Athens to Santorini by Ferry: Time, Price, Ports & Best Operators

The Athens to Santorini ferry takes anywhere from about 4.5 hours on a high-speed boat to 8 hours on a conventional ship, and one-way deck fares start in the mid-€40s while fast-ferry seats usually begin around €90. Almost every sailing leaves from Piraeus, the main port of Athens, and lands at Athinios port on Santorini’s west coast. Blue Star Ferries runs the cheaper, slower route all year, while Seajets handles most of the fast crossings from late March to late October. In peak summer you can pick from up to eight departures a day, so the real decision is less about whether you can get there and more about which boat fits your budget, your stomach and your arrival time.

How long is the ferry from Athens to Santorini?

The journey covers roughly 127 nautical miles (about 236 km) of the Aegean, and how long it takes depends almost entirely on the type of vessel you book.

High-speed ferries: around 5 hours

Seajets jets and catamarans are the quickest way across by sea. The fastest direct-style runs land in about 4.5 hours, but most sailings stop at two or three islands on the way and take closer to 5 or 6. If you’re short on time and want an afternoon on Santorini the same day, this is the boat to book.

Conventional ferries: around 7.5 to 8 hours

Blue Star’s big ships are slower but steadier. A morning departure from Piraeus typically reaches Santorini in mid-afternoon after calling at Paros, Naxos and Ios. It’s a full travel day, but you can walk around the open decks, eat a proper meal and actually watch the islands go by.

Santorini to Athens ferry time

The return trip runs in roughly the same times. One thing to watch: some evening sailings from Santorini reach Piraeus close to midnight, so if you have an early flight home the next morning, book a hotel near the port or the airport rather than in central Athens.

How much is the ferry from Athens to Santorini?

Athens to Santorini ferry prices vary by operator, seat class and season. These are the usual starting fares for one adult, one way, based on what Ferryhopper lists for the route:

A few things push the price up or down. July and August sailings sell out first, and the cheapest deck tickets on Blue Star often go weeks ahead. Cabins on the conventional ships cost more but are worth it if you’re travelling overnight or with small children. On Seajets, children aged 5 to 10 travel at half price and under-5s ride free, which can make the fast boat cheaper than you’d expect for a family.

What is the cheapest way to get from Athens to Santorini?

A deck ticket on Blue Star Ferries is normally the cheapest option, often less than half the price of a high-speed seat. A budget flight booked early can sometimes match it, but once you add checked bags and the airport transfer, the slow ferry usually wins on cost.

Which port do Athens to Santorini ferries leave from?

Piraeus (the main option)

The Port of Piraeus handles nearly every Athens to Santorini ferry. It’s about 12 km southwest of central Athens and huge, with numbered gates along the waterfront. Ferries to the Cyclades usually leave from the gates around E7 and E9, but always check the gate printed on your ticket, because walking between the wrong gates with luggage can take 15 to 20 minutes.

Getting there is easy:

• Metro: Line 1 (green) ends at Piraeus station, right across from the ferry gates. Line 3 (blue) also now reaches Piraeus, which helps if you’re coming straight from the airport.
• Bus: The X96 express bus runs between Athens airport and Piraeus around the clock.
• Taxi: From the city centre, expect roughly 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic.

Aim to arrive at least an hour before departure in summer. The port gets busy, and boarding with a car closes earlier than foot-passenger boarding.

Rafina (the seasonal alternative)

Rafina is a smaller port east of Athens, about 30 km from the centre and close to the airport. Some summer seasons see high-speed or Golden Star sailings from Rafina to Santorini, but the service is patchy and has been suspended in some years. If you’re flying into Athens and heading straight to the islands, check whether a Rafina sailing exists for your date. If it doesn’t, Piraeus is the safe bet.

Best ferry operators from Athens to Santorini

Blue Star Ferries

Blue Star is the backbone of the route. It sails year-round, its ships are large enough to carry cars and trucks, and they handle rough water far better than the fast boats. You get open outdoor decks, cafés, lounges, reserved seating and private cabins. If you get seasick or want the lowest fare, pick Blue Star.

Seajets

Seajets runs most of the high-speed services on this route, usually from late March to late October, with four or five departures a day in high season. Its fleet includes vessels like the WorldChampion Jet, Champion Jet 1 and Olympic Champion Jet. You’ll mostly be sitting indoors in aircraft-style seats, and outdoor access is limited. Seajets allows one free piece of luggage per passenger and lets pets travel free with the right vaccination papers.

Golden Star Ferries and smaller operators

Golden Star and a few smaller companies add extra sailings in some seasons, mostly from Rafina or on slower multi-island routings. They can be handy when the main operators are full, but check the duration before you book, since some of these trips run past 9 hours.

High-speed vs conventional ferry: which should you choose?

