How to get from Athens to Santorini: ferry or flight?

Ready for your dream vacation in Santorini? Then it's time to plan exactly how you'll get there. This guide puts everything you need in one place to make planning stress-free.

You'll find what you need to choose between the plane and the ferry from Athens to Santorini, including journey times, transport tips, and guides to both Athens and Santorini airports.

The basics

• Distance between Athens and Santorini: 235 km (145 miles)
• By ferry: 5 to 9 hours, depending on the boat
• By plane: about 45 to 50 minutes

Santorini has a small airport served by only a few airlines, so most visitors stop in Athens and continue to Santorini by plane or ferry. In the peak season, some European cities also have direct flights to Santorini. The island is a popular cruise port as well, and many visitors arrive on a ship for a day of shore excursions.

From Athens you have two choices: fly or take the ferry. There's no wrong way to reach the island, but each option has its pros and cons.

Plane or ferry: pros and cons

By plane

Flying from Athens is the quickest and easiest way to reach Santorini, and there are fairly frequent flights on a handful of airlines. Book early to get the best price and to make sure your flight doesn't fill up.

• Pros: faster (a flight of about 50 minutes) and more convenient
• Cons: more expensive

By ferry

The ferry is another great option. Several ferry companies run daily trips to and from Santorini in the peak season. The ferry is usually cheaper than flying, and some ferries have an outdoor deck where you can take in the blue Aegean and see Santorini's neighboring islands on the way.

• Pros: cheaper, with sightseeing along the way
• Cons: slower (5 to 9 hours)

Traveling by plane

Flying from Athens is by far the fastest way to get to Santorini. The flight takes only about 45 minutes, and there are flights at many different times of day. Santorini's airport is close to popular places such as Kamari, Fira and Oia, so it's easy to get to where you're staying.

When we wrote this guide, these airlines flew daily between Athens and Santorini, from as early as 5:15 am until about 11:15 pm in the peak season:

• Aegean Airlines
• Olympic Air
• Ryanair

You can book directly on the airlines' websites or through a travel booking site (we recommend Kayak). Book in advance, because flights fill up quickly in the peak season.

If you decide to fly, it helps to know what to expect at each airport. See our Athens airport guide and Santorini airport guide below for transport, food and more.

Athens airport guide

Athens International Airport (ATH), also called Eleftherios Venizelos, is Greece's main airport and the hub for travelers heading to Athens, Santorini and the rest of the country. Whether you want a quick bite between flights or some time to shop, you'll find everything you'd expect from a major airport: restaurants, shops, banks, transport services and more.

The airport's website lists its shops and restaurants and cafés if you want to plan ahead.

Getting around from Athens airport

If you're staying in Athens or connecting to a ferry to Santorini, the airport is well connected to the city. You can choose from rental cars, taxis, limousine services, the metro, the suburban railway, and a range of buses and shuttles.

To reach the port of Piraeus for a ferry to Santorini by public transport:

• Metro: take Line 3 from the airport to Monastiraki, then change to Line 1 for the rest of the trip to the port.
• Bus: the X96 bus goes directly to the port.
• Suburban railway: some suburban rail routes also take you to the port.

Places to eat at Athens airport

Hungry after a long flight? The airport has more than 20 cafés, bars and restaurants, serving everything from traditional Greek food to coffee and pastries to burgers. Some highlights when we wrote this guide:

• Eat Greek: known for traditional Greek gyros, plus fresh sandwiches, snacks and drinks.
• Gregory's: Greek pastries, salads, pasta salads, sandwiches and more.
• McDonald's: a cheaper fast-food option for burgers and fries.
• Kayak: freshly made ice cream and desserts made with natural, gourmet ingredients.

Shopping and services

There's plenty to keep you busy while you wait for your flight, from high-end shops such as Emporio Armani and Michael Kors to salons and pharmacies.

