- Must visit
Museum of Prehistoric Thera
The island’s main archaeological museum, displaying important finds from Akrotiri and Ancient Thera, including frescoes, pottery, and artifacts from the Bronze Age.
Cheapest price
$58
Average price
$90
Fastest journey
5 h
Average duration
5 h 32 m
Ferries per day
9
Distance
234 km
The best way to find a cheap ferry ticket from Athens to Santorini (Island) is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Athens to Santorini (Island) will cost around $90 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $58.
Of the 9 ferries that leave Athens for Santorini (Island) on Wed, Jul 08, 9 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Wed, Jul 08 the direct ferries cover the 234 km distance in an average of 5 h 32 m but if you time it right, some ferries will get you there in just 5 h .
On Wed, Jul 08 the slowest ferries will take 6 h 10 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
DIONISIOS SOLOMOS
BLUE STAR 1
BLUE STAR DELOS
BLUE STAR CHIOS
GOLDEN PRINCESS
EUROCHAMPION JET 2
OLYMPIC CHAMPION JET
WORLDCHAMPION JET
GOLDEN PRINCESS
CHAMPION JET 1Omio recommends booking the flight as it is the most popular option from Athens to Santorini (Island) among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the ferry with prices starting from $58. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 3h 5m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the ferry is your best bet as it emits only 0.0 - 0.2kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a ferry costs an average of $58, and a flight costs an average of $21.
Distance: 126 nautical miles (234 km)
| Ferry | Most popular Flight |
|---|---|
$73 Average price Cheapest | $124 Average price |
7h 42m Average total duration 6h 42m Onboard + 1h 0m Additional time* | 6h 5m Average total duration Fastest 3h 5m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
0.0 - 0.2kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.7 - 1.4kg CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular ferry company | ![]() Most popular airline |
Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Athens to Santorini (Island):
A ferry is $52 (€42) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Athens to Santorini (Island) costing on average $124 (€102).
Other travel options to Santorini (Island) take longer:
Ferry takes on average 6h 42m.
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Sailing Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator Seajets | Departure Time 03:00PM | Arrival Time 09:10PM | Duration 6h10 | Sailing Days Everyday |
Operator Fast Ferries | Departure Time 02:15PM | Arrival Time 12:45AM | Duration 10h30 | Sailing Days Mon |
Operator Blue Star Ferries | Departure Time 05:00PM | Arrival Time 11:20PM | Duration 6h20 | Sailing Days Mon, Fri |
Operator Fast Ferries | Departure Time 07:15AM | Arrival Time 05:10PM | Duration 9h55 | Sailing Days Fri |
Operator Seajets | Departure Time 09:00AM | Arrival Time 02:10PM | Duration 5h10 | Sailing Days Everyday |
Operator Golden Star Ferries | Departure Time 07:20AM | Arrival Time 01:05PM | Duration 5h45 | Sailing Days Everyday |
Operator Blue Star Ferries | Departure Time 05:30PM | Arrival Time 02:45AM | Duration 9h15 | Sailing Days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun |
Operator Seajets | Departure Time 09:30AM | Arrival Time 03:05PM | Duration 5h35 | Sailing Days Everyday |
Operator Seajets | Departure Time 07:00AM | Arrival Time 12:00PM | Duration 5h00 | Sailing Days Everyday |
Operator Fast Ferries | Departure Time 07:00AM | Arrival Time 06:15PM | Duration 11h15 | Sailing Days Wed |
Operator Blue Star Ferries | Departure Time 03:00PM | Arrival Time 09:20PM | Duration 6h20 | Sailing Days Wed |
Operator Blue Star Ferries | Departure Time 07:25AM | Arrival Time 02:50PM | Duration 7h25 | Sailing Days Everyday |
The table below shows live departures for Athens to Santorini (Island) ferries for today, Tuesday, July 7. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated ferry journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EUROCHAMPION JET 2 | 7:00 AM Port of Piraeus | 5h00 | 12:00 PM Athinios Port | 0 transfersDirect | |
GOLDEN PRINCESS | 7:20 AM Port of Rafina | 5h45 | 1:05 PM Athinios Port | 0 transfersDirect | |
BLUE STAR 1 | 7:25 AM Port of Piraeus | 7h25 | 2:50 PM Athinios Port | 0 transfersDirect | |
OLYMPIC CHAMPION JET | 9:00 AM Port of Piraeus | 5h10 | 2:10 PM Athinios Port | 0 transfersDirect | |
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE JET 1 | 9:30 AM Port of Piraeus | 6h20 | 3:50 PM Athinios Port | 0 transfersDirect | |
CHAMPION JET 1 | 3:00 PM Port of Piraeus | 6h10 | 9:10 PM Athinios Port | 0 transfersDirect | |
BLUE STAR DELOS | 5:30 PM Port of Piraeus | 10h15 | 3:45 AM Athinios Port | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last ferry of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare ferry and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
By Estefanía Ojea

The trip from Athens to Santorini via ferry is the kind of trip that becomes part of the trip, rather than just the means of transportation. Though there were other, speedier ferries available for the trip, I opted for the Blue Star Ferries. Though these ferries were slower than some of the other options, they were also generally cheaper, and I wasn’t in any great hurry.
Santorini was not my actual destination. I was in transit to Crete, where I was eager to visit the Minoan Palace of Knossos. I had become rather obsessed at that time with the Minoans, and the idea of continuing the trip south through the islands of the Aegean seemed the perfect way to begin the trip.

