Catching a Ferry in Greece is part of the whole Greek Island experience and can be very memorable. They are efficient, chaotic and fun all at the same time but they can also be overwhelming, especially Piraeus, which is the largest port in Europe. It’s important to understand the three Ferry Ports in Athens and how to navigate them, to ensure your experience is hassle-free and your vacation in Greece is the best it can possibly be.
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There are three ferry ports in Greece. Eighty per cent of Ferries depart from Piraeus which is the largest port in Europe and the second-largest in the world. The other twenty per cent depart from Lavrio and Rafina, two small beachside suburbs on the east coast of Athens, not far from the airport.
Piraeus Port
Located 6 kilometers south of Athens city centre Piraeus is the where cruise ships, tankers and cargo ships and ferries carry about 20 million passengers a year.
Piraeus services the most popular Greek islands, including the Cyclades, Dodecanese, Eastern Aegean Islands and Crete.
Operators who use this port include Blue Star Ferries, Anek Lines, Aegean Speed Lines, Minoan Lines and LANE Sea Lines an Saronic Seaways.
PIRAEUS GATES – where do you go for your ferry
- Gate E1: Dodecanese Islands – Rhodes, Kos, Symi, Kastelorizo etc ….Superfast/Bluestar
- Gate E2: Northern Aegean Islands – Chios, Ikaria, Lesvos etc…Blue Star and Hellenic Seaway
- Gate E3: Crete – Bluestar, Anek and Minoan
- Gate E4: Crete and other small islands
- Gate E5 & E6: Cyclades Islands – Blue Star
- Gate E7: Nissos Mykonos, Speedrunner, Highspeed 4 & 6
- Gate E8: Saronic Islands – Aegina, Poros, Hydra, Spetses etc…
- Gate E9: departures for Seajets and Zante Ferries
- Gate 10: Arrivals for Seajets and Zante Ferries
- Gates 11 & 12: Cruise Ships Only
How to get to Piraeus from Athens City Centre
Metro:
You need to catch Line 1 – the Green Line, which departs every five minutes and this takes around 60 minutes . Its runs 5am to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 2am Friday and Saturday.
Bus:
The 049 from Omonia Square and 040 from Syntagma Square run until midnight.
How to get to Piraeus from Athens Airport
Metro:
The new Piraeus Metro Station opens in October 2022, along with two other new stations on Line 3. This will then directly link Greece’s biggest port with the International Aiport, a significant achievement for Athens Transport. This project has been many years in the making with over 10,000 significant Archeological findings during the process making progress slow.
Until this opens ( or if it is further delayed) and can catch Line 3 – the Blue Line, to Monastiraki Station and change to Line 1 (as above). This leaves every 30 minutes and takes about 75 -80 minutes in total.
Cost: 9euro & 4.5 euro concession (students, seniors and children).
*tip: We have caught the metro ourselves many times but there are periods where pickpockets work the airport route so be vigilant at all times.
Bus:
The X96 runs 24 hours every 20 minutes or 40 minutes after midnight,. The trip takes about 90 minutes or longer in heavy traffic. The bus station is situated between Exits 4 and 5 at the Arrivals level where you will find ticket kiosks. Alternatively, you can buy tickets onboard.
Cost: 5.5euro & 2.70euro concession
Taxi:
There are usually many taxis waiting at the airport. Some are in great condition with professional, english speaking drivers, some are not.
The fares are regulated by the Government and can not exceed 56euro during the day and 72euro after midnight.
Private Drivers:
We highly recommend booking a private drivers to meet your flight. They will wait ( as long as it takes) at Arrivals with a personalised sign and ensure you are dropped at the right gate at the Port. This costs only a few euro more than a taxi – readers get a 5% discount – use ‘GTS’ at checkout.
wHERE TO STAY IN Piraeus
There are a couple of hotels that have been faithfully servicing travellers for decades including the Phidias Piraeus Hotel and Poseidonio.
In 2022 the stylish Port Square Hotel was a welcome addition to Piraeus accommodation and it’s right across from the main gate too.
A little further around the peninsula on Mikrolimano Port is The Alex Hotel, just a few years old and the most luxurious offering in the area.
Lavrio Port
The port of Lavrio, also called Lavrion, is located 60 kilometres (38 miles) from the Ancient Centre and is on the southeast peninsula of the Attica Mainland quite close to Sounion and the Temple of Apollo.
It is a small port and only services the northern Cycladic islands of Kea, Tinos and Kythnos and some islands in the Aegean such as Limnos.
Being small the harbour and port is quite picturesque and its a short stroll into the town which has numerous tavernas, cafes and even a few attractions such as the Archaeological Museum of Lavrio and the 5th century Christian Basilica of Laurium.
Lavrio Ferries
Routes serviced by Lavrio Port include Lavrio to Kea, Kythnos and Lemnos year round and Kavala usually twice per week.
Operators who service this port include Seajets, Sporades Ferries, Marmaris and Triton Ferries.
