Ferries to Greece and between the Greek islands
Select your destination or departure port to get insights in the various Greek crossings
Ferries to Greece and Greek island ferries
From headline islands like Santorini and Mykonos to longer crossings from Italy to western Greece with your own car or camper, Greece is one of Europe’s great ferry destinations. Ferries are not just a way to get around here. In many parts of Greece, they are the most logical way to travel.
Use the route map first to get a feel for the main ferry corridors. Some routes are short island hops, others are long domestic crossings, and the international routes from Italy can feel more like the start of a proper road trip than a simple transfer.
Whether you are planning an Italy to Greece ferry, comparing island routes in the Cyclades, or looking for a quieter Aegean itinerary away from the obvious islands, this guide will help you choose the right route.
Maps: ferries to and within Greece
Above: Map with ferries within Greece
Below: Ferries to Greece, from Italy and Albania.
Which Greece ferry route fits your trip?
Greece has so many ferry routes that the best starting point is not the operator, but the type of trip you are planning. A short island hop, an overnight ferry from Italy and a fast catamaran between Cyclades islands are very different journeys.
- Travelling with a car or camper from Europe? Start with the Italy to Greece ferry routes. These are usually the most practical way to arrive in Greece with your own vehicle.
- Planning a classic island-hopping trip? Look at the Cyclades first, especially routes around Paros, Naxos, Mykonos and Santorini.
- Want a short ferry trip from Athens? The Saronic Islands, such as Aegina, Hydra and Poros, are easier than trying to reach the far Cyclades on a short break.
- Heading for Corfu or the Ionian Islands? Check both Greek domestic routes and international options from Italy or Albania. For Corfu specifically, see our guide to the ferry from Italy to Corfu.
- Combining Greece with Turkey? Focus on islands such as Rhodes, Kos, Chios and Samos, where short seasonal international ferries can make sense.
In short: choose the ferry route around your final destination and travel style, not just around the shortest sailing time.
About the Greek ferry crossings
How to reach Greece by ferry
You can sail to Greece, not just around it. The network is easiest to understand in three parts: international ferries into the country, the domestic island ferries, and the short cross-border hops to the neighbours.
The international routes come from:
- Italy: the long Adriatic crossings from Ancona, Bari, Brindisi and Venice to western Greece. See our Italy to Greece ferry guide.
- Albania: the short crossings between Albania and Corfu. See our Albania ferry routes.
- Turkey: short seasonal crossings such as Kos to Bodrum, Chios to Çeşme and Rhodes to Marmaris.
The Italian routes are the ones for anyone with a car, motorhome or campervan: the ships take vehicles and land you in Igoumenitsa, Patras or Corfu, so Greece becomes the far end of a road trip rather than a flight. Within Greece the choice is different again: a slower conventional ferry, a fast passenger catamaran or a car ferry, and which one matters if you have luggage, children, a hire car or a camper. Most of the routes to and within Greece are in the booking module on this page.
Most used ferry routes in Greece
The connections people sail most, to the islands and from Italy.
| Route | Travel Time | Operators | From Price | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens (Piraeus) ⇄ Santorini | 4.5 to 8 hrs | Blue Star Ferries, Seajets | £60+ | Domestic |
| Athens (Piraeus) ⇄ Mykonos | 2.5 to 5 hrs | Seajets, Fast Ferries, Minoan Lines | £68+ | Domestic |
| Athens (Piraeus) ⇄ Naxos | 3.5 to 6 hrs | Blue Star Ferries, Seajets | £102+ | Domestic |
| Mykonos ⇄ Santorini | 2 to 3.5 hrs | Seajets, Golden Star Ferries | £90+ | Domestic |
| Athens (Piraeus) ⇄ Milos | 3.5 to 6 hrs | Blue Star Ferries | £70+ | Domestic |
| Venice ⇄ Patras | 32–33 hrs | Anek Lines | £155+ | International |
| Ancona ⇄ Patras | 20 hrs | Anek Lines | £145+ | International |
| Venice ⇄ Igoumenitsa | 26 hrs | Anek Lines | £140+ | International |
| Bari ⇄ Corfu | 8–10 hrs | Ventouris Ferries | £60+ | International |
| Bari ⇄ Igoumenitsa | 8–9 hrs | Ventouris, Anek Lines | £68+ | International |
The main ferry ports in Greece
The port matters almost as much as the island. Athens alone has three, and the wrong one costs you an hour in a taxi before you even board.
- Piraeus: Athens’ main port and the biggest hub for the longer routes to the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, Crete and the rest of the Aegean.
- Rafina: the smaller port north-east of Athens, for Andros, Tinos and Mykonos, and handy from the airport.
- Lavrio: the least obvious of the three, useful for Kea and Kythnos.
- Heraklion: Crete’s main port, with ships to Athens and seasonal links to Santorini and the Cyclades.
