From Athens
Most travelers start their journey to Ios from Athens. Ferries to Ios depart from Piraeus, the main and largest port of Athens. The port of Rafina is located near the International Airport of Athens, while Lavrion is the southernmost port of Attica.
> Book your ferry tickets from Athens (Piraeus)
• How long is the duration of the trip?
The duration of the trip from Athens varies from a minimum of 4 hours to a maximum of 7 hours. This depends on the type of vessel (conventional or high-speed), the port of departure, the in-between stops to other islands and (rarely) the weather.
• How much do the tickets cost?
Prices depend on the type of ferry and the port of departure. Some indicative prices are:
- €54 for the conventional Blue Star from Piraeus with a trip duration of 7 hours.
- €76 for the high-speed Golden Star from Rafina with a trip duration of 4 hours and 50 minutes.
- €41.6 for the high-speed Seajets from Lavrion with a trip duration of 7 hours.
• What ferries are operating from Athens to Ios?
There are two types of vessels operating this route - the conventional ones mainly run by the Blue Star and Zante companies and the high-speed ones belonging to Seajets, Fast Ferries and Golden Star companies.
> Conventional ferries
The conventional type of ferry is a big vessel with many indoor and outdoor spaces and a garage. If you are traveling with a dog, an organized kennel is available on board but depending on the vessel you can also keep your dog with you on the deck. Restaurants, fast food eateries, cafes and small shops are part of the premises and the air-conditioning is on in all interior spaces throughout the crossing. Bad weather conditions like strong winds do not affect this type of vessel and delays rarely occur. Additionally, the trip is much more pleasant since, due to its size, travelers can enjoy the beautiful sea views while having lunch or coffee. Last but not least, another advantage of this ferry type is that it allows vehicle transport.
Types of seats: Deck/Economy, Air seats/Economy, Air seats/Business, and cabins with/without a view.
Price range: €48 - 157
Vehicle: €40 (Moto), €128 (Car)
Timetable: During the summer season, there is at least one conventional ferry to Ios per day.
>High-speed ferries
High-speed vessels are smaller in size and run faster. There are no outdoor spaces and passengers remain in the indoor area. All seats are numbered air seats. There are coffee shops inside, where you can buy a coffee, a refreshment or a snack. Some ferries have a garage and allow you to carry your vehicle from Athens to Ios, but others do not. The main advantage of high-speed ferries is that they go faster and passengers reach their destinations quickly. Unfortunately, due to their small sizes, bad weather conditions affect them and delays may occur.
Types seats: Air seats/Economy, Air seats/Business and Air seats/VIP.
Price range: €57.9 - €137.7
Vehicle: €17.9 - €39.9 (Moto), €83 - €89.5 (Car)
Timetable: During the summer season, there is at least one high-speed ferry to Ios per day (Piraeus and Rafina).
• Indicative Timetables
Check our booking engine for precise timetables.
- From Piraeus
- 06:45 Zante (10h50m)
- 07:00 Seajetsr (4h)
- 09:00 Seajets (4h10m)
- 09:00 Fast Ferry (5h45m)
- 17:30 Blue Star (7h)
- To Piraeus
- 08:00 Blue Star (6h45m)
- 08:35 Zante (11h15m)
- 12:50 Seajets (4h)
- 13:20 Seajets (5h40m)
- From Rafina
- 07:20 Golden Star (4h50m)
- To Rafina
- 15:15 Golden Star (5h5m)
- From Lavrion
- 07:30 Seajets (7h)
- To Lavrion
- 11:55 Golden Star (5h50m)
