Greek Ferries: My Complete 2026 Guide

Greece › Ferries in Greece
By Santorini Dave
Updated: March 20, 2026

Popular Routes

• Athens to Santorini Ferry
• Athens to Naxos Ferry
• Athens to Paros Ferry
• Athens to Mykonos Ferry
• Rafina to Mykonos Ferry
• Mykonos to Santorini Ferry
• Crete to Santorini Ferry

Ferry Ports

• Piraeus Port Guide
• Santorini Port Guide
• Heraklion Port Guide
• Mykonos Port Guide

Helpful Links

• How I buy ferry tickets: FerryHopper.com
• Pre-booked taxi service: Welcome Pickups

If You Only Read 6 Things

• Take the ferry for nearby islands and fly for long-distance jumps: For most classic island-hopping routes (like Athens to Paros, Athens to Naxos, Athens to Mykonos, or Santorini to Naxos), the ferry is scenic, practical, and part of the Greece experience. For longer jumps (like Athens to Rhodes, Athens to Kos, or awkward island combinations far apart), flying is usually faster, easier, and often the smarter choice.
• My default choice is a Blue Star ferry with an Air Seat: Blue Star (conventional ferry) is slower, smoother, cheaper, and has open decks. SeaJets (high speed) is faster, more expensive, bumpier, and keeps you indoors. For most first-time visitors, families, and anyone prone to seasickness, Blue Star is the better choice.
• Book online, but download your ticket before you get to the port: I use FerryHopper for all my tickets. You do not need a paper ticket, but port cell service can be terrible. Check in online and save the QR code to your digital wallet or take a screenshot before you leave your hotel or airport.
• Never make a tight ferry-to-flight connection: Ferries can be delayed by wind, strikes, congestion, or slow boarding. If you are flying home from Athens, do not plan to arrive by ferry and then catch an important international flight a few hours later. Give yourself a huge buffer or, even better, spend the night in Athens first.
• Arrive early and double-check your gate: Get to the port about 45 minutes early if you are walking on, or 60 to 90 minutes early if you are bringing a vehicle. At Piraeus especially, gates can change and walking between them can take longer than you expect.
• Travel light and keep valuables with you: Large suitcases are often left on racks on the car deck or near the entrance lounges, which is totally normal. But always carry a small day bag upstairs with your passport, phone, wallet, medication, chargers, and anything else valuable or essential.

---

Greek island hopping by ferry is a scenic, practical, and often more enjoyable way to travel than flying between nearby islands. The network can look complicated, but it is easy to navigate once you know the basics.

Should I fly or take the ferry?

My rule of thumb: Take the ferry for nearby islands and classic island-hopping routes. Fly for long-distance jumps, winter travel, or any day when timing really matters.

• Take the ferry when: the route is direct, reasonably short, and part of a logical island-hopping plan. Good examples are Athens to Paros, Athens to Naxos, Athens to Mykonos, and Santorini to Naxos or Paros. These are scenic, practical routes where the ferry often feels like part of the Greece experience, not just transportation.
• If you are already in central Athens, the ferry is often the easier choice: Getting from central Athens to Piraeus is simple by Metro, taxi, or Uber, and once you are on board, the trip feels straightforward. But if you are landing at the airport and planning to skip Athens entirely, flying to your island is often the more natural option.
• Fly when: the distance is long or the route is awkward. Good examples are Athens to Rhodes, Athens to Kos, or island combinations that are far apart and not naturally connected by ferry. In these cases, flying is usually faster, easier, and less tiring.
• Flights between islands are rare: This is one of the biggest surprises for first-time visitors. In most cases, if you want to fly from one island to another, you cannot do it directly and will have to connect through Athens, which makes the journey much longer and often less convenient than a ferry. That is why ferries are usually the best choice for island hopping, even when flying looks faster at first glance.
• Santorini and Crete are the main gray areas: For Athens to Santorini, Athens to Heraklion, or Athens to Chania, both flying and the ferry can work well. If you are short on time, I usually lean toward flying. If you want the more scenic and classic Greece travel experience, the ferry can still be a great choice.
• Season matters: Ferries are best from late spring through early fall, when routes are frequent and island hopping is easy. In winter and parts of the shoulder season, routes are reduced, less frequent, or do not run every day, so flying often becomes the better choice.
• Risk matters too: If you have a tight connection to an important international flight, do not rely on a same-day ferry arrival. Ferries can be delayed by wind, rough seas, port congestion, or strikes. If you absolutely must be in Athens for a flight home, I much prefer flying (or taking the ferry back the day before and spending the night in Athens).

