Piraeus to Athinios
Athens to Santorini ferry
Compare the Piraeus sailings by duration and vessel type and open a booking for Athinios
- Daily and year-round from Piraeus
- High-speed craft from about 4 h 30
- Arrival at Athinios, the main port
Table of Contents
The crossing at a glance
Athens to Santorini is the main corridor to the island and the only one connected daily and year-round. Three operators share the Piraeus departures: Blue Star Ferries with conventional ships that call at Cyclades islands on the way, SeaJets with faster high-speed craft, and Cyclades Fast Ferries on a longer chain via the western Cyclades. Departure times, durations and fares differ a lot between these vessel types - the schedule below shows what actually sails on your date.
SeaJets, Blue Star or Cyclades Fast Ferries?
SeaJets is the quickest way across, with morning departures and one in the afternoon. Most of its jets carry vehicles; Superjet and Super Jet 2 take foot passengers only. Blue Star Ferries takes longer but offers open decks, cabin berths and the steadier ride when the wind picks up; some of its sailings run into the evening. Cyclades Fast Ferries is, despite its name, a conventional ferry: the Dionisios Solomos sails at 19.5 knots via Serifos, Sifnos, Milos, Kimolos, Folegandros, Sikinos and Ios, leaves Piraeus in the early afternoon and reaches Athinios after midnight. Frequencies change with the season; the timetable shows the sailings on your date.
Ferry or flight?
Aegean and Sky Express fly from Athens airport to Santorini, whose airport lies about 6 km from Fira; Athinios, where the ferries arrive, is about 8 km from Fira. Compare the whole journey rather than the time in the air or on the water: the way to the airport, check-in, security and the baggage allowance of your fare on one side, the way to Piraeus, 30 to 60 minutes at the gate and a crossing of 4 h 30 or more on the other.
The ferry is the better fit if you bring a car or motorbike, travel with heavy luggage - Blue Star and SeaJets include up to 50 kg per passenger - or want to break the journey on another Cyclades island. If you arrive at Athens airport, Rafina is worth a look: it is about 10 km away, 15 to 20 minutes by taxi or around 30 minutes by bus.
Piraeus or Rafina: getting to the port
Piraeus, south-west of central Athens, is the default and carries almost all Santorini traffic. Rafina, the second Athens port on the other side of the city, appears in the schedule seasonally with Golden Star Ferries and is about 10 km from Athens airport. If both fit your date, compare total travel time door to door - the transfer to the right port can outweigh the difference on the water; both Athens options sit side by side on the frontpage route guide.
Piraeus is connected to central Athens by metro and bus, and the port area is vast: it is divided into gates, and Cyclades ferries do not all leave from the same one. Your ticket or the operator's boarding information names the right gate. Plan the way to the gate like a separate leg of the journey rather than a walk across a quay.
Check-in and boarding
Blue Star Ferries expects foot passengers and vehicles at the embarkation area 1 hour before departure. With SeaJets and Cyclades Fast Ferries foot passengers check in 30 minutes and vehicles 1 hour before departure. Blue Star and SeaJets issue tickets by name, so carry the ID or passport you booked with: Blue Star's web check-in runs from 48 hours to 2 hours before departure, and the e-ticket is shown together with that ID. Blue Star and Cyclades Fast Ferries sell no tickets on board. Allow extra in high season for queues at the gate.
On board, vehicles and luggage
Conventional ferries have open decks, lounges and vehicle space, and Blue Star's ships also have cabin berths - a steady, relaxed way to arrive. High-speed craft are seat-only with a closed cabin and noticeably faster, but more sensitive to wind: in rough weather they are the first sailings to be cancelled.
Blue Star Ferries and Cyclades Fast Ferries carry vehicles, and so do most SeaJets jets; Superjet and Super Jet 2 take foot passengers only. Whether a vehicle fare is offered for your sailing shows in the booking step. All three operators want vehicles at the port 1 hour before departure, and electric cars may board with the battery charged to no more than 40%. Blue Star and SeaJets include up to 50 kg of luggage per passenger; bicycles and bulky items follow each operator's own conditions.
Arriving at Athinios
All scheduled ferries arrive at Athinios, the island's main passenger and commercial port on the west coast - about 8 km from Fira and 7 km from the airport, open around the clock. Plan your onward transfer before you land and read the practicalities on the Athinios port guide.
Tickets and fares
The fare depends on operator, vessel type, accommodation on board and date. Compare more than the headline price: a conventional afternoon sailing and a morning high-speed crossing are different products on the same route. Departures for your date are in the timetable.
Piraeus - Santorini
One corridor, two vessel types
Piraeus - Santorini is the backbone of the island's ferry traffic and the only origin connected daily and year-round. Blue Star Ferries runs conventional ships that call at Cyclades islands on the way, SeaJets adds faster high-speed craft, and Cyclades Fast Ferries serves the island on a longer chain via the western Cyclades.
The trade-off is simple: high-speed craft are quicker but seat-only and more wind-sensitive; conventional ferries take longer, ride more steadily and have open decks. Exact times and durations for your date are in the schedule below.
- Departure
- Piraeus, Athens' main port
- Operators
- Blue Star, SeaJets, Fast Ferries
- Arrival
- Athinios
- From-price
- €34
- Blue Star Ferries
- Cyclades Fast Ferries
Next departures
FAQ Athens - Santorini
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the Athens - Santorini crossing.
How long is the ferry from Athens to Santorini? +
About 4 h 30 to 6 h 15 on a SeaJets high-speed craft, depending on the vessel and the island calls on the way. Blue Star Ferries' conventional ships take about 5 h 45 to 8 h, some sailings longer, and Cyclades Fast Ferries' Dionisios Solomos about 10 h 30 to 11 h 45 via the western Cyclades. From Rafina, Golden Star takes about 5 h 20. The schedule shows the exact time of each sailing.
Which ferry company should I choose? +
It depends on what matters to you. SeaJets is the quickest and in season usually sails two to four times a day. Blue Star Ferries is slower but has open decks, cabin berths and a steadier ride in wind, with one or two sailings a day. Cyclades Fast Ferries suits a trip via Serifos, Sifnos, Milos or Folegandros: it sails three days a week and reaches Athinios after midnight. The operator comparison sets them side by side.
Piraeus or Rafina? +
Piraeus is the default: it is connected to Santorini daily and year-round and carries both conventional ferries and high-speed craft. Rafina appears in the schedule seasonally on Golden Star's route chain and is about 10 km from Athens airport. If your dates are outside summer, Piraeus is the safe choice.
Which port do I arrive at on Santorini? +
At Athinios, the island's main passenger port, about 8 km from Fira and 7 km from the airport. The Old Port below Fira serves cruise tenders and excursion boats, not the scheduled ferries. What to expect on arrival is on the Athinios port guide.
Can I take a vehicle? +
Yes, on most sailings. Blue Star Ferries and Cyclades Fast Ferries' Dionisios Solomos carry vehicles, and so do most SeaJets jets. Superjet and Super Jet 2 take foot passengers only. Whether a vehicle fare is offered for your sailing shows in the booking step. All three operators want vehicles at the port 1 hour before departure, and electric cars may board with the battery charged to no more than 40%.
When should I be at the port in Piraeus? +
With Blue Star Ferries 1 hour before departure, on foot or with a vehicle. With SeaJets and Cyclades Fast Ferries 30 minutes before departure on foot and 1 hour with a vehicle. Piraeus is divided into gates, and Cyclades ferries do not all leave from the same one: your ticket or boarding information names the gate. Allow extra time for the way to the gate.