In this post, I want to showcase how to travel from Athens to Santorini. Athens is pretty much the jumping-off point to the islands of Athens, and that’s true if you’re heading to Santorini. This post will clarify all the possible routes, and at the end of this post, I’m sharing my thoughts on all possible paths to Santorini.
To start, Athens to Santorini is only about 143 miles apart. Since they are pretty close, the way you travel will come down to speed, cost, and your preference for how you want to travel. There is one method that I think is superior to others, and you’ll see my reasons why.
Map from Athens to Santorini
Basic Info
Flight: 50 minutes
Ferry: 5 hrs to 10 hrs
By Plane (Best Option)
If you’re not familiar with Greece, then you should know that from Athens, you need to fly or take a ferry to Santorini. Flying is the best option given that taking a ferry takes anywhere from 5 to 10 hours out on the Mediterranean Sea. I’ll describe more about that down below. But flying takes only about 50 minutes, and thankfully five airlines serve this route.
Depending on the season, meaning high or low or summer or winter, there is, on average, about 5 to 15 per day. All flights leave from Athens International Airport, which is 45 minutes to the southeast of downtown Athens. Santorini only has one airport, and on arrival, you can get to any part of the island within an hour. Price-wise the flight is relatively inexpensive only at around $100 to $150 on an average roundtrip.
Choosing an airline will be based on preference and time, and all are similar in comfort and time. The most significant benefit of a plane is that if you’ll be in Santorini to enjoy your vacation instead of wasting a half to a full day. Within 2 hours, you can be overlooking the stunning views of Thera and Oia.
Flights Offered
Five airlines serve Athens to Santorini direct. The flight is short, landing in only 45 minutes and relatively cheap.
Use websites like Google Flights, Momondo, or Skyscanner to look at prices and schedule. Usually, I book with the airline directly on their website.
Price: Around $100 to $150 roundtrip (will be more expensive in the summer the longer you wait to book)
Recommended?
I think taking a flight is the best option considering the only other option is to take a ferry. Most travelers aren’t staying in Athens long and want to be in Santorini quickly, and taking a plane is the only way to do that. On top of that, a lot of tourists will be connecting through Athens anyways, making flying way more efficient than leaving the airport and taking a ferry. The flight from Athens to Santorini is an excellent, cheap, straightforward option that I imagine most travelers will want to take.
1st Recommended
Plane Necessities
A list of things that will make your flight travels better!
By Ferry
The second option is to, of course, take a ferry, and in Greece, this is a common way to travel to the Greek Islands. From Athens, the ferries leave from the Pireas port located west of downtown Athens. You can reach the port by metro. In a day, there are about 6 – 10 ferries daily, with many new ferries being highspeed. The downside is that these ferries take anywhere from 5 to 10 hours to get to Santorini, so you’ll need half to full day. Greece is best experienced by island-hopping, and you’ll undoubtedly have lovely views passing Greek islands.
The ferries are nice inside, but it can be bumpy depending on which boat and how high the waves are. Rough seas are probably the worst part of taking a ferry because if you do get motion sickness, you may have a hard time choosing the ferry. The fastest boats can go from Athens to Santorini in under five hours, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but it may not be for some travelers who get seasick easily. All ferries arrive at the new port of Athinios in Santorini.
Cost-wise it’s actually about the same as a plane ticket, and that’s why I can’t recommend this higher than taking a flight. Sure it’s an experience to sail in the Aegean Sea, but maybe after an hour, the ride may get monotonous. And for many tourists, they want to get to Santorini as quickly as they can, and a plane makes perfect sense. You’re looking at spending $50 to $100 for one way, no matter if you take a ferry or a flight.
Ferry Companies
Only a few ferry services are operating between Athens to Santorini, and many times you could book the day you are leaving. But you can also book online in advance for a specific time and ferry. I recommend doing that.
Price: About $50 to $100 one way
Recommended?
The ferry is the second and only other way besides taking a flight to get to Santorini directly. It is, of course, possible to take a cruise, but I’m not going to add a section for cruising even though this is a valid way to get to Santorini from Athens. However, a lot of the time, you will be stopping in other islands in the Aegean Sea, and so that’s not always a direct route. Taking the ferry is an excellent option if you don’t mind going a little slower and want to take a ride in the Aegean Sea.
2nd Recommended
Ferry Necessities
A list of things that will make your car travels better!
Review
You can think of Athens as the hub of Greece, and most tourists will have to go through Athens to get to its famous islands. On the whole, Santorini is very popular, so there is well-established transportation servicing the island daily. During the summer months, you will see the height of the travel to Santorini, so it’s best to book your trips in advance.
Feel free to check out my other ‘How to Travel’ posts below. I also write about ‘What to Wear in for Men‘ who need travel style advice! Check back for more posts and feel free to check out my Twitter and Facebook.