Bottom line: Take the ferry when the route is short, direct, and part of a smart island-hopping plan. Fly when the distance is long, the route is awkward, the season is off-peak, or the cost of a delay is high.

The size difference is obvious: SuperJet on the right, Blue Star on the left. Bigger ferries are usually slower, but much more stable and comfortable.

Blue Star vs SeaJets: Which should you choose?

This is the single most common choice you will face in the Cyclades.

• Blue Star (Conventional): This is my default recommendation for a 3 to 6 hour crossing. They are massive, highly stable, and cheaper. They have open decks for photos and fresh air. Choose them if you are prone to seasickness, traveling with young kids, or just want a relaxing, scenic ride.
• SeaJets (High Speed): These are much smaller, significantly faster, and more expensive. You cannot go outside during the trip. Choose them for short island hops where the time savings are major. Avoid them if it is a very windy day and you get motion sickness easily.

When Ferries Are a Bad Idea

Do not rely on a ferry if you have a tight same-day international flight out of Athens. Do not take a high speed catamaran on a very windy (forecasted) day if you are sensitive to motion. Avoid planning complex island hops in the dead of winter (November to March) when many routes simply do not run. Finally, never try to take a ferry between the Ionian islands (Corfu) and the Cyclades (Santorini); you have to fly or drive across the mainland.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Booking too many islands: You lose half a day to travel and hotel check ins every time you move.
• Assuming every island connects: Direct connections between every island are not the norm. Neighboring islands connect well, but cross-group trips (like Rhodes to Santorini) are difficult. Athens is the main hub.
• Bringing oversized, heavy luggage: You have to haul it up steep metal ramps and across cobblestones.
• Panicking during boarding: Greek ferry boarding looks disorganized and chaotic. Crew members will yell instructions. It is normal; just follow the crowd and it usually works fine.

Ports, Boarding, and Luggage

Which Athens port should I use?

Athens has three ports. Make sure you know which one your ferry leaves from.

• Piraeus: The biggest port with the most routes. It is the main option for going to Santorini, Crete, Naxos, Paros, or Hydra from central Athens.
• Rafina: Located closer to the Athens airport. It is fantastic if you are landing at the airport and heading straight to Mykonos, Andros, or Tinos. It is much smaller and easier to navigate than Piraeus.
• Lavrio: A small port primarily used for niche routes to Kea or Kythnos. You likely will not use this.

What Boarding Is Actually Like

For first-time visitors, boarding a Greek ferry can look chaotic. It is usually fast, loud, and a little messy, with hundreds of passengers, porters, and vehicles all moving at once. There is rarely a neat single-file line. This is normal. Do not panic. Just have your phone ticket ready, keep your passport or photo ID handy, follow the crew’s instructions, and move with the flow.

1. Find your gate and ship: Check the departure boards when you arrive at the port, especially at Piraeus where gates can change. Match the ferry company, destination, and departure time to your ticket.
2. Join the crowd: When boarding starts, passengers usually gather quickly near the ramp. It may feel like a mad dash, but this is how boarding often works in Greece.
3. Scan your ticket: Staff will scan the QR code on your phone ticket at the base of the ramp or just before you step onboard. Keep your phone unlocked and your ID handy in case it is requested.
4. Drop your large luggage: On many ferries, crew will direct you to leave big suitcases on racks on the car deck or near the entrance lounges. This is standard. Keep valuables, medication, passports, chargers, and anything fragile with you in a small day bag.
5. Go upstairs to the passenger areas: After dropping your bag, head up to the indoor lounges or outdoor decks. On large conventional ferries, this may involve stairs, escalators, or elevators.
6. Find your seat or lounge: If you booked an Air Seat or a high-speed ferry ticket, look for your assigned seat number. If you booked Economy/Deck on a conventional ferry, find an open lounge chair, café seat, or outdoor spot.
7. Get ready before your stop: As your island approaches, passengers will begin moving toward the exits. Gather your day bag, go down for your suitcase a little early if needed, and be ready for a quick, slightly chaotic disembarkation.

Large bags are usually left in the designated luggage area on the car deck, often grouped by island. It doesn’t look especially secure, but I’ve never heard of a bag going missing. Keep medicine, passports, and anything valuable with you.

