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You can get from Athens to Santorini by ferry or plane. Below, I explain the best and most efficient method for 2026: ferry or flight. Honestly, the absolute Best Way to get from Athens to Santorini is by plane (taking a 45-minute flight from Athens).
Fares are 2026 economy starting prices and move with season and demand, so check live prices before you book. Planning the rest of your trip? See our guides to where to stay in Athens, the Athens to Crete ferry, and the Santorini cruise ship schedule.
Here are the three options you have basically:
| Ferry(SLOW) (from Piraeus port, BLUE STAR FERRIES, FAST FERRIES, MINOAN LINES, but there can be more companies) | Cost* | |
| Ferry (FAST) (from Piraeus port, SEAJETS FERRIES) | 4.5 to 5.5 hours | 48 to 90 euros |
| Ferry(SLOW) (from Piraeus port, BLUE STAR FERRIES, FAST FERRIES, MINOAN LINES, but there can be more companies) | 6 to 9 hours | 45 to 70 euros |
| Flight (from Athens Intl. Airport) | 55 minutes | 100 to 300 euros |
The ferry from Athens to Santorini takes 5-9 hrs (depending on which ferry you choose), and if you visit the island only for 3-4 days, you will be wasting too much time on the sea. If it’s your first time in Greece, though, it can be an interesting experience, as I explain below.
As a rule of thumb, if the ferry to a Greek island takes more than 5 hours, then it’s better to fly there. You can always search directly here to see if and when there are ferries from Athens to Santorini:
What I explain in this post also applies to the trip from Santorini to Athens.
ON THIS PAGE:
Keep reading…
Okay, so let’s see all the available options from Athens to Santorini (that also apply to the return trip from Santorini to Athens):
Taking a flight to Santorini is the quickest and most expensive option. Still, staying on the island for less than 5 days is highly recommended, as you won’t waste time on the slow ferry boats. It’s also the best thing you can do if you are only interested in Santorini and not bothered about Athens (Greece’s capital).
The best and cheapest website to book or search for flights from Athens to Santorini is Booking.com Flights, as it has all the available options (including the low-cost airlines like Ryanair).
A few useful pieces of information to have in mind when booking your flight to Santorini:
The airlines that fly from Athens to Santorini (April-October) are (these may change, though):
The airlines that fly directly to Santorini from major European cities (April-October) are:
Santorini’s airport is small and can be extremely crowded during the high season. There are plenty of car rental options outside the Santorini airport, but it is always wise to book well in advance. The best website for Santorini to rent a car is Rentalcars.com.
Many taxis await you at the airport and on the local Santorini bus.
A taxi from the Airport to Fira would cost 25 euros, and in general, a taxi to all other directions shouldn’t cost more than 40 euros (the furthest towns are Oia and Akrotiri). The local bus to Fira (local buses are called KTEL in Greece) will cost 1.60 euros.
READ ALSO: How To Get Around Santorini
The second option is to go to Santorini by ferry, and it can be a very nice experience if you visit the island for more than five days and if it’s your first time in Greece.
A few important things to know about the ferries from Athens to Santorini:
Before deciding which ferry to take (and checking timetables and prices for all ferries), you should head to Ferryhopper and enteryourdesired dates.
Here is an example of ferry timetables from Athens to Santorini:
This is just an example of a ferry schedule! For the latest Ferry schedule, always check on Ferryhopper. You have the following options for ferry boats from Athens to Santorini:
Let’s see all the available options in more detail:
Bluestar Ferries are the biggest ones you can take to Santorini. They are the most stable but slowest (they take 8 hours to arrive). You won’t feel much with these, no matter how bumpy or windy.
The Blue Star Ferries from Athens to Santorini visit other islands before they arrive at Santorini, giving you a good glimpse of some other Greek islands (Syros, Paros, Naxos, Ios). You don’t get to see much, but feeling on a small cruise is nice!
The best way to check for the available Blue Star Ferry schedule is to visit the Ferryhopper website.They run all 365 days per year, and there are two ferries per day from Piraeus port to Santorini: one in the early morning and one in the afternoon.
Check the exact timetables on Ferryhopper.
You don’t have to book the ferry tickets in advance or online. There is no need for that because they rarely sell out. But…you can always book them online (just to be sure) on the Ferryhopper website (even if you don’t book them there, you can always check the timetables of the ferries on the dates you want to travel).
BE CAREFUL THOUGH:
According to Greek law, tickets can only be printed by certified travel agencies or Ferry companies. So even if you book online, you must visit a travel agent or the kiosk at the ferry port to take the printouts anyway (it’s not a big deal; everyone is doing that anyway).
The cheapest ticket for the Blue Star ferry costs 40 euros (no reserved seat), but it’s highly advisable to get an airport-style seat, which will cost you 60 euros per person. A cabin is not required (it’s just 8 hours), and you can go outside while the ferry is sailing. BUT FOR THE LATEST PRICES, ALWAYS CHECK THE Ferryhopper WEBSITE.
Seajet Ferries are less stable because they take you to Santorini faster. On average, there are 2 to 3 Seajets Ferries daily from Athens to Santorini during the high season, and they take about 5.5 hours to take you to Santorini.
