Mykonos to Santorini Ferry Guide

Greece › Greek Ferries › Mykonos to Santorini
Updated: February 28, 2026 • By Santorini Dave

See Also

• Where to Stay in Santorini
• Santorini Ferry Port Guide
• Where to Stay in Mykonos
• Mykonos Ferry Port Guide

Boarding a Santorini-bound ferry at the Mykonos New Port (Tourlos).

Mykonos to Santorini Ferries – My Advice

• The Main Route: Taking the ferry is the standard way to travel. It is a direct shot south through the Cyclades.
• Booking: Essential. This is the #1 tourist route in Greece. For July/August, book at least 2 to 3 months in advance via FerryHopper.com to guarantee a seat.
• Departure Port: Ferries depart from the New Port (Tourlos). Warning: Do not go to the Old Port in Mykonos Town; no ferries depart from there. The best way to get to the New Port is the Sea Bus from the Old Port (runs every 30 mins) or the public bus from the Fabrika station. Taxis are hard to find, though the Uber app works well here.
• Arrival Port: You arrive at Athinios Port in Santorini, located at the bottom of the caldera cliffs. The scene here is chaotic. Do not expect to find a taxi (there are only about 35 on the whole island). The public bus to Fira is reliable and waits to the left as you disembark. For a stress-free arrival, pre-book a transfer or arrange a shuttle with your hotel.
• Schedule: Service runs daily from late March to October. In peak summer (June–Sept), there are 5 to 8 departures per day. The most popular boats leave between 09:50 AM and 1:00 PM.
• Vessels & Duration: The trip takes 2 to 3 hours. Unlike other routes, this leg is almost exclusively served by high-speed catamarans (SeaJets WorldChampion Jet, Golden Star Superexpress). Conventional slow ferries are rare on this specific connection.
• Ticket Prices: Tickets are expensive on this route. Expect to pay roughly €100 to €110 for a standard Economy seat. Business or VIP seats (recommended for more space) range from €130 to €160.
• Seasickness Alert: This specific stretch of open sea is notoriously windy (Meltemi). High-speed ferries can be very bumpy. If you are sensitive, take Dramamine 30 minutes before boarding and sit in the lower, central section of the ship (Economy), not the upper VIP deck which sways more.

Mykonos to Santorini Ferry Realities: Direct Feedback from My Readers

I get tons of emails and comments every year from travelers who have taken ferry trips in Greece. This list is built from the direct, honest feedback my readers have shared over the last decade about the typical pros and cons, and what they wish they had known before booking their Mykonos-to-Santorini ferry.

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The Pros: Why People Love the Ferry

• Short Travel Time: Since these two islands are relatively close, the journey is quick. Most high-speed catamarans make the trip in about 2 to 3 hours, which makes it a very manageable travel day compared to the longer haul from Athens.
• Frequent Departures: During the peak summer season, there are multiple boats per day. My readers appreciate having the flexibility to choose a morning or afternoon departure depending on their hotel checkout times.
• The World Champion Jet: This specific vessel is a fan favorite. It is one of the fastest and largest catamarans in the fleet, and readers often mention how stable and modern it feels compared to the smaller ferries.

The Cons: The Honest Truth

• Mykonos New Port Exposure: The Tourlos port in Mykonos is notoriously windy and lacks sufficient indoor waiting areas. Readers frequently complain about standing in the sun or wind for an hour because the boat was running behind schedule.
• The Rough Sea Factor: The stretch of water between Mykonos and Santorini can get very choppy when the Meltemi winds blow. Many reports from readers who found the high-speed ferries to be a struggle for those prone to motion sickness.
• Athinios Port Scramble: Santorini ferry port is located at the bottom of a steep cliff. When a ferry unloads hundreds of people at once, the area becomes a bottleneck of buses, taxis, and private transfers. It is not a place you want to be winging it with your transport.
• Delayed Departures: Because these ferries are often coming from other islands like Athens or Naxos before hitting Mykonos, they are frequently behind schedule by 30 to 45 minutes.

Regrets: What People Wish They Knew

• Booking the Smallest Boat: A common regret is booking a ticket on the smaller SeaJets like the Superjet or Seajet2 during windy months. These boats are much smaller and bounce significantly more in the waves. I always suggest checking the vessel size on Ferryhopper.com before you book ferry tickets.
• Not Pre-booking a Port Transfer: Walking from the Athinios Port to Fira is impossible and the public bus fills up quickly. Readers who did not pre-book a transfer or hotel pickup often regret standing in the heat for an hour trying to find a taxi or call an Uber. I recommend booking a private transfer through Welcome Pickups to avoid the anxiety upon arrival.
• Waiting at the Port Too Early: Many travelers arrive two hours early only to find there is nowhere comfortable to sit. Seasoned readers suggest arriving 45 minutes before departure is plenty of time.
• Not Booking the Return Simultaneously: This is the most popular island-hopping route in Greece. Readers often regret not booking their return leg from Santorini to Mykonos at the same time, as the most popular afternoon times often sell out weeks (or months) in advance.

Happy Surprises: The Unexpected Wins

• Seeing Delos from the Water: Depending on the route the captain takes (and the ferry you’re on), you can sometimes get a great view of the ancient ruins of Delos just after leaving Mykonos.
• Efficiency of the Crew: Despite the outward appearance of chaos, many readers are shocked by how quickly the crew can load and unload hundreds of passengers and suitcases.
• The Comfort of Club Class: Readers who opted for the small upgrade to Club or Business class on the high-speed ferries often report it was well worth it for the extra space and quieter atmosphere.
• The Ease of Luggage Storage: Most first timers expect a complicated process, but are happily surprised that they can just leave their large bags in the racks on the entry deck and walk to their seats with just their essentials.

How do I buy tickets and use E-Tickets?

The process is now fully digital and very simple.

• Where to buy: I always use Ferryhopper.com. It connects to all the ferry databases, allows you to compare fast vs. slow boats easily, and handles the E-Ticket process seamlessly for you.
• The E-Ticket Process: After you book, you will receive a confirmation email. For most companies (like SeaJets), you complete a quick Online Check-in (usually available 48 hours before departure) to generate your actual Boarding Pass.
• Boarding: You simply download the Boarding Pass (which is a QR Code) to your phone. When you walk up to the ferry ramp, a crew member scans your phone screen. That is it. You do not need to print anything.
• Best seats: I recommend Business or VIP if available (nicer seats in a more relaxed setting).

Example Mykonos to Santorini Ferry Schedule

Mykonos to Santorini ferry schedules and prices on Ferryhopper.com.

Common Ferries from Mykonos to Santorini

The SeaJets are the fastest ferries from Mykonos to Santorini.

General seating (Standard Seat/Silver) on the Worldchampion Jet ferry from Mykonos to Santorini.

Business (club class) and VIP (platinum) seating has tables and more space. Also the best views are found in Business and VIP.

The SeaJets Superjet ferry from Mykonos to Santorini. This is a small catamaran and it can offer a very bumpy ride in choppy seas. Choose a different ferry if you’re prone to seasickness.

The SeaJets Seajet 2 from Mykonos to Santorini. This is a small catamaran and it can offer a very bumpy ride in choppy seas. Choose a different ferry if you’re prone to seasickness.

The SeaJets Power Jet ferry from Mykonos to Santorini. Larger ferry with good stable ride.

The SeaJets Naxos Jet ferry from Mykonos to Santorini. Larger ferry with good stable ride.

This is the Hellenic Seaways Highspeed 7 ferry but it’s almost identical to the Minoan Lines Santorini Palace (which I don’t have a photo of) that runs from Mykonos to Santorini. Larger ferry with good stable ride.