Cliffside houses in Santorini
The distance covered by the Athens-Piraeus to Santorini route is approximately 230 kilometers. The route traverses the Aegean Sea.There are various ferry services on the route, which include high-speed ferries. The high-speed ferries take around 5 hours to cover the distance to the island of Santorini. Conventional ferries like the ones operated by Blue Star Ferries take around 7 to 8 hours to cover the distance to the island of Santorini. The conventional ferries are, however, cheaper. The ferries operate on the route to various islands in the Cyclades group. The island of Santorini is one of the main islands on the route.
I took the ferry at Piraeus Port, which is the main port in Greece and serves the capital city of Athens. Most of the ferries to the Greek Islands depart from this port.
Piraeus can be a bit disorganized at first. It is a huge port with many gates and many people going to different islands. However, once you find the correct gate for your ferry, everything is quite simple.
As the ship finally left the port, the skyline of Athens gradually disappeared behind us as we entered the open waters of the Aegean Sea.
The majority of ferries to Santorini depart from Piraeus. Piraeus is accessible from Athens city center using the metro, a taxi, or a bus. The metro is particularly convenient since it goes directly to Piraeus. However, since it is a big port and has various gates, it is a good idea to arrive a little before one hour.
Boats that come into the island of Santorini dock at the port of Athinios, located at the foot of the island’s spectacular volcanic cliffs.
The port itself is small and busy, and from there, buses and cars can take you to the main towns of the island such as Fira, Oia, and Imerovigli.
Daily ferries run between Athens and Santorini, particularly during the summer season.
In the summer, there can be several daily ferries between Athens and Santorini, while in the winter the ferries run fewer times daily.
Blue Star ferries are large ships that have many seats both inside and outside the ship.
Inside the ferry, there are lounging areas and seats where you can find cafes where you can buy food and drinks while you’re on board the ferry. Of course, you can always stay outside the ferry, particularly if the weather permits, and just watch the islands come up one by one as you cross the Aegean Sea in the Blue Star ferry. The ferry trip is more relaxed because the ferry travels at a slower pace than the other fast ferries.
The price of a ticket on a ferry varies according to the company and the type of boat. In this case, by taking the Blue Star ferry, I was able to save some money compared to other faster high-speed boats, which are normally more expensive. Here’s a rough breakdown of what I spent on this trip:
| Item | Cost (eur) |
|---|---|
| Ticket price | €46.50 |
| Food & drinks | €10 |
| Travel to departure station | €2 |
| Travel from arrival station | €4 |
| Total | € 62.5 |
It will take longer if you travel from Athens to Santorini by ferry than if you fly, but at the same time, you make the trip part of the experience.
Santorini was just another stop for me before I had to go further and explore the island of Crete, where I had been wanting to visit the Minoan Palace of Knossos for the past few months after reading about the Minoan civilization and its culture. The Aegean Sea had to be crossed in order for me to start my adventure.


Ferries from Athens to Santorini (Island) run on average 6 times per day, taking around 6h 42m. Cheap ferry tickets for this journey start at $58 (€48) but you can travel from only $21 (€17) by flight.
There are 6 ferries per day. The earliest ferry runs at 00:01, the last at 23:30. The fastest ferry covers the 126 nautical miles (234 km) distance in 5h 35m. There are 32 sailings per week. Ferries from Athens to Santorini (Island) are available to foot passengers.







Distance 126 nautical miles (234 km) |
Average sailing duration 6h 42m |
Cheapest ticket price $58 (€48) |
Ferries per day 6 |
Direct ferries Available |
Average weekly sailings 32 |
Fastest ferry 5h 35m |
First ferry 12:01 AM |
Last ferry 11:30 PM |
Cabins Available |
Vehicles Available |
Foot passengers Available |
Cheapest Month Jul |
Cheapest Day Mon |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Sat |
Best time to book 21 days |
Discover the best of Santorini — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Santorini trip today.
The island’s main archaeological museum, displaying important finds from Akrotiri and Ancient Thera, including frescoes, pottery, and artifacts from the Bronze Age.
A compact museum in Fira with sculptures, inscriptions, and ceramics from Archaic to Roman periods, useful for understanding the island’s ancient history.
A modern interactive museum focused on the Atlantis legend, volcanic history, and multimedia exhibits. Popular with visitors looking for something different from classical archaeology.
Santorini’s best-known village, celebrated for whitewashed lanes, blue domes, sunset views, and luxury cave-house architecture. A top priority for first-time visitors.
The island’s lively capital with cliffside caldera views, shops, museums, and walking routes. A practical and scenic base for exploring Santorini.
A quieter caldera village known for upscale stays, sweeping volcano views, and access to Skaros Rock. Popular for romantic walks and photography.
Creamy yellow split-pea puree, often topped with onion, capers, and olive oil. It is one of Santorini's signature products and a classic local starter.
Santorini tomato fritters made with the island's small, intensely flavored tomatoes, herbs, and flour. They are a beloved meze strongly associated with the island.
The island's famous white eggplant is sweeter and less bitter than common purple varieties, often baked, fried, or served in traditional home-style dishes.
A very popular traditional taverna known for Cretan and Greek dishes, warm hospitality, and a lively local atmosphere away from the cliffside crowds.
Well-regarded seafood restaurant near Vlychada, known for fresh fish, sea views, and a relaxed setting by the marina.
One of Santorini's most famous fine-dining restaurants, celebrated for modern interpretations of Cycladic ingredients and polished service.
Santorini is pricier than much of Greece, especially for hotels and dining in peak season. Local bakeries and tavernas help keep costs down.
Service is often included or modestly priced. Round up at cafes, tip EUR 1-2 for casual meals, and about 5-10% at restaurants for good service. Taxis can be rounded up.
Official public transport app
Athinios Port, Santorini -> Fira Bus Station, Santorini
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Athens to Santorini (Island) by ferry. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest ferry, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Santorini (Island), this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need