⚓ Ports

Greek ferry ports: Piraeus, Rafina, Lavrio and the island ports

Which port your boat really leaves from, how to reach it and how early to be there. The three Athens ports first, then the island and mainland ports that matter — checked September 2026. Always confirm the port and gate printed on your ticket.

Routes, times and fares →

The Athens ports

Athens

Piraeus

The main port of Greece, with sailings to the Cyclades, Crete, the Dodecanese and the Saronic islands. Gates are spread along a long waterfront — typically E1 for the Dodecanese, E2/E3 for Crete, E6/E7 for the Cyclades and E8/E9 for the Saronic — but they change, so go by the gate on your ticket and allow time to walk. From the airport, the X96 bus runs 24/7 (about 90 minutes, €5.50); from central Athens, take the metro.

Guides:Athens & the Riviera

East Attica

Rafina

A compact port about 30 minutes from the airport by KTEL bus — easier than Piraeus if you land and sail the same day. Fast Ferries and Golden Star run to Andros, Tinos and Mykonos, and in summer on to Naxos and Paros.

Guides:Mykonos Naxos Paros

South-east Attica

Lavrio

The small southern port for Kea and Kythnos, plus some Cyclades and North Aegean lines. Reach it by KTEL Attica bus or taxi; check the timetable before you go.

How early to arrive

Rule of thumb: on foot, 30–60 minutes before departure; with a car, at least an hour. Cars board first, in the crew's order, and ships in high season do not wait. Keep your e-ticket and an ID card or passport for every passenger to hand.

Before you go

Pre-booked taxiA taxi booked for a set time and price — useful for the ride back from a beach club or a late dinner, when every car on the island is already taken.Book a taxi →Meet-and-greet pickupA driver waiting with your name at the airport or the port, flight and ferry delays tracked. Costs more than a taxi rank and removes the scramble for one.Arrange a pickup →Left luggage near ports & stationsThe Greek problem nobody plans for: you check out at noon and the boat leaves at nine. Drop the bags near the port, spend the day on a beach instead of on a bench.Find a drop-off →

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Island ports

Santorini

Athinios

Santorini's ferry port sits at the foot of the caldera cliffs, linked to the top by a zigzag road that jams when big ships arrive. The KTEL bus to Fira costs €2.70 (2026). Cruise passengers land separately, below Fira, and ride the cable car (€10 one way).

Guides:Santorini

Mykonos

Mykonos New Port (Tourlos) & Old Port

Mykonos has two ferry ports: the New Port at Tourlos, north of town, and the Old Port by Chora. Your ticket says which — check it, because the wrong one costs you a transfer in traffic.

Guides:Mykonos

Cyclades

Naxos Chora · Parikia (Paros)

Both ports sit right in town, a walk from hotels and tavernas. Naxos and Paros are 25–50 minutes apart — the easiest hop in the Cyclades.

Guides:Naxos Paros

Milos, Sifnos, Folegandros, Ios

Adamas · Kamares · Karavostasis · Ormos

The small ports of the western and southern Cyclades. Sailings are fewer and more exposed to the meltemi, so check the timetable for your exact day rather than assuming a daily boat.

Guides:Milos Sifnos Folegandros Ios

Crete

Heraklion

Crete's main port, next to the city centre. Overnight ferries to Piraeus (Minoan Lines; 7h50 fast to about 9h) and, in season, high-speed boats to the Cyclades.

Guides:Crete

Crete

Souda (Chania)

The port for Chania, a short drive east of the old town. Ferries to Piraeus take 7h to 9h30.

Guides:Crete

Dodecanese

Rhodes

Next to the medieval walls. Boats to Symi take 45 minutes to 1h30 — go early, as day-trippers fill the island by midday.

Guides:Rhodes Symi

Mainland ports for the Ionian, the Sporades and Thassos

Epirus

Igoumenitsa

The gateway to Corfu (1h10–1h30; foot passengers from about €6, cars about €24) and Paxos (about 1h35). Handy for Romanians driving the Egnatia motorway west.

Guides:Corfu Paxos Parga & Sivota

Western Peloponnese

Kyllini

Levante Ferries to Zakynthos (about 1h15, cars from around €38) and to Poros on Kefalonia (about 1h30).

Guides:Zakynthos Kefalonia

Western Greece

Patras

Ferries to Sami on Kefalonia. Check the season's timetable — it varies more than the Kyllini crossings.

Guides:Kefalonia

Lefkada

Vasiliki & Nydri

Lefkada needs no ferry to reach — it is joined to the mainland. From Vasiliki, West Ferry crosses to Fiskardo on Kefalonia in about an hour, April to October.

Guides:Lefkada Kefalonia

Thessaly

Volos

The mainland port for the Sporades: Skiathos in 1h15–2h45 (from about €27) and Skopelos in about 2h–3h30 (from about €45).

Guides:Skiathos Skopelos

Eastern Macedonia

Keramoti & Kavala

ANETH ferries to Thassos. Keramoti–Limenas takes 35–40 minutes: €6 adult, €3 child, car €22 up to 4.25 m (€27 longer). Kavala–Prinos is €6.50–7 adult, car €22. Tickets at the port. Kavala airport is about 12 km from Keramoti.

Guides:Thassos

Port questions

Which Piraeus gate does my ferry leave from?

The gate is printed on your ticket and can change. As a rough guide, E1 serves the Dodecanese, E2/E3 Crete, E6/E7 the Cyclades and E8/E9 the Saronic islands. The gates are far apart, so allow time to walk.

How early should I be at a Greek ferry port?

30–60 minutes before departure on foot, and at least an hour with a car. In July and August arrive at the early end of that range.

Is Rafina better than Piraeus?

For Mykonos, Tinos, Andros and, in summer, Naxos and Paros, often yes: Rafina is about 30 minutes from Athens airport by KTEL bus and much smaller. For Crete, the Dodecanese, the Saronic islands and most of the Cyclades, Piraeus has more sailings.

Which Mykonos port does my ferry use?

Either the New Port at Tourlos or the Old Port by Chora — the ticket says which. Check before you order a taxi or transfer.