The ferries in Greece are some of the most efficient and busiest in the world. During summer there are hundreds of them connecting between the Greek Islands and mainland ports at any given time. The boats are well maintained and have an excellent safety record.
Some ferries are huge and are like cruise ships, with restaurants, cabins, and shops onboard whilst fast ferries are smaller and well, fast. Each island group have their own ferry companies that service them and the groups themselves rarely interconnect.
The ticketing agent that we use and recommend is Ferryhopper. Their booking engine is the most extensive and intuitive and gives you the most options, including alternate routes.
How Do You Figure Out Your Routes?
Planning your route accurately may be what your entire holiday trip hinges on. After all, if you don’t find the right route for one or more of your island hopping stops, you may face some delays or have to support additional costs, or you might even end up on the wrong island ( this happened more than you would think).
Fortunately, with a good online booking platform like Ferryhopper, you can look up any route between the various Greek islands you want to visit and get instant information, quotes and schedules for ferries and ferry companies that are available within your allotted time. They will even give you indirect routes which are often a great solution.
All you have to do is enter the information about the route you want to take (for example, Santorini to Mykonos), the date of your trip and whether you want a one-way or return ticket.
Typically, it’s also a good idea to use a map when you want to figure out your route, since it will provide you with the locations of all the islands and how they are positioned relative to others.
Further reading : A complete guide to Island Hopping Routes in Greece
Booking Your Ferry Tickets for Greece
For most ferries you can book ferry tickets online, or you can buy tickets right before you get on the ferry at a ticket office at the harbour. The problem with the latter, however, is that you might not find available tickets, since most people get theirs online, and most ferry companies in Greece (although not all) offer online booking options.
If it is August and/or a public/religious holiday it is best to book your tickets in advance.
The only time when booking offline should be an option is when you’re visiting a remote or lesser known island which doesn’t have an online option, such as the car ferries from Paros to Antiparos or Milos to Kimolos. These tickets are usually purchased onboard or at small ticket office at the dock.
Frequently asked questions about ferries in Greece
Q. How do I work out which islands to see and what the different routes are?
A. This article goes into a lot of detail about the various island groups and the routes that cover them. It also goes into detail about a number of the islands on those routes.
Q. Why can’t I find a route for my dates?
A. Schedules are not usually finalised until just before Greek Easter each year – usually March. Keep checking.
Q. Do the Ferries only run between the islands?
A. No. You can also get the ferry to and from Turkey and Italy and some small ferries also run between Mainland towns.
Q. Can’t I just get a ticket on board?
A. Only the smallest ( and often unpublished) ferries sell tickets on-board. Otherwise, you will need to buy tickets either online, from the various ticketing agents around the main ports, or from your travel agent.
Q. My online ticket doesn’t have a barcode. Does that matter?
A. Yes, as they won’t be able to scan it when you board. You will need to get a paper version of the ticket at the ticketing agents in the ports before you embark.
Q. Is First Class or Business Class worth it?
A. Many people will say no. If it is a short trip and/or you are in a tight budget, then regular economy seats are usually fine. Other people love having an allocated seat in a particular section, like Business or VIP, and usually have a private lounge and bar too.
Your boarding and disembarking procedure will, however, be the same as everyone else’s.
Q. Is there always allocated seating?
A. No. The bigger ferries will have allocated seating for all classes but they are largely ignored in Economy where people sit wherever they like. There is not usually any allocated seating on the outside decks. There is usually allocated seating in Business and First Class.
Q. If I book one berth in a cabin will I be sharing with others?
A. Possibly. If you book one berth in a 4 berth cabin you may end up with 3 companions. If it is off-season or shoulder chances are you may end up with 1 or 2 people or have the whole thing to yourself but the only way to guarantee this is to book the entire cabin. Blue Star Ferries have 1 person cabins on most of their ships.
Q. Shall I just wait and buy my tickets when I arrive?
A. Most of the time that will be fine. It’s rare for ferries to book out unless it is August and/or a special holiday. If there are no seats left ask if there are any cabins. For groups of 3 or more, this may actually be about the same price.
Q. Can I check in online?
A. Yes, if you use Ferryhopper you can check-in online and they also give you the option to have your tickets delivered to your hotel
Q. What do I do with my luggage on the ferry?
A. All of the ferries have well-marked luggage storage on the lowest level where you board, usually before the car storage. You simply put your bag in the area marked for you next destination. If you have valuables with in your luggage take them with you or take your entire bag although you may need to traverse stairs and/or escalators.
Q. What ferry do I book if I am prone to seasickness?
The biggest one on offer. The smaller ferries such as Seajets are less able to deal with inclement weather and can be very unpleasant in rough seas. There are no outdoor areas and you usually can’t open the windows.
The big ferries like BlueStar and Anek, even some of the biggest Seajests have modern stabilizers and are much better in bad weather. They may be slower but are also much more reliable and less prone to delays are cancellations.
When booking look for the car symbol next to the ferry name. If it takes cars it is usually a big ferry.
Q. Can I take my pet on the Ferry in Greece?
A. There are a limited number of cabins on Blue Star, Minoan and Anek that are pet friendly and they are usally at no additional cost. There is also usually a number of kennels available and dogs can be walked on decks provided they are on a leash and muzzled.
Q. How much time should I leave between ferries in Piraeus?
A. At least an hour. Piraeus is the biggest port in Europe and is quite spread out. There are 9 Gates and if you disembark at 9 but your next ferry departs from 1 you will need at least 30 minutes to walk there, or catch a taxi. It’s also important to let any drivers know your expected gate number too or they can have a lot of trouble finding you.
A Blue Star Ferry public lounge
A 4 berth Blue Star cabin
Super Runner in Sifnos
Seajets in Paros
The small car ferry to Antiparos from Paros
Luggage on a busy Blue Star leg
Ferries to Greece in Turkey
An outdoor deck on a Blue Star Ferry
