Getting from Santorini to Piraeus

Piraeus is the port of Athens and the largest port in Greece, the place where almost every Aegean ferry journey either begins or ends. It is not a destination in itself. It is a gateway, a transit point, the functional engine room of Greek maritime travel. But arriving in Piraeus from Santorini means you are back on the mainland with Athens a short metro ride away and the whole of Greece accessible by road. If your Santorini trip is coming to an end and you are heading home via Athens, or if you are continuing your travels through the country, Piraeus is the natural next step.

Take the ferry

The Santorini to Piraeus ferry is one of the most heavily used routes in Greece and one of the best served. Blue Star Ferries, Seajets and Fast Ferries all operate the crossing daily year-round, with up to 9 departures per day in summer and around 2 per day in the off-season. The journey takes between 5 hours 25 minutes and 8 hours 45 minutes depending on the vessel and the stops along the route. High-speed Seajets catamarans are the fastest option. Blue Star conventional ferries are slower but more spacious, more stable in rough weather and considerably more enjoyable for a crossing of this length. Book ahead in July and August as this is one of the most popular ferry routes in the Aegean and it fills up fast.

What about flying?

Santorini has an airport with daily flights to Athens. The flight takes around 45 minutes and total door-to-door time to central Athens is around 2 to 3 hours once you factor in the airport transfer on both ends. It is worth knowing that Santorini Airport is small and gets very busy in summer. If you are flying home internationally from Athens on the same day, flying rather than taking the ferry gives you a much more manageable connection.

Your best option

It depends on what you want from the journey. If you have time, the ferry is the better experience. Arriving into Piraeus from Santorini on a Blue Star ferry, standing on the open deck as the port comes into view in the early morning, is a proper end to an island trip. If you are short on time or have a flight to catch, fly. From Piraeus, take the metro from Piraeus station directly into central Athens. It takes around 20 minutes and drops you at Monastiraki in the heart of the city.