Golden Star Ferries

Who they are

Golden Star Ferries is a Greek ferry operator with a long-standing focus on the Cyclades routes out of Rafina, the port on the eastern Attica coast. For travellers arriving at Athens International Airport, Rafina is often the more practical embarkation point — the drive or bus ride is significantly shorter than a transfer to the main port at Piraeus.

The company operates a mixed fleet suited to both day-trippers and longer island-hop itineraries, with sailings timed to connect well with early-morning and late-afternoon arrivals at the airport. Service runs year-round on core routes, with a notable expansion in frequency and capacity during the peak summer months from June through September.

Network and routes

Golden Star Ferries' network fans out from Rafina northward to Andros and Tinos, and southward into the heart of the Cyclades toward Mykonos and beyond. The Rafina–Andros–Tinos–Mykonos corridor is the company's backbone, serving both independent travellers and the significant seasonal tourism traffic that flows through Mykonos.

Piraeus sailings extend the reach further south, providing access to Santorini on routes that call at several central Cyclades islands en route. These longer runs suit passengers who want to island-hop rather than fly directly, taking in multiple stops on a single ticket.

Connections between islands — Andros to Mykonos, Tinos to Mykonos — are a useful feature for those constructing multi-island itineraries without backtracking to the mainland.

Fleet and on board

Golden Star Ferries operates high-speed vessels alongside more conventional ro-ro ferries, giving passengers a choice of journey time versus vehicle capacity. High-speed craft cut crossing times substantially and suit foot passengers prioritising speed; conventional ferries take longer but accommodate cars, motorbikes and larger luggage.

Passenger areas on the larger vessels include indoor lounge seating, a café-bar serving snacks and hot drinks, and outdoor deck space on fine weather days. Vehicle ferries have open-deck areas with sea views that high-speed enclosed craft cannot match.

On shorter legs such as Rafina to Andros the crossing is comfortable and brief. Longer sailings to Santorini call for basic provisions — stock up in Rafina before boarding if you prefer your own snacks.

Booking and tips

Booking through the Golden Star Ferries website or an aggregator like FerryDash gives you access to the full schedule and live pricing. Fares are dynamic, so booking early — particularly for peak summer departures — produces the best prices and guarantees a space on your chosen sailing.

Rafina port is small and straightforward to navigate. Arrive at least 40 minutes before departure; for vehicle passengers, 60–90 minutes is advisable to allow time for the vehicle check-in lane. Parking is available near the port for day-trippers, but spaces fill fast in July and August.

If a sailing is cancelled due to strong winds — the Meltemi can affect east Attica routes as much as Piraeus departures — Golden Star Ferries typically rebooks passengers on the next available sailing or offers a refund. Check the operator's website or app the evening before for weather-related status updates.