There is very limited outside space on Seajets Ferries. Also, remember that these are highly likely to be canceled depending on the weather conditions (very unlikely from June to September, but it’s always possible).
Check the exact timetables on Ferryhopper.
These tickets do sell out as there are limited seats on these ferries. The best thing you can do is to book them online in advance on the Ferryhopper website.
The cheapest ticket for the Seajet Ferry costs 55 euros, but depending on the time and the ferry you choose, it might cost up to 80 euros (one way). There are no cabins on these ferries.
BUT FOR THE LATEST PRICES ALWAYS CHECK THE Ferryhopper WEBSITE.
The easiest and cheapest way to get to the Athens ferry port, Piraeus, is to take the bus X96, which stops just outside the Athens airport.
The X96 bus takes between 50 minutes and 80 minutes (depending on the traffic) to go to the Athens ferry port (Piraeus), and the X96 bus route to Piraeus ferry port is the following:
This is how to get from the Athens airport Exit to the X96 and X95 bus stops just outside of the airport:
Santorini Ferries depart from E7 Port Gate, so you must stop at the STATION ISAP bus station (also a metro station).
Or in Greek : ΣΤΑΘΜΟΣ ΗΣΑΠ
If you feel lost, you can just ask the bus driver (they always speak English if you talk with a clear accent like an Italian mafioso in a faraway place). But in reality, you will find some brand new GPS screens showing you where you are:
The X96 bus runs 24/7, and there is a bus every 30 minutes roughly (in Greece, time runs in a very strange way…so never expect something to be on time…that’s just a small tip from Greeks…you’d better get used to that, unfortunately). But there is an X96 bus every 20-30 minutes, so there will be one for you, too!
For the X96 bus, you have to buy tickets from a kiosk just outside the bus stop (and just outside the airport, just follow the “Bus” signs in the airport). The Athens bus ticket (called “ATH.ENA”) costs 6 euros for adults and 3 euros for kids (under 6).
You can also take a taxi from the Athens airport to the Piraeus Ferry port, which costs 50-60 euros. However, it’s not recommended because, in my opinion, it’s not worth it.
The X96 bus is pretty fast and it costs only 6 euros!
Also, BE CAREFUL:
Sometimes the X96 Athens Airport Buses say: “AEROLIMENAS-PEIRAIAS”
Don’t get confused.
This is a Greek version of saying: “Airport – Pireaus”, so it’s the same…
The easiest and cheapest way to get from Athens airport to Rafina port is by taking a KTEL bus. These are different buses from the blue ones (like X96 or X95), and the bus stop is just across the street from the airport exits (see picture above).
You can buy the ticket on the bus from the driver, and it costs around 3 euros (there might be a slight difference every year). The timetables for the bus from Athens Airport to Rafina are in the following table (roughly a bus every 3 hours):
To go from Athens Airport to Syntagma Square (the most central point in Athens), you have to take either the metro (it’s overground for some stations, and then it goes underground) or the bus X95, which will take you to Syntagma Square within 30-40 minutes. The X95 bus stop is next to the X96 bus stop, and the tickets are the same and are sold from the same kiosk. This is the Bus X95 route (from Athens airport to Syntagma square – central Athens):
You can also take the metro line 3 to get to Syntagma Square from the Athens Airport.
Check on this link the timetables for Athens metro lines
These are the timetables of Athens Metro Line 3:
The fast ferry ride to Santorini usually takes 4 hours and 15 minutes, but it can also be up to 8 hours with the slower but cheaper ferry. The fast ferry has airplane-style seats, and you cannot go outside, but the slow ferry (Blue Star Ferries) is bigger and offers the option to stay on the open deck for as long as you want.
A ferry ticket from Athens to Santorini costs between 45 and 90 euros. Slower ferries (like Blue Star) typically cost around 45 to 70 euros, while fast ferries (like Seajets) range from 48 to 90 euros.
The best way to travel from Athens to Santorini is by plane because the ferry will take too long. If you visit Santorini for less than five days, taking a 45-minute flight from Athens to Santorini is better.
It is better to fly to Santorini because the ferry trip takes more than four hours, and you will waste at least half a day just to arrive at the island. The flight to Santorini is more expensive than the ferry, but visiting the island for just a few days is worth it. However, the ferry to Santorini can be quite enjoyable and refreshing, as you also see a few more Greek islands on the way to Santorini.
Ferries from Athens to Santorini depart from two main ports: Piraeus (PIR), which is the largest port with the most options, and Rafina (RAF), which is closer to the Athens Airport.
The direct flight from Athens (ATH) to Santorini (JTR) takes approximately 45 to 55 minutes.
You have two options for getting from Athens to Santorini: by plane or ferry. I recommend taking the ferry only if it’s your first time in Greece and only if you spend more than five days in Santorini.
A brilliant idea is to mix the two options: take the ferry to Santorini (preferably the Blue Star ferry, as it’s more stable and less likely to cancel due to bad weather), and then take a flight back to Athens.