The fast ferry saves you two to three hours, but you pay about twice as much and spend the trip indoors. The slow ferry is cheaper and more pleasant to ride, but it eats most of your day.

Choose the high-speed ferry if:

• You’re on a tight itinerary and want to arrive with time to spare
• You’re comfortable on boats and don’t mind sitting inside
• You’re travelling from late spring to early autumn, when Seajets is running

Choose the conventional ferry if:

• You’re watching your budget
• You get seasick easily
• You’re travelling in winter, when Blue Star is often the only option
• You’re bringing a car

On seasickness: in July and August the Aegean gets the meltemi, a strong northerly summer wind. On those days the smaller high-speed boats bounce noticeably, and sailings can occasionally be delayed or cancelled. The big Blue Star ships ride it out far more comfortably. If the forecast looks windy, take the slow boat and pack motion-sickness tablets anyway.

Ferry or flight: what’s better from Athens to Santorini?

A flight from Athens to Santorini takes about 45 to 50 minutes, and several airlines fly the route daily. On paper that’s much faster. In practice, once you add the trip to Athens airport, arriving early for security and the wait for bags, the door-to-door gap shrinks.

Flying makes sense if you’re tight on time, travelling in the off-season when ferries are fewer, or found a cheap fare. The ferry makes sense if you want to see the islands from the water, carry more luggage without extra fees, or plan to island hop. Many travellers split it: ferry out, flight back. If you want to stop at Paros or Naxos on the way, Ferryhopper lets you put every leg of an island-hopping trip into one booking and one payment.

One more reason to take the boat at least once: sailing into the Santorini caldera, with the cliffs and white villages above you, is something a plane window can’t give you.

Arriving at Athinios port in Santorini

Every Athens to Santorini ferry docks at Athinios, the island’s main port, about 10 km south of Fira. It sits at the bottom of a steep switchback road, and it gets chaotic when two big ferries arrive at once.

You have four ways off the port:

• KTEL public bus: Buses meet most ferries and run to Fira, where you can change for Oia and other villages. It’s the cheapest option, but it fills up fast.
• Taxi: Santorini has a small taxi fleet, so queues can be long in summer.
• Pre-booked transfer: Many hotels arrange pick-ups. This is the least stressful option, especially after a late arrival.
• Rental car: Some rental companies will meet you at the port if you book ahead.

If you land after dark, book the transfer in advance. Waiting for a taxi at Athinios at night isn’t fun.

How to book Athens to Santorini ferry tickets

You can book on each operator’s own website, but that means checking Blue Star and Seajets separately and comparing times yourself. A ferry booking platform puts every sailing for your date on one screen, which is the quickest way to see whether the 7:00 slow boat or the 7:30 fast one gets you in first.

Booking with Ferryhopper

One of the most widely used booking platforms for Greek ferries is Ferryhopper. It shows Blue Star, Seajets and the smaller operators side by side, with journey times, stops and seat classes for each sailing. A few things make it handy for this route:

• Same fares as the operators. The site says it charges the same ticket prices as the ferry companies, with no hidden fees.
• E-tickets by email. Most operators on the Athens to Santorini route accept electronic tickets, so you can board with your phone instead of queuing at a port kiosk.
• One payment for island hopping. You can add Paros, Naxos or Ios as stops and get every leg in a single confirmation email.
• Flexible payment. It takes credit cards, PayPal and Klarna.
• Live ferry tracking. Its app (iOS and Android) shows where your boat is and flags delays, which helps a lot during meltemi season.
• Online changes. You can modify a booking yourself instead of calling the operator.

It also covers routes well beyond Greece, so if you plan to keep travelling by sea after Santorini, you can book those legs in the same place.

Booking tips that apply wherever you buy

1. Book early for summer. For July and August, book cars, cabins and the cheapest deck tickets several weeks ahead.
2. Check the vessel and stops. Two sailings leaving at a similar time can arrive hours apart.
3. Have your ID ready. Bring your passport or EU ID card, since names are checked against your ticket at boarding.
4. Watch for schedule changes. Greek ferry timetables shift between seasons. Confirm your sailing a day or two before you travel.

If you’ve taken car ferries elsewhere, like the BC Ferries routes we reviewed, the Blue Star experience will feel familiar, just with better weather. And if you liked the idea of a long day crossing on a big ship, our SS Badger ferry review covers a similar kind of trip on Lake Michigan.

Conclusion

For most travellers the Athens to Santorini ferry comes down to a simple choice. Take Seajets if you want to arrive in about five hours and don’t mind paying around €90 or more. Take Blue Star if you’d rather spend less, ride a steadier ship and make the 7.5 to 8 hour crossing part of the trip. Leave from Piraeus, book early for summer and arrange your Athinios transfer before you land. For more sea travel guides, browse the rest of The Ocean Culture, including our Key West Express review if you’re curious how another long high-speed ferry route compares.

FAQs