Athens to Santorini – Fly or Ferry

Greece › Fly or Ferry to Santorini
By Santorini Dave • dave@santorinidave.com
Updated: July 30, 2025

See Also

• Where to Stay in Athens
• Athens (Piraeus) Ferry Port Guide
• Where To Stay in Santorini
• Santorini Ferry Port Guide

A ferry boarding passengers and cars in the Athens ferry port.

The two main options are to fly or take a ferry. Both are good choices, but the best one for you depends on your budget, schedule, and travel style.

Flying: The Fast but Less Scenic Route
Flying is the quickest option. The flight itself is under an hour, but you should budget 4 to 5 hours for the entire door-to-door journey.

• Airlines to Fly: Your main choices are Aegean Airlines and its subsidiary Olympic Air for top reliability and service. Sky Express is another Greek airline with competitive pricing. Budget options include Ryanair and Volotea, where you can find very cheap fares if you book far ahead and travel light; always check their baggage rules carefully, as extra fees can be high.

• Getting to Athens Airport (ATH): Plan for about 60 minutes to get from central Athens to the airport. The M3 metro line is efficient and costs about €9. The 24/7 X95 express bus from Syntagma Square is cheaper at €5.50 but can be slower in traffic. A taxi is the most direct, with a flat rate of €40 during the day and €55 at night. Obviously, if you’re already at the airport this changes the calculation and makes flying a much more attractive option.

• Arriving at Santorini Airport (JTR): The island’s airport is small but can be chaotic. The cheapest way to your hotel is the public bus to the main station in Fira, where you must change buses to reach other villages like Oia. Taxis are available but limited in number. I strongly recommend pre-booking a transfer; a driver will meet you and take you straight to your hotel, which removes all the hassle.

• Booking Advice for Flights: For the best prices, book your flights 3 to 6 months in advance. I use Google Flights to track fares and set up price alerts. Last minute flights in summer can be very expensive.

Ferry: The Classic Greek Island Experience
Taking a ferry is a rite of passage. It is slower but offers an experience a flight cannot match: the incredible, dramatic entrance into the Santorini caldera.

• Ferry Companies and Boat Types: Your best options are Blue Star Ferries and Seajets. Blue Star uses large, conventional ferries that are slow (about 8 hours) but very stable and have open decks for amazing views. Seajets uses faster high-speed catamarans (about 5 hours) that are more expensive, enclosed with no deck access, and more likely to be canceled or bumpy in windy weather.

• Choosing Your Seat: The cheapest ticket is Economy/Deck, which gives you no assigned seat. For just a few euros more, Air Seats give you a reserved, numbered seat and are the best value. Business and First Class offer a quieter, more spacious lounge, often with waiter service. For ultimate privacy or on an overnight trip, you can book a private Cabin with beds and a bathroom.

• Departing from Athens (Piraeus Port): Most ferries leave from Piraeus Port, which is huge. Ferries to Santorini typically use gates E6, E7, or E8. The M3 metro line runs from the airport directly to the port. Both the M1 and M3 line connects the port to the city center. Arrive at the port at least 45 minutes before departure to find your gate.

• Arriving in Santorini (Athinios Port): The arrival port is a scene of organized chaos at the bottom of a cliff. Buses timed to meet the ferries can take you to Fira, where you will need to change for other towns. Taxis are very difficult to secure. Once again, the best and most stress-free option is to pre-book a transfer to your hotel.

What I Personally Do
For a first-time visitor, I recommend a one-way Blue Star ferry from Athens to Santorini to get the full, scenic arrival experience. For the return journey, I would fly from Santorini back to Athens to save time. Or better yet, fly from Santorini direct to a Western European hub like Rome, Amsterdam, Paris, or London, skipping a second visit to Athens altogether.

Final Advice
• Book Your Tickets in Advance: Whether you fly or take the ferry, book well ahead for travel between June and September. I use Ferryhopper for all ferry bookings as it is easy to use and shows all available options. Prices are set by the government and are the same across all sites.

• Consider Your Luggage: Ferries are much better for travelers with a lot of luggage. You can store large bags in the garage deck area for free. Airlines have stricter limits and will charge extra for checked bags.

• Prevent Seasickness: If you are prone to motion sickness, flying is the safest choice. If you decide on a ferry, take the large and stable Blue Star ship, not a smaller high-speed catamaran.

• Traveling with Children: The Blue Star ferry is the clear winner for families. Kids have space to move around, and the open decks provide entertainment. Being confined to a small seat on a plane or an enclosed high-speed ferry is more challenging with children.