Athens island ferry vs flight comparator (2026)

Should you take the ferry or fly from Athens to the Greek islands? The answer depends on your budget, time, and how much you mind being on a boat. Select your destination and your priority below to get an instant comparison.

Select an island above to see the comparison.

Planning to visit Santorini? The caldera sailing cruise is the highlight of any trip:

Book Santorini catamaran cruise

Mykonos day trip? Don't miss the sacred island of Delos — only reachable by boat:

Delos guided day trip

Full guides: Santorini from Athens · Mykonos from Athens · Crete from Athens · Greek islands guide

Ferry or flight to the Greek islands — which is better?

For short islands like Mykonos (2.5h by high-speed ferry), the ferry is genuinely pleasant and competitive on time once you factor in the ATH airport transfer. For Santorini, it depends: a 4.5–5h high-speed Seajet or Hellenic Seaways catamaran from Piraeus is comfortable and scenic, while the 8h conventional ferry on an overnight is only worth it if you want to save a night's hotel. Crete is the clearest case for the overnight ferry — 9h on a comfortable cabin, arriving at dawn, saving both accommodation and travel costs in one.

How to get to Piraeus port from Athens

Piraeus is easily reached by metro Line 1 (green line) from Monastiraki or Omonia — the journey takes about 20–25 minutes and costs €1.40. Allow at least 45 minutes before your ferry departure, and 90 minutes+ in peak summer. Ferries depart from different gates (E1–E12 depending on destination) — check your ticket carefully and follow the signs. The port is large, so arrive with time to spare.

Tips for booking Greek island ferries

  • Book ferries online 2–4 weeks in advance in summer — popular sailings sell out, especially high-speed boats to Santorini and Mykonos.
  • Use Ferryhopper or the operator websites (Seajets, Hellenic Seaways, ANEK/Superfast) for the best overview of sailings.
  • High-speed ferries are more expensive but dramatically shorter — worth the extra €15–25 for most travellers.
  • Overnight ferries to Crete are best booked with a cabin (inside cabin from ~€60 supplement) — deck seats can be uncomfortable for 9 hours.
  • Budget airlines (Ryanair, easyJet, Aegean) often have cheap flights to Santorini, Mykonos and Heraklion if booked early.