The Luggage Reality

Greek ferries do not have strict luggage weight limits, which is a major advantage over flying. However, a travel backpack or a small, two wheeled suitcase is far superior to a heavy four wheeled spinner. Small wheels break on the metal ramps and island cobblestones.

As you enter the vehicle deck, crew members will instruct you to leave your bags. On many ferries, large suitcases are left on racks on the vehicle deck or near the entrance lounges. This is totally normal. You then walk upstairs to the passenger lounges.

Important: Do not leave anything valuable on the luggage racks. Bag theft is rare but can happen. You cannot return to the car deck during the voyage.

What to pack in your day bag

Bring a small backpack upstairs with you containing:

• Your phone and tickets
• Passport and wallet
• Medication and motion sickness tablets
• A sweater (ferry air conditioning can be freezing, even in August)
• Sunglasses and a hat for the outdoor deck
• A power bank (outlets exist but are highly competitive)

I love using a backpack as I ferry hop around Greece. In this case, hands free as I disembark the ferry in Paros.

Life Onboard

Can I walk around?

On conventional ferries (Blue Star), absolutely. You can roam the hallways, use the cafes, and go out to the open decks. It is highly recommended. On high speed ferries (SeaJets), movement is limited. You must stay inside, mostly in your assigned seat, and there are no accessible outdoor spaces.

Food, Water, and Bathrooms

You can bring your own food and water on board, which I recommend doing if you are on a smaller high speed boat with limited options. Large conventional ferries have full cafes, espresso bars, and sometimes fast food restaurants. Prices for basic items like bottled water and simple sandwiches are regulated and cheap. Bathrooms are generally clean; large ferries have crews cleaning them constantly.

The cafe on a SeaJets ferry. (The sugar donuts are delicious.)

Wi-Fi and Charging

Most ferries offer Wi-Fi for a small fee, but it relies on cellular networks and drops out constantly when you are far from land. Do not count on it for important work. Power outlets are scattered around the lounges, but they get claimed quickly. Bring a power bank.

Mobility and Accessibility

If you have mobility issues, large conventional ferries are vastly superior. They often have elevators or escalators to take you from the car deck to the lounges. Small, fast catamarans often require navigating steep, narrow stairs.

Vehicles and Rental Cars

Do not bring a rental car from Athens to the islands unless you are doing a massive multi week trip. Ferrying a car is expensive, vehicle spots sell out fast, and loading the car onto the ship is stressful with crew yelling tight parking instructions at you. It is much easier and cheaper to rent a car or ATV locally once you arrive on the island.

Schedules, Delays, and Tickets

Can I trust the published schedule?

Ferries usually leave their origin port on time. However, delays accumulate as the day goes on. If you are catching a ferry mid route at 3:00 PM, expect it to be 20 to 45 minutes late. I recommend using the MarineTraffic app to track your ship’s location in real time.

What if my route does not show up online?

If you are searching for tickets in January for a trip in August and see nothing, do not panic. Many summer schedules for smaller or seasonal routes are often not fully loaded until spring. Alternatively, if a route never shows up, it means those two islands do not connect directly and you must route through a hub like Piraeus, Naxos, or Syros.

Strikes and Holiday Chaos

Transportation strikes happen in Greece. There is almost always a general strike on May 1st (Labor Day). Do not book travel on this date. If you are traveling near a major holiday or protest period, check your email for notifications from Ferryhopper and reconfirm your sailing. Be aware that Greek Easter week and August 15th are massive local travel holidays; ports will be packed and ferries will sell out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do tickets sell out?

Yes. High speed ferries (SeaJets), private cabins, and car spots frequently sell out in July and August. Economy deck tickets on large Blue Star ferries rarely sell out, but it can happen on peak holiday weekends. Book 2 to 3 months in advance for peace of mind.

How much do ferry tickets cost?

Prices vary wildly by vessel type. A high speed catamaran can cost double the price of a conventional car ferry. For example, the cheapest seats for Athens to Santorini usually cost around €60 on Blue Star and over €110 on SeaJets. Prices do not fluctuate like airfares, so booking early secures your spot without costing you more.

What happens if it is canceled?

Cancellations happen, usually due to high winds in August. If you have an electronic ticket, you will get an email or SMS. You are entitled to a full refund or rebooking on the next available vessel (which is often the larger, wind resistant Blue Star).

Email I received when our ferry was cancelled.