• Fashion and beauty: Polo Ralph Lauren, Victoria's Secret, Weekend Max Mara and other big names, plus accessories at shops such as Bag Stories and Sunglasses Boutique.
• Electronics, books and gifts: the duty-free shops, Public Connect for electronics, and Public Books, Anamnesia or Terkenlis for books and gifts.
• Services: most major car rental companies, banking and currency exchange, a nail salon and a mini market.

Traveling with children

A long layover with children can feel daunting, but the airport has family-friendly facilities, including a play area.

• Baby rooms: found throughout the airport and marked with bright orange signs, they offer a quiet, private space for nursing, feeding, changing or simply a break from the crowds.
• Children's play area: on the second floor of the main terminal building, an enclosed play area for children aged 1.5 to 7. It's free, with a parent or guardian supervising, and has arts and crafts, toys and a padded area for younger children.

Santorini airport guide

Santorini International Airport (JTR), also called Thira Airport, is much smaller than Athens airport. It serves both civilian and military aircraft and, when we wrote this guide, had room for only six planes on the ground at a time. Apart from the basics, such as toilets, baggage services and transport, there are few facilities inside the airport.

Getting from Santorini airport to your hotel

You can get to and from the airport by public bus, shuttle, private transfer or rental car. The bus to Fira is probably the most popular choice. In 2022 it cost under €3 per person and took about 20 minutes to reach Fira, the island's main town.

Places to eat near Santorini airport

There's nowhere to eat inside the airport, but the nearby villages are full of good places. If you've arranged a private transfer, try one of these:

• Monolithos: less than a mile north of the airport, with traditional restaurants serving fresh seafood. Two of the highest-rated are Mario No 1 and Galini Taverna.
• Exo Gialos: less than two miles north of the airport, with many Greek and Mediterranean restaurants. Two of the highest-rated are Anemoloos and Aroma Avlis Food & Wine.
• Kamari: within two miles south of the airport, a popular resort with plenty to eat, drink and do. Try To Pinakio or Koutouki the Rakomelo for Greek food.

If you take the bus to Fira, you'll find plenty of restaurants, cafés and bars there too. Fira is about 20 minutes from the airport and is the largest town on Santorini, with highly rated places such as Parea Tavern, Pelican Kipos, Salt & Pepper and Falafeland.

Traveling by ferry

The ferry is a popular way to reach the island. It takes much longer than flying, but it costs less. Ferries leave Athens from the port of Piraeus and arrive at Athinios port in Santorini, about 15 minutes from Fira.

When we wrote this guide, these companies sailed between Athens and Santorini, with daily sailings in the peak season and several a week all year round:

• Blue Star Ferries
• ANEK Lines
• Zante Ferries (formerly Cyclades Ferries)
• SeaJets
• Hellenic Seaways

The easiest way to compare ferry timetables and book tickets is Ferryhopper.

When we wrote this guide, you needed a printed ferry ticket. There are kiosks for printing tickets at each ferry company's boarding area.

How the ferry companies differ

• Journey time: a conventional ferry from Athens to Santorini takes about eight hours. The high-speed services run by SeaJets and Hellenic Seaways take about half that.
• How often they sail: in the peak season most companies sail at least once a day. Out of season, Blue Star Ferries keeps a daily service, while companies such as ANEK and Zante run only a few sailings a week.
• On board: if you'd like to spend time on deck watching the sea, Blue Star Ferries' larger ships have outdoor viewing decks. The high-speed boats do not.

Getting to the port of Piraeus

The port of Piraeus is about 20 to 25 minutes from central Athens. Metro lines, buses and suburban trains reach the port from almost anywhere in the city, and taxis and limousine services go there directly.

From Athens airport, take Metro Line 3 to Monastiraki and change to Line 1, take the X96 bus directly to the port, or use the suburban railway (see Getting around from Athens airport above).

Enjoy Santorini

Whether you fly or take the ferry, you'll love what Santorini has to offer, from its striking volcanic landscape and history to its famous beaches and wineries. One thing we recommend is a flying dress photoshoot: the long silk dresses are made to create magical photos in the island's breeze.

For more help planning your trip, read our other Santorini guides, or explore the island with a local on a private tour of Santorini.