How to get to Lavrio from Athens City Centre
Bus:
The intercity Ktel bus runs from Pedion to Areos bus station in downtown Athens usually every 30 to 60 minutes. The journey takes around 2 hours and the ticket price is 506euro.
Taxi:
A taxi to Lavrio from Athens city centre should cost around 70euro during the day and takes 90 minutes.
How to get to Lavrio from Athens Airport
Bus:
Buses depart from outside the Sofitel usually every hour and the journey takes about 1 hour.
Cost: 5.5euro & 2.70euro concession
Taxi:
There are usually many taxis waiting at the airport. Some are in great condition with professional, English speaking drivers, some are not.
A fare from Athens Airport to Lavrio port should cost around 50 euro up until midnight.
Private Drivers:
We recommend booking a private driver to take you to Lavrio.
This costs only a few euro more than a taxi – readers get a 5% discount – use ‘GTS’ at checkout.
Lavrio Hotels
Being such a small and quiet port there is limited accommodation here. People usually head into the city or the Athenian Riveria or indeed somewhere near the airport for their flight home.
NJ Apartments are modern and very comfortable and about a 10 minute walk from the Port.
Rafina Port
Rafina is a seaside town located 30 kilometres ( 18.5 miles) from central Athens on the east coast of the mainland in Attica. It takes about 50-60 minutes to drive there. It is very close to the International Airport and can be reached from there in 10-15 minutes. I even include it in this very detailed 10-day Itinerary.
Rafina is the second busiest port in Athens and processes around 2 million passengers each year. Ferries that run from here are Andros, Tinos, Mykonos and Syros and even ports over in Turkey in Karystos and Marmari.
There is just one large terminal and, while it can get busy in Summer, it is a lot less frantic than Piraeus. There is one waiting room and two sheltered areas and close by you will find shops, tavernas, cafes, travel agencies, ATM’s and The Port Authority of Rafina.
If you haven’t been to Rafina before be sure to arrive at least 1 hour prior to your ferry departure.
Rafina Ferries
There are 13 ramps at Rafina Port, two for high speed ferries and 13 for other vessels.
These ferries mostly service northern islands of the Cyclades such as Tinos, Andros and Mykonos and regular services also to Marmari in Evia.
In Summer there is usually a seasonal ferry to Heraklion in Crete which stops at various islands in the Cyclades including Santorini.
There are also usually summer schedules to the Northern Aegean islands of Ikaria and Samos.
The ferry companies that usually service these routes include Seatjets, BlueStar, Fast Ferries and Golden Star.
How to get to Rafina from Central Athens
Bus:
There are two types of buses that service the route from central Athens to Rafina.
The Ktel, intercity bus leaves from Pedion Areos’ bus station on Mavrommateon Street and runs every hour. The trip takes about 90 minutes or longer in heavy traffic. Tickets are 3euro and can be purchased at the bus station or onboard.
There is also a City Bus, the 134, operated by OASA, which departs from the Doukissis Plakentias metro station – Line 3, and runs every hour as well but only takes about 45 minutes.
Taxi:
A taxi to Rafina from central Athens should cost 50euro during the day and 65 after midnight. The ride should take about 60 minutes.
Private Drivers:
We highly recommend booking a private driver to take you to Rafina.
This costs only a few euro more than a taxi – readers get a 5% discount – use ‘GTS’ at checkout.
How to get to Rafina from Athens Airport
Bus:
There is an airport bus that leaves hourly opposite the Sofitel Hotel between exits 2 and 3. Tickets cost 4euro and can be bought from the driver. The ride takes around 30 minutes.
Taxi:
There are plenty of taxis at the airport on the arrivals level. The ride should take about 20-30 minutes and cost no more than 35euro during the day and 50 euro after midnight.
Private Drivers:
We highly recommend booking a private drivers to meet your flight. They will wait ( as long as it takes) at Arrivals with a personalised sign and ensure you are dropped at the right gate at the Port. This costs only a few euro more than a taxi – readers get a 5% discount – use ‘GTS’ at checkout.
Rafina Hotels and surrounds
If you are heading to or from the islands serviced by Rafina Port this can actually be a nice place to spend a night or two, especially if it’s your last night in Greece before heading to the airport and your flight home.
In fact, I suggest Rafina as the final night in this very detailed 10-day itinerary in Greece.
The Avra Hotel is across from the beach and offers a free airport shuttle.
Also check out the nearby beachside suburbs of Artemida, Porto Rafti and Vravrona. We especially like the charming Seasabelle Hotel near Artemida which have stylish beachfront rooms that can sleep up to 4, and at a very reasonable price point too.
Just 7 minutes south there is a big modern 5-star resort right on the beach at Vravrona Bay – only 20 minutes from the airport. This is a huge complex with several swimming pools, a day spa, a water sports centre and a poolside restaurant – great for families! It’s also very close to the Archaeological Site and Museum of Brauron which includes the Temple of Artemis and is rather extraordinary.
