The short answer by traveller type
Ferry options: Piraeus or Rafina?
Athens has two ferry ports for these islands. Piraeus is the city's main port, reached by metro line 3; Rafina is a smaller port on the east coast of Attica, about 10 km from the airport according to Golden Star.
| Route | Operator on official pages | Time | Starting fare shown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piraeus → Santorini | Blue Star Ferries | From 6h06 | Not published; Super Economy €20 (limited) |
| Piraeus → Mykonos | Blue Star Ferries | From 5h10 | Not published; Super Economy €20 (limited) |
| Rafina → Santorini | Golden Star (Super Express) | 5h20 (07:20 → 12:40) | €82 |
| Rafina → Mykonos, high-speed | Golden Star | 2h20–2h45 | €52.50–€68.50 |
| Rafina → Mykonos, conventional | Golden Star | 4h–4h40 | €38–€40 |
Blue Star's Santorini and Mykonos pages say both routes run daily from Piraeus Gates E6 and E7 and show times only at booking. The Hellenic Seaways Piraeus port map also places a Blue Star ship serving Santorini at Gate E1, so check the gate on your ticket; finding your gate at Piraeus covers the walk from the metro.
Rafina sailings on Golden Star's pages
Golden Star's Rafina–Mykonos page lists five sailings each way (checked 12 October 2026; the page was last updated in May 2026 and gives no validity dates):
| Rafina → Mykonos | Mykonos → Rafina |
|---|---|
| 07:20 → 09:40, high-speed, from €52.50 | 07:35 → 12:15, conventional, from €38 |
| 07:50 → 12:20, conventional, from €38 | 10:50 → 13:05, high-speed, from €66.50 |
| 08:05 → 12:05, conventional, from €40 | 13:45 → 18:25, conventional, from €38 |
| 14:00 → 16:45, high-speed, from €68.50 | 16:00 → 20:20, conventional, from €38 |
| 15:30 → 20:10, conventional, from €38 | 17:45 → 20:20, high-speed, from €68.50 |
The same page's FAQ gives slightly different durations for some sailings, and its timetable may be the summer one: Fast Ferries' routes page shows its own Rafina–Andros–Tinos–Mykonos line dropping from up to three daily sailings (25 May to 30 September 2026) to one or two (1 to 31 October 2026). Fast Ferries says its ships use Mykonos's new port at Tourlos.
For Santorini, Golden Star's Rafina–Santorini page lists a daily 07:20 departure arriving at Athinios port at 12:40 and a return at 14:15 arriving at 20:20, both from €82.
Getting to Rafina
The airport's public transport page says the KTEL bus to Rafina leaves from the Arrivals Level between Exits 2 and 3, though another part of the same page puts the Rafina line at Exit 5, so ask at the information desk. It does not give times or fares. A 07:20 sailing from Rafina therefore suits travellers who stay near the airport the night before, while Piraeus suits those staying in central Athens.
Flights: what the airlines publish
SKY express showed one-way economy fares from Athens to Santorini from €45 (November 2026 dates) and to Mykonos from €44, both collected within the previous 48 hours and not guaranteed (checked 12 October 2026). Its fare types page shows that the SKY offer and SKY joy fares include one personal item (40 × 30 × 15 cm) and an 8 kg cabin bag but no checked bag. The fare boxes say a checked bag costs from €15, while the page's own baggage table lists €16 online for a 15 kg bag; SKY joy+ includes 15 kg and SKY enjoy 23 kg. The airline pages read do not publish flight durations.
Aegean's check-in page gives a 40-minute check-in closing time at Athens and says the gate closes 15 minutes before departure. Its baggage page caps a checked bag at 32 kg. Getting to the airport from the centre takes its own planning; Athens airport to the city centre compares the metro, X95 bus and taxi.
What a couple actually pays
These totals use only the starting fares shown on 12 October 2026 and SKY express's €16 online price for a 15 kg bag; real prices change with date and demand.
| Two adults, one way | Ferry | Flight (SKY offer + one 15 kg bag each) |
|---|---|---|
| To Mykonos | €76 conventional or €105 high-speed (Golden Star) | €88 + €32 bags = from €120 |
| To Santorini | €164 high-speed (Golden Star) | €90 + €32 bags = from €122 |
For Mykonos, the conventional ferry is the cheapest option shown, and the high-speed boat costs less than a flight with bags. For Santorini, the cheapest flight with a bag costs less than Golden Star's fast boat and is much quicker; only Blue Star's limited €20 Super Economy seats undercut it.
Weather, refunds and the rules that matter
Blue Star's general conditions ask passengers to be at the port at least one hour before departure with an ID card, passport or driving licence matching the ticket name. If a departure is cancelled, the ticket must be exchanged for the next scheduled departure, subject to availability; the conditions offer no weather refund.
If you cancel yourself, Blue Star's Cyclades refunds depend on the season. In high season (3–19 April and 28 May–13 September 2026) you get a full refund up to 14 days before departure, 75% up to 7 days before and 50% up to 12 hours before. In low season it is a full refund up to 3 days before and 50% up to 3 hours before. The €20 Super Economy ticket cannot be cancelled or changed at all.
On Blue Star's discount page, children under 5 travel free in economy (a zero-fare ticket is issued), ages 5–10 pay half, and ISIC student card holders get 50% off.
Still choosing between islands? Choosing a Greek island group compares the Cyclades with the Saronic, Dodecanese and Ionian groups, and Hydra or Aegina by ferry covers the islands close enough for a day trip.