Taking a ferry from Rafina?

The ferry port of Rafina is only 25km from Athens Airport, making it an ideal starting point for a Greek island hopping adventure.

From Rafina, ferries sail to nearby islands such as Andros, Tinos and Mykonos several times a day this week.

If you want to take a ferry from Rafina, this site covers the ferry lines, where to book tickets, how to get to the port, where to stay the night before, and what to do while you wait.

Rafina Ferry Routes: Where Can You Go?

The Greek islands of Mykonos, Andros, & Tinos can all be reached by Rafina ferries, with multiple sailings per day in the summer months. Evia is another popular destination with year-round ferry connections to Rafina.

In addition to the regular ferry routes from Rafina listed above, Paros and Naxos have occasional connections with Rafina, and Santorini and Ios have direct ferries from Rafina infrequently. Use the sailings planner above to find ferry schedules from Rafina port.

Sailings from Rafina, Fri 23 Oct 2026 to Thu 29 Oct 2026, checked 23 Oct 2026. Sailings are currently listed until Sun 1 Nov 2026.

Santorini and Ios are worth a special word. There's no direct Rafina ferry running this week. The simple option this week is to sail from Piraeus. See Rafina to Santorini and Rafina to Ios for the details.

For how the timetable works across the day and the season, see the ferry schedule. For the ships and who runs the Rafina ferry lines, see operators and ships.

Getting to Rafina Port

Rafina is close enough to Athens airport that you don't need to build your whole day around the transfer. A KTEL bus or a taxi both take about half an hour; give yourself a bit longer if you're landing and sailing the same day.

A pre-paid transfer is by far the easiest way to travel from Athens Airport to Rafina ferry port or town. The price is locked in, and the driver meets you outside arrivals. If you're staying overnight in Rafina at the Avra Hotel, they offer a free transfer service from the airport.

• From Athens airport: KTEL bus, taxi or a booked transfer, both directions.
• From central Athens: the KTEL bus from Nomismatokopeio metro, or a taxi.
• KTEL bus and taxis at the port.
• Transfers, parking and car hire.

Book a transfer (Welcome Pickups)

Can I Land and Catch a Ferry the Same Morning?

You can, but treat a tight landing-to-ferry connection as a risk rather than a relaxed plan. After landing you might sail (excuse the pun) through immigration and arrivals, but it could just as easily take an hour or more.

Additionally, the airport bus to Rafina port has a long morning gap. If you land in that window, the bus can't get you to an early sailing. Plan on a taxi or a transfer instead, or choose a later ferry. Allowing three hours between flight arrival and ferry departure should be the bare minimum.

At Rafina Port

• Port guide: the layout, tickets, and how it changes between summer and winter.
• First-timer's walk-through: from arriving to boarding.
• Catching an early ferry: most mornings start early at Rafina, so this covers what to expect if your ferry is one of the first out.
• Where to stay the night before.
• Where to eat and what to do while you wait.

What Do First-Timers Most Often Get Wrong?

A common mistake is arriving about ten minutes before the Rafina ferries departure. It might be fine for locals and people who have traveled by Greek ferry before, but not for your first time. You'll be faced with a chaotic, busy port, so leave yourself time to find your boat. Getting there by public transport can be complicated too, so give that leg some slack.

There might also be more than one ferry docked at Rafina port at any one time, and a ferry company may have multiple ships. Check the boat's name before you walk on board, although ticket scanning does nowadays prevent people from getting on the wrong vessel.

A piece of final advice is to make sure you're at the right port as well. Tickets are sold for a specific port, and Rafina and Piraeus are easy to confuse, and a huge distance apart. Buying for one and turning up at the other is easily done, especially if you just tell a taxi driver to take you to the ferry port, as you might end up in Piraeus by mistake!

Island Hopping from Rafina

• Island hopping from Rafina: chaining Andros, Tinos, Mykonos, Paros and Naxos, and heading further south.
• Weather and cancellations: the meltemi, sailing bans and your rights if a sailing is cancelled.

Windy Forecast? Choose Your Ship Carefully

If a windy day is forecast, pick a conventional ship rather than a catamaran style for a smoother crossing. Do keep in mind though that Rafina ferries sail to the windiest islands in the Cyclades such as Tinos, Andros, and Mykonos! Tablets to combat sea-sickness are highly recommended.

On extreme days, strong winds can and do lead to ferry cancellations. It's rare, but it does happen, so build some slack into the end of your trip. Leave a spare day before any long-haul flight home. You could either stay in Rafina and see something of the town or area, or spend a day or two in Athens itself.

Rafina or Piraeus: Which Athens Ferry Port?

Athens has three ferry ports: Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio. Which one suits you depends on your island. Rafina is the easier port to reach from the airport, and covers Andros, Tinos and Mykonos. Piraeus is Greece's biggest passenger port, with ferries to the rest of the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, the Saronic islands, the North Aegean and Crete. Lavrio is the one to know for Kea and Kythnos, which aren't on Rafina's routes. Compare all three in Piraeus, Rafina or Lavrio, or head to head in Rafina vs Piraeus and Rafina vs Lavrio.

If your question isn't answered here, try the FAQ.

Which Athens Port Is Right for Your Start Point?

Your start point decides this as much as your island does. If you're flying in and heading to Andros, Tinos or Mykonos, Rafina is the usual choice. If your hotel is in central Athens, look at Piraeus first.

Rafina isn't on the metro, and some travellers find it the harder option. For Paros, Naxos or Santorini, compare both ports before you book.

Last checked: Fri 23 Oct 2026