Planning Greek Island Ferries Without Losing Days
The most common Greek island mistake is booking accommodation first and then discovering that the boat between your two islands runs twice a week. Ferries come first, always.
7 min read
Stay inside one island group
The Cyclades (Naxos, Paros, Milos, Santorini, Mykonos) are well connected to each other and to Athens. So are the Dodecanese (Rhodes, Kos, Symi) and the Ionian islands on the other side of the country.
Crossing between groups usually means routing back through Athens or Piraeus, which costs you an entire day. On a week-long trip, that is a seventh of your holiday.
Fast versus conventional ferries
Fast catamarans are roughly half the journey time and twice the price, and they are cancelled more readily in strong wind because of their hull design. Conventional ferries are slower, cheaper, steadier and take vehicles.
For a first trip, fast out and conventional back is a sensible mix. You save time arriving and you are less exposed to a cancellation on the leg that matters, the one before your flight home.
- Piraeus to Naxos: around 3.5 hours fast, 5 to 6 hours conventional
- Naxos to Santorini: around 2 hours fast
- Rafina is closer to Athens airport than Piraeus for some Cyclades routes
- Book vehicles and high season cabins weeks ahead
The meltemi and your buffer day
The meltemi is a strong northerly wind that blows in July and August, sometimes for several days. It can cancel fast ferries outright.
Because of it, never plan to arrive back in Athens on the day of your international flight. Build in one night in Athens or at least a morning boat with a long margin.
Booking mechanics
Schedules for the coming summer are usually published from February to April, and some routes only appear a month out. That is normal, not a sign the route does not exist.
Buy through an operator or a reputable aggregator and reserve numbered seats on longer crossings. On conventional ferries, deck class with access to the outer decks is fine in good weather and much cheaper.
A shape that works for a week
Two nights in Athens, four on one Cycladic island, then back with a buffer. If you want a second island, choose two with a direct daily connection and take three nights on each.
Resist the five island week. It exists on Instagram and not in the timetable.
