Ios to Athinios
Ios to Santorini ferry
Compare the Ios sailings, take the jet or the ship, and open a booking for Athinios
- From 35 minutes on SeaJets, 45 with Golden Star, 70-80 on the ships
- Four operators, up to 4 sailings a day until October
- Departure from Ormos, the port below Chora, arrival at Athinios
Table of Contents
The crossing at a glance
Ios to Santorini is the shortest crossing to the island: SeaJets jets do it in 35 to 70 minutes, up to twice a day from September to the end of October; Golden Star Ferries in about 45 minutes with Superexpress or Golden Princess most days; Blue Star Ferries in 70-80 minutes with Blue Star 1 or Blue Star Delos; and Cyclades Fast Ferries in about 75 minutes with the conventional Dionisios Solomos. Up to four departures a day in total.
Getting to the port in Ios
Ferries leave from Ormos (Gialos), the harbour on the north-west coast below Chora. The island bus meets most sailings and a steep donkey path climbs to the village; the ticket agencies sit on the harbour front. The port is small, so vehicles queue on the quay road.
Check-in and boarding
SeaJets: foot passengers at the embarkation area at least 30 minutes before departure, vehicles at the loading area 60 minutes before. Tickets are issued by name; show the e-ticket with your ID.
Golden Star Ferries: foot passengers at the ship no later than 30 minutes before departure, vehicles at the loading point one hour before. Online bookings arrive as e-tickets.
Blue Star Ferries: every passenger, on foot or with a car, at the embarkation area at least one hour before departure. Web check-in runs from 48 to 2 hours before departure and issues the e-ticket you show with your ID card or passport.
Cyclades Fast Ferries: passengers at the vessel 30 minutes before departure, vehicles in the loading area one hour before; the boarding pass comes from the company's web check-in.
On board
The jets and Golden Star's craft are seat-only with a café bar and Wi-Fi; Blue Star 1, Delos and Dionisios Solomos have open decks, café bars and kennels. At forty minutes the vessel hardly matters unless it is windy - then the conventional ships are the ones still sailing.
Vehicles, bicycles and pets
Blue Star 1 and Delos and Fast Ferries' Dionisios Solomos (280 cars) have full garages; Golden Star's Superexpress and Golden Princess and SeaJets' Champion, Eurochampion and Olympic Champion Jets carry cars, Super Cat Jet does not. Electric cars board only with the battery at 40 % or less, declared at booking - a Greek rule every operator applies. Pets travel free but must be declared at booking with the health-booklet number; no pet ticket is issued on board.
Arriving at Athinios
Every sailing lands at Athinios, Santorini's main passenger and vehicle port below the caldera cliffs - about 8 km from Fira, 7 km from the airport, open around the clock, with buses, taxis and a car park on the quay. The switchback road up the cliff is the only way out, so settle your transfer before you land: Athinios port guide.
Tickets and fares
The fare depends on operator, vessel and seat type. Cancellation terms are contractual and staggered: SeaJets refunds in full up to 14 days before departure, then in steps down to 12 hours; Golden Star Ferries charges a cancellation fee from 14 days out and cannot cancel within 12 hours; Blue Star Ferries refunds in full up to 14 days before departure, then in steps down to 12 hours; Fast Ferries cancels free of charge up to 8 days before departure and at a fee down to 12 hours. Departures for your date are in the timetable.
Ios - Santorini
Forty minutes across the strait
Ios - Santorini is the shortest crossing to the island and the one with the most operators. SeaJets sails up to twice a day in 35 to 70 minutes depending on the jet; Golden Star Ferries runs Superexpress or Golden Princess most days in about 45 minutes; Blue Star Ferries (Blue Star 1 or Delos, 70-80 minutes) and Cyclades Fast Ferries (Dionisios Solomos, about 75 minutes) bring conventional ships with vehicle decks. Up to four sailings a day in September and October.
For a day trip either direction works; with a car or a large dog the conventional ships are the ones to book. The schedule below shows the day's departures.
- Departure
- Ormos (Gialos), Ios port
- Operators
- SeaJets, Golden Star, Blue Star, CFF
- Crossing
- 35 - 80 min
- From-price
- €6
- SeaJets
- Golden Star Ferries
- Cyclades Fast Ferries
- Blue Star Ferries
Next departures
FAQ Ios - Santorini
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the Ios - Santorini crossing.
How long is the ferry from Ios to Santorini? +
35 to 70 minutes on SeaJets' high-speed craft, about 45 minutes with Golden Star Ferries, 70-80 minutes on Blue Star 1 or Blue Star Delos and about 75 minutes on Fast Ferries' Dionisios Solomos.
Where do ferries leave from on Ios? +
From Ormos, also called Gialos, the harbour on the island's north-west coast below Chora. The bus and a steep footpath link the port with the village; in season the bus meets most sailings.
Can I take a car on the Ios - Santorini ferry? +
Yes on the conventional ships - Blue Star 1 and Delos and Fast Ferries' Dionisios Solomos - and on Golden Star's Superexpress and Golden Princess. SeaJets' Champion and Eurochampion Jets carry cars, its Super Cat Jet does not. The booking step shows whether a vehicle fare exists for your sailing.
When do I have to be at the port? +
Blue Star Ferries: one hour before departure. SeaJets, Golden Star and Fast Ferries: 30 minutes on foot, one hour with a vehicle. No operator sells tickets on board.
Can I do Santorini as a day trip from Ios? +
Yes - with morning and evening sailings from several operators it is the easiest day trip in the southern Cyclades. Book the return leg on the day you go out; check the last departure in the timetable, as it moves with the season.