If you do take the ferry though, make sure you have plenty of movies loaded on your tablet, crosswords and books in hand… (it’s also a good idea to have some food with you because even though there are some restaurants in the Blue Star Ferries they are not offering the best food in the world…).
You also get to see some other Greek islands before you arrive in Santorini (ok…it’s just the port, but you can still take a selfie with another Greek island in the background). For me, the best way to check timetables and even book your ferry tickets online has been Ferryhopper for the last years. I highly recommend it to everyone looking to get a ferry to Santorini from Athens.
I remember when I was a kid (or even recently) when we had to visit a specific travel agency to book and get the ferry tickets, but those days are long gone!
No matter how you choose to travel from Athens to Santorini, it is for sure that your heartbeat will rise when you are approaching the island… And there is no way you won’t be surprised by the amazing blue colour of the Greek sea!
We recommend these trusted resources to compare rates, read reviews, and secure bookings for your upcoming trip to Santorini and Greece:
Compare ferry routes, schedules, and book tickets across all major Greek lines.
Compare and book Greek buses, coaches and trains — including KTEL routes that are hard to book online.
Stay connected with local Greek eSIM data packages starting at just a few dollars.
Last updated: August 19, 2026
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Hi! Is there any overnite bunk bed cabins fir the long journey from Athens to Santorini
Thanks
Yes, definitely! You can get a room with 1 or 2 bunk beds in the ferries that go to Santorini. However, I do recommend taking the faster ferries as the cabins may get too expensive at the end…
How long before my flight from Athens to Santorini should I arrive at the airport? I will only have a carry-on and this is at the end of September. Thank you in advance.
hi,
You would need at least 1 hour to be safe but even more if you can.
My flight from US lands in Athens at 9:00am. What flight time should I book to Santorini. Curious to know how long it takes to go through customs and security.
Please allow at least 3 hours. There might be long queues in the passport control area.
HI.. we plan to travel from Toronto, Ont. Canada around Sept. 4th this year or next. We would like to see Athens, Santorini, naxos, paros and maybe 1 more island. Is it best to land in Athens, then stay 2-3 days, fly into Santorini and then book a ferry to Naxos, Paros, etc. and back to Athens? What’s the cheapest way as we wish to do Santorini first for 3 days to see sites and relax more on beaches on the other island and explore ruins and culture. Plan to book accommodations on Bookings.com on those islands. Is it best to travel only with a carry on as I heard it costs for every regular luggage if we have to fly from Athens to Santorini. Thank you so much for your help.
Valentina
Hi Valentina,
Short answer is yes.
That sounds like a solid plan in my view.
If you fly directly to Athens from Toronto, then you have to take a flight/ferry from an island to Athens.
Alternatively, you can check direct flights from any of the islands you want to visit (especially Santorini) to any other major european capital such. as London and see if there any connecting flights to Toronto from there, instead of Athens. That way, you will avoid Athens for a second time.
Or you can do that in the beggining of yourmtrip and then leave Athens for the end of your trip.
Hope that makes sense!
Also, it is true that airlines in Europe charge extra for any luggage and most companies allow only a carry on bag (not even a cabin bag…). Make sure you check each airlines luggage policy as each one is different!
First, I’m so impressed with your site. Very thorough and well organized. You obviously spend a lot of time organizing it. So thank you. My husband and I want to travel to Santorini in October. Is it too late? Will everything be shut down? Also any recommendations on lodging in Santorini and even Athens would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Francine,
Thanks for your kind words. I am really trying to help people visiting Greece as it’s my country!
October is probably the best time to visit Santorini if you want to avoid the tourist crowds.
Everything will be open in October but it will definitely be less busy than the summer months.
However, towards the end of October things are slowing down and most businesses close out for the winter during the last month of October (especially the businesses around the beaches of Perissa and Kamari).
BUT most of the businesses in Fira will remain open and are mostly open throughout the year nowadays.
In regards to lodging, I have a long list of recommended Santorini hotels in this post:
https://images.santorinisecrets.com/best-hotels-in-santorini/
And in regards to Athens I highly recommend you read my post on “Where to Stay in Athens” as not every neighbourhood is the same:
https://images.santorinisecrets.com/where-to-stay-in-athens/
And I also have a great list of Hotels for Athens too:
https://images.santorinisecrets.com/best-hotels-in-athens/
Overall, it really depends on your budget but I truly believe that October is probably the best month to visit Santorini and Athens.
Hope that helps!
Pavlos
thank you so much for this detailed blog, it read like a friend talking to you lol, anyway first time to Greece, we will be flying in from Venice, plan is to arrive Athens (flights from Venice to Santorini have 2 stops and last 7-11 hours), so we think arrive Venice to Athens then fly/ferry to Santorini stay 5 days then head to Milos for 2 days then from there ferry back to Athens and stay 2 days and fly back to US
or
fly Venice to Athens stay here 2 days then fly or ferry (is it worth it if we took the fast ferry? more like is it scenic? if we ferry from Milos to Athens then did, we miss to see anything if we had flown in from Athens to Santorini since am assuming it’s a different route?)
