south to north. The Dodecanese to the Cyclades is a long haul of about 13 hours, so leave in the early evening and arrive with the whole day ahead of you. Some connections need more than one boat.

Carry your passport or another photo ID at all times. Keep your valuables close in busy ports and on public transportation, since pickpockets and purse-snatchers target tourists at popular sites.