Piraeus to Santorini Ferry

Ferry operators on the Piraeus to Santorini route

Three companies share the Piraeus to Santorini route, each offering a different vessel type and travel experience.

Blue Star Ferries operates large conventional ships including the Blue Star Patmos and Blue Star Delos. The crossing takes 7 to 8 hours. Vessels carry hundreds of vehicles and offer numbered seats, business class lounges, and cabin options ranging from 2-bed interior to deluxe suites. Tickets start at €46.50. These ferries are the most stable choice for travelers prone to seasickness.

SeaJets runs high-speed catamarans, with the WorldChampion Jet and Champion Jet 3 reaching Santorini in 4 hours 50 minutes to 6 hours 30 minutes. There are no cabins, but business and VIP class seating is available. Tickets typically start around €90 and rise sharply during peak season.

Fast Ferries provides conventional ferry service with multi-stop itineraries through the Cyclades. The crossing takes 10 to 11 hours, and prices start lower than other operators. The vessels offer economy deck access and numbered seating without cabins.

How long is the ferry from Piraeus to Santorini?

The ferry takes 4 hours 50 minutes on the fastest SeaJets WorldChampion Jet and up to 11 hours 30 minutes on the slowest Fast Ferries conventional service. Most travelers choose either a 5-hour high-speed catamaran or a 7 to 8-hour Blue Star conventional ferry. Total duration depends on the vessel type and the number of stops at intermediate Cycladic islands such as Paros, Naxos, or Ios.

How much does the Piraeus to Santorini ferry cost?

Standard tickets start at €46.50 on Blue Star Ferries (economy seat) and from approximately €90 on SeaJets high-speed catamarans. Cabin supplements start at around €60 for an interior 2-bed cabin. Cars cost approximately €108 per crossing on conventional ferries; motorcycles approximately €32. Prices peak from late June through August, with deepest discounts in November-March.

Departure and arrival ports

Ferries depart from Piraeus, Athens, the largest passenger port in Europe, located 12 kilometers south of central Athens. Vessels to Santorini typically leave from Gates E6, E7, E9, or E10. The exact gate is shown on your ticket and on the port's electronic display boards. Piraeus is connected to central Athens by Metro (Green Line and Blue Line, approximately 25 minutes from Monastiraki) and to Athens International Airport via the Metro Blue Line (approximately 1 hour direct).

Ferries arrive at Athinios Port on the southwest coast of Santorini, 8 kilometers from Fira. The port sits at the foot of the caldera cliffs, and the road up is steep and prone to traffic congestion when ferries unload. Pre-booking a transfer or taking the public bus from Fira (which arrives one hour before each scheduled ferry departure) is the most reliable way to handle the port-to-hotel leg.

When to book your Piraeus to Santorini ferry

For travel between June and September, book 2 to 3 months in advance. High-speed ferry seats, business and VIP class tickets, cabins, and car spots all sell out in peak summer, with cabins typically selling out first. For travel from October through May, booking a few days to a few weeks ahead is usually sufficient. Avoid May 1st (Greek Labor Day, when transport strikes are common) and August 15th (Greek public holiday with heavy domestic travel).

Travel tip: which ferry to choose

If you are prone to seasickness or traveling with young children, choose Blue Star Ferries. The conventional vessels are larger, more stable, have open decks, and offer real cabins for resting. If your priority is saving 3 hours, choose a SeaJets catamaran. Avoid the smaller SeaJets vessels (Superjet, Seajet 2) on windy days; they are notably less stable than the larger WorldChampion Jet or Power Jet.