Greece › Greek Ferries › Naxos to Athens
by Santorini Dave • Updated: May 31, 2023
By Santorini Dave
See Also:
- Where to Stay in Athens
- Best Hotels in Athens
- Best Tours & Things to Do in Athens
- Piraeus (Athens) Ferry Port Guide
Boarding the ferry in Naxos for Athens. You can purchase tickets at the ferry port in Naxos Town but I prefer to book ferry tickets online.
Naxos to Athens – Ferry Essentials
- FerryHopper.com is the best way to buy ferry tickets for Naxos to Athens ferries. Also good for researching ferry timetables, costs, and schedules.
- Most ferries do not sell out. But for peace of mind, book tickets 2 to 3 months in advance.
- Most tickets (when booked through FerryHopper) are e-tickets which means you do not have to pick up a paper ticket before boarding.
- If a ticket purchased online doesn’t have a barcode that usually means you’ll need to pick up a real ticket when in Greece. This is most often done at the ferry port 30 to 45 minutes before departure. Don’t worry about pick up – it’s easy and effortless and usually very close to your actual ferry.
- Ferries will leave on-time from their first departure port in the morning (usually large ports like Piraeus, Heraklio, and Rhodes) but will be late arriving and departing from all onward ports (e.g. Naxos). Usually getting later as the day progresses.
- Most areas in Greece, including Athens and Naxos, have public transportation strikes throughout the year. These strikes can affect all forms of transit, including, buses, trains, ferries, flights, and taxis. During strikes no buses, no ferries, and only a handful of trains and flights will depart on time (or at all); taxis tend to be the least affected mode of transport. Though strikes can occur any time, there is always a huge strike on May 1. Avoid booking any ferries, flights, or trains that day.
Naxos to Athens Ferry Schedule
The SeaJets Worldchampion Jet is the fastest ferry from Naxos to Athens (Piraeus).
Athens and Naxos are two main hubs of hub of ferry travel in the Greek Islands. There are daily ferries from Naxos to Athens year-round, with frequency increasing in the summer months. The length of the ride varies depending on what boat you choose. It takes highspeed catamaran ferries 3-4 hours to reach Athens from Naxos. Blue Star ferries, which are larger and slower, take 5 to 6 hours. If you can spare the extra hour or two, I recommend taking the Blue Star; its large size makes it more stable in rocky seas, and you’ll be able to walk around on the outside decks to take in the sea view and air. (Highspeed catamarans require all passengers to stay inside.) Ferry tickets from Athens to Naxos cost €20 to €90, depending on the type of ferry and class of ticket.
Naxos to Athens Ferries – Piraeus Port
Ferries from Naxos to Athens arrive at gates E6, E7, and E8, directly across the street from the train station.
Piraeus is the closest port to Athens city center, and is easily reached via Metro. If want to spend any time in Athens after arriving from Naxos, this is the port you should choose. (See our Guide to Piraeus Ferry Port.) During the summer, there are expected to be at least 3 daily ferries from Naxos to Piraeus Port.
Example Naxos to Athens Ferry Schedule
Naxos-Athens ferry schedule and prices on ferryhopper.com
• Check prices for Naxos-Piraeus ferries.
Naxos to Athens Ferries – Rafina Port
Rafina is the closest port to the Athens airport, with direct ferry service from Naxos in the summer months. If you don’t plan to spend any time in Athens, and will be heading straight to the airport, Rafina is the port you should choose. At the height of the high season, there will be many daily ferries sailing from Naxos to Athens Rafina port.
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