Athens Santorini

You can get from Athens to Santorini by ferry or flight and below you will find some additional information to help you choose the way of traveling that suits you the most.

Table of contents:
• Ferry • Plane • Island-hopping packages • Map

Having spent some time exploring Athens, the Greek capital, a trip to Santorini is always a good idea in order to see a totally different landscape compared to the city.
Santorini is one of the most popular and spectacular destinations in Greece and a trip there is a must-do while you are in the country!

The Athens Santorini ferry route is one of the most popular ones, along with the Mykonos Santorini route and Athens Mykonos route.
At least one ferry crossing per day is available at any time of the year with Blue Star Ferries. There are multiple scheduled daily routes during the high season with other companies, too, like SeaJets and Golden Star Ferries.
Keep in mind that there are three ports in Athens, but the best way to get to Santorini is from Piraeus Port (the closest port to Athens center). The port of Santorini is Athinaios.
The trip usually lasts 4 to 10 hours, depending if it is a slow or high-speed ferry. For long trips, you may also book a cabin.
The price range varies, usually between 40€ and 80€, depending on the class you pick for your trip (economy or business) and the type of the vessel (speed boat or conventional).
Book your ferry tickets from Athens to Santorini in advance on our online ferry ticket booking engine.

Pros of getting to Santorini by ferry:
Ferries are usually the cheapest way to get to Santorini and are less likely to get sold out than flights.

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• How long is the duration of the trip?

The duration of the trip from Athens to Santorini ranges between 4h20m up to a maximum of 10 hours, whereas an average time is 5h30m. That depends on several variants; the type of vessel (conventional or high-speed), the port of departure (Piraeus or Rafina), the in-between stops to other islands, and the weather conditions.

• How much do the tickets cost?

Prices depend on the ferry type (conventional or speed) and the port of departure (Piraeus or Rafina). Some indicative prices are:

• €58 for the conventional Blue Star Ferries from Piraeus with a trip duration of 7hrs 45m.
• €89.7 for the high-speed SeaJets from Piraeus with a trip duration of 4hrs 50m.
• €49 for the high-speed Minoan Lines from Piraeus with a trip duration of 6hrs 15m.
• €79 for the high-speed Golden Star Ferries from Rafina with a trip duration of 5hrs 25m.

• What types of vessels are operating?

There are two types of ferries operating the route from Athens to Santorini: the conventional - mainly run by the Blue Star company - and high-speed, run by SeaJets, Golden Star Ferries, Fast Ferries and Minoan Lines companies.

> Conventional ferries

The conventional type consists of a large vessel with many indoor and outdoor spaces and a garage. If you are traveling with a dog, there is an organized kennel; however, depending on the vessel, you can also keep your dog with you on the deck. Restaurants, fast food options, cafes and small shops with magazines and miscellaneous products are included on the ferry's premises. All interior spaces are air-conditioned. Traveling with a conventional Blue Star Ferry is the most popular option. Challenging weather conditions, such as strong winds, rarely affect this type of vessel so it usually departs and arrives on time. Also, the trip is quite pleasant thanks to the vessel's size and you get to enjoy the beautiful sea views along with lunch or coffee. Lastly, a great advantage of the conventional type is the garage option for your vehicle. By paying an extra fee, you can take your car or motorcycle with you.
Types of seats: Deck/Economy, Air seats/Economy, Air seat/Business, cabins with/without a view.
Price range: €58 - €164
Vehicle: €33 - €49.7 (Moto), €85 - €165 (Car)
Timetable: During the summer season, there are 1-2 crossings daily for this type of vessel to/from Piraeus port.

> High-speed ferries

High-speed vessels are smaller boats operating at faster speeds than conventional ones. There are limited outdoor spaces and passengers sit in assigned seats in the indoor area.
The vessel’s interior is air-conditioned. The SeaJets (Worldchampion jet) as well as the Fast Ferries (Thunder) and Minoan Lines (Santorini Palace) boast a garage allowing you to bring your vehicle from Athens, but the Seajet 2 and SuperJet are only passenger-type ferries and you cannot transfer a vehicle.
The advantage of choosing high-speed vessels is that the journey is much shorter. Keep in mind that since they are smaller in size, bad weather conditions (strong winds during summer months) affect them and delays may occur quite often. In case you are traveling with strong winds, you might feel a bit seasick.
Types of seats: Airplane seat/Economy, Airplane seat/Business, and Airplane seat/Vip.
Price range: €48 - €138.7
Vehicle: €27 (Moto), €89 - €165 (Car)
Timetable: During the summer season, there are 3-4 crossings daily for this type of vessel to/from Piraeus port and 1-2 to/from Rafina port.

• Indicative Timetables from Athens ports

Check our booking engine for precise timetables.

Note: Ferry companies announce their official timetables in February or March.

Discover other popular ferry routes to Santorini.

 

Numerous direct flights connecting Athens International Airport to Santorini Airport are available at any time of the year.
They usually last around 45 minutes and the ticket prices change regularly, depending on availability and demand.
Aegean Airlines, Sky Express, Olympic Air, Ryanair, and Volotea are the companies that operate this route.
It is highly advised to book your tickets a few months in advance in order to save money or just to be sure since they tend to sell out quickly.
Choosing an off-season date for your trip usually comes with a drop in ticket prices.

Pros of getting to Santorini by flight: Flights are the fastest way to get to your destination. If you book your ticket soon enough, it may also be the cheapest one.

Scheduled Flights

 

If you would like to have your Cycladic trip from Athens pre-planned for you, check out our special island hopping packages that will get you from Athens to Santorini and other fascinating Cycladic destinations.

 

Discover an illustrated map with the ferry and flight route from Athens to Santorini.