Greek Island Ferries

Piraeus and Rafina: the Athens hubs

Most island ferries leave from Piraeus, the large port of Athens (metro line 1, about 40 minutes from Syntagma Square). The port is divided into numbered gates, and each ship uses a set gate: in 2026 Santorini ferries usually left from gates E6 to E10 near the metro station, while Crete ferries used E2 and E3 at the far end of the port. Check the gate on your ticket, use the free port shuttle bus for the far gates, and arrive at least 30 to 45 minutes before departure (an hour for Crete).

Rafina, the second Athens port, about 30 km east of the centre, is much smaller but worth using if you are heading to Mykonos, Andros or Tinos. It has the most Mykonos sailings and the cheapest tickets, and it is about 30 minutes by road from Athens International Airport, so it suits travellers heading straight from a flight to the islands.

The island groups

Greece's island ferry network divides into five rough regions, each with its own logic.

The Cyclades (Santorini, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Ios, Milos and a dozen smaller islands) form the classic island-hopping circuit. High-speed ferries reach Paros in about 2 hours 45 minutes and Naxos in about 3 hours 20 minutes from Piraeus; Mykonos, to the north, is about 2.5 hours from Rafina, and Santorini, at the southern end, about 5 hours from Piraeus.

Crete, Greece's largest island, is served by overnight car ferries from Piraeus to Heraklion and Chania. The crossing takes 9 to 10 hours, leaving at 21:00 or 22:00 and arriving between 06:30 and 07:00, which saves a night's hotel. In summer, Seajets also runs a daytime high-speed boat to Heraklion via the Cyclades.

The Dodecanese (Rhodes, Kos, Patmos, Kalymnos) stretch toward the Turkish coast. Blue Star Ferries runs long-distance routes from Piraeus calling at several islands; the crossing to Rhodes takes about 13 to 18 hours on the Dodecanese line, and longer on the line via Santorini and Crete.

The Saronic Gulf islands (Aegina, Hydra, Poros, Spetses) are the closest to Athens. Aegina is about 40 minutes by hydrofoil from Piraeus and popular for a day trip. Hydra is car-free and reached in about 90 minutes.

The North Aegean (Lesvos, Chios, Limnos, Samos) sits further east; these longer crossings often run overnight.

High-speed vs conventional

The choice between fast and conventional matters for planning, budget and comfort.

High-speed ferries (SeaJets, and Golden Star Ferries and Fast Ferries on some sailings) are much faster than conventional ferries on most Cyclades routes. They cost more, carry fewer cars, and can be cancelled or delayed when the meltemi north wind blows strongly, typically July to September. Seasickness is more of an issue in choppy conditions.

Conventional car ferries (Blue Star Ferries, Minoan Lines, ANEK) are larger, more stable and generally cheaper. They carry cars and motorcycles, have cafés, deck space and often cabins, and turn the crossing into part of the trip rather than something to endure. On the overnight routes to Crete and Rhodes, a cabin means you can save a hotel night.

For island-hopping, a practical strategy is to take the fast ferry outbound when time is tight and the conventional ferry back at leisure.

Operators and booking

Blue Star Ferries is the main conventional carrier on the Cyclades and Dodecanese routes, running scheduled services all year. SeaJets runs the largest high-speed network in summer. Hellenic Seaways, part of the same Attica Group as Blue Star, runs the Flying Dolphin and Aero Highspeed boats to the Saronic islands and some routes in the Cyclades, Sporades and North Aegean. Minoan Lines and ANEK Lines (with Blue Star) serve the Piraeus–Crete overnight routes.

Tickets can be booked on the operators' own sites, through booking sites like Ferryhopper and Direct Ferries, or at ticket agencies around Piraeus. In peak summer (late July and August), book seats, and especially any vehicle space, several weeks ahead. Off-season, a few days' notice is usually enough.

Prices vary by operator, ferry type and how far ahead you book. On conventional ferries the cheap seats sell out rather than getting more expensive, so booking early rarely costs more.

Island-hopping tips

Build a loose itinerary rather than a fixed timetable: island-hopping works best with some flexibility for weather delays or a place you want to stay longer. The Cyclades form a natural circuit (Piraeus, Paros, Naxos, Ios, Santorini) that can be done in either direction. Mykonos branches off to the north.

Strong meltemi winds are most common in July and August, so keep an eye on forecasts if you have a connecting flight. High-speed services are cancelled first; large car ferries usually keep running in all but severe conditions.