How do seats work? (Economy vs Air Seat)

This confuses everyone. Here is the breakdown:

• Economy / Deck (Conventional Ferries): The cheapest option. You have no assigned seat. You sit on outdoor plastic chairs, cafe sofas, or wherever you find space. It is first come, first served. It is great for young travelers on short trips, but awful in August when it is crowded and you have to hunt for a spot.
• Air Seat / Airplane Type (Conventional Ferries): This is the smart choice. It is a reserved, numbered seat in an indoor, air conditioned lounge. It is yours for the whole trip. It usually only costs €5 to €10 more than Economy. Always book this if you value comfort.
• High Speed Ferries (SeaJets): Every single ticket on a high speed ferry is a reserved, assigned seat. You will never have to stand.

Reserved seating (airplane style seating) on a SeaJets ferry.

Can I sleep on the ferry?

Yes. On conventional ferries, people nap in the Air Seats, and backpackers often sleep on the floor or sofas in the Economy lounges. However, if you are doing an overnight route (like Athens to Crete or Rhodes), I highly recommend booking a Cabin.

Should I book a cabin?

A cabin gives you a private room with bunk beds and a bathroom. They are essential for overnight routes. They are also a fantastic luxury for daytime trips if you have young children who need a nap, or if you are an older traveler who wants privacy and a clean, private bathroom away from the crowds.

Can I bring my pet?

Yes, pets are allowed on most Greek ferries. Rules vary by operator and vessel, but pets are typically restricted to designated areas, carriers, kennels, or pet friendly cabins. Always check the specific operator’s pet policy when booking.

Are there return ticket discounts?

Yes. Many major companies offer return discounts on some routes when both legs are booked together, but the exact percentage and eligible routes vary.

What is the best route for scenery?

Arriving in Santorini by ferry is one of the greatest views in the world. You sail directly into the flooded volcanic caldera. Make sure you are on a conventional ferry (like Blue Star) so you can stand on the open deck as you arrive. High speed ferries do not let you go outside, so you miss the experience.

How do I get from Central Athens to Piraeus Port?

The Metro is the best way.

• From Monastiraki or Omonia: Take the Green Line (Line 1) directly to Piraeus.
• From Syntagma: Take the Blue Line (Line 3) directly to Piraeus.
• Cost and Payment: The standard 90 minute urban ticket costs €1.20. You can tap your credit card or phone (Apple Pay or Google Pay) directly at the turnstile; no need to buy a physical ticket from a machine.

How do I get from Athens Airport to Piraeus Port?

You no longer need to switch trains.

• The Metro: Take the Blue Line (Line 3) directly from the Airport to Piraeus. It takes about an hour and costs €9. Trains run every 30 minutes. Contactless payment is supported here as well.
• The Bus: The X96 Express Bus runs 24/7 from the airport arrivals curb to Piraeus. It takes about 60 to 90 minutes (traffic dependent) and costs €5.50. Use this if arriving late at night when the Metro is closed.

How do I get from the ferry port to my hotel?

This depends a lot on the island. On small, easy islands, you can sometimes walk to your hotel, grab a taxi, or hop on a local bus. But on popular islands like Santorini and Mykonos, ferry arrivals can be chaotic and taxis are limited, so I strongly recommend arranging your transportation in advance.

• Best option for most travelers: Book a Welcome Pickups for pre-arranged transport. It is usually the easiest and least stressful choice, especially if you are arriving with luggage or landing on a busy summer afternoon. Your driver will be waiting for you, and you avoid the scramble for taxis at the port.
• Walking: This can work surprisingly well on Naxos, Paros, Ios, and many smaller islands, especially if you are staying close to the port and traveling light. Always check the exact location of your hotel first, since a “short walk” can feel much longer on steep roads or in the midday heat.
• Taxis: Fine on some islands, unreliable on others. There are often fewer taxis than arriving passengers, so do not assume you can simply walk off the ferry and find one immediately.
• Buses: On some islands (like Santorini), local buses meet all ferry arrivals and are the cheapest option. They are great if you are traveling light and staying in a main town, but they can be crowded and inconvenient if your hotel is far from the bus stop.
• Rental cars and ATVs: These can work well if you have pre-arranged pickup at the port, but I would not count on sorting it out last minute after arrival in peak season.

My advice: If you are arriving at a major island port for the first time, especially Santorini, Mykonos, or Crete, arrange your transfer before you board the ferry. It makes arrival much smoother.