- Patras: the big international port of western Greece, for the long Italy crossings.
- Igoumenitsa: the north-western mainland port for the Italy routes and for Corfu, Epirus and the north.
- Corfu: the Ionian hub, with domestic links and ferries from Italy and Albania.
- Naxos, Mykonos and Santorini: the main Cyclades ports, destinations and stepping stones at once.
- Rhodes and Kos: the Dodecanese ports, and the way across to Turkey.
Check the exact port on your ticket. “Athens” can mean Piraeus, Rafina or Lavrio, and they are not interchangeable on the day.
Coming from Italy?
With a car, camper or motorhome, the ferry from Italy is the relaxed way into Greece: instead of driving the length of the Balkans or flying and hiring, you sail across the Adriatic and arrive in western Greece with your own vehicle. The Italy to Greece ferry guide has the detail; in short, the options are:
- Ancona to Igoumenitsa or Patras: the best balance between driving in Italy and time at sea.
- Bari to Igoumenitsa or Patras: the southern option, if you are already heading down the Adriatic coast.
- Brindisi to Igoumenitsa or Corfu: the shortest crossings.
- Venice to Greece: for northern Italy itineraries, longer and more seasonal.
If Corfu is your first Greek stop, see the ferry from Italy to Corfu. On the long crossings a cabin replaces a hotel night and makes the journey far less tiring, with children or a camper especially.
Fast ferry or slower car ferry?
In Greece, the fastest ferry is not always the best ferry. Many routes have a mix of high-speed catamarans, passenger ferries and larger conventional ferries. The right choice depends on whether you value speed, comfort, price, luggage space or the option to bring a vehicle.
Fast ferries and catamarans
- Best for: foot passengers, short island-hopping trips and routes where saving time matters.
- Good to know: many fast ferries are passenger-only, with limited outdoor space and a more airline-like feel.
- Watch out for: luggage handling, rougher seas, higher prices and seasonal timetables.
Conventional ferries and car ferries
- Best for: cars, campers, motorbikes, families, slower travel and longer crossings.
- Good to know: these ferries are often more relaxed, with more space to move around and usually a more stable crossing.
- Watch out for: longer sailing times and busy vehicle decks in peak season.
If you are island hopping on foot, a fast ferry can save a lot of time. If you are travelling with a car, camper, children or lots of luggage, the slower ferry can be the more comfortable choice.
Island hopping in Greece
With more than 200 inhabited islands, Greece is the best place in Europe for island hopping; in many areas the ferry is simply how you move. The trick is not to collect islands but to choose a group that fits the way you travel.
- The Cyclades: Naxos, Paros, Mykonos, Santorini, Milos and the smaller islands. Whitewashed villages, beaches and busy summer ferries.
- The Dodecanese: Rhodes, Kos, Symi and neighbours, for the south-eastern Aegean and a Turkish detour.
- The Ionian Islands: Corfu, Kefalonia and Zakynthos, natural if you arrive from Italy.
- The Sporades: Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos, greener and quieter than the Cyclades.
- The Saronic Islands: Hydra, Aegina and Poros, the short trips from Athens.
Good first island-hopping routes
- Athens, Paros, Naxos, Santorini: the classic Cyclades run with frequent connections in season.
- Rafina, Andros, Tinos, Mykonos: the northern Cyclades, and a less obvious start than Piraeus.
- Athens, Aegina, Hydra, Poros: the easy short trip from the capital.
- Rhodes, Symi, Kos, Bodrum: Greece and Turkey in one, where the seasonal timetables allow.
For quieter Cyclades beyond Santorini and Mykonos, read our five secret pearls of the Cyclades. And check on the map and in the booking module that your combination actually works: some islands look close but connect only on certain days, in one direction or in summer.
On board, ferries and route maps
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- Bari is of course a good place to match your Greece trip with as Bari is a nice place to stay and leave from.
Combining Greece and Turkey by ferry
In many cases, Greece and Turkey are easy to combine by ferry. These are short international crossings, not domestic Greek island ferries, so you need to think about passports, entry rules and seasonal schedules.
Popular routes include Kos to Bodrum, Chios to Çeşme and Rhodes to Marmaris. They are especially useful if you want to add a Turkish coastal stop to a Greek island itinerary, or if you are travelling the other way and want to enter the Greek islands from Turkey.
Notes and travel tips
- Most crossings are seasonal: many Greece to Turkey routes mainly operate in the warmer months, often with more options in summer.
- Bring your passport: this is an international border crossing, so domestic Greek ferry rules do not apply.
- Check visa and entry rules: depending on your nationality, you may need a visa or other entry permission for Turkey or for Greece/Schengen.
- Operators vary by route: these crossings are often run by smaller regional ferry companies rather than the larger domestic Greek operators.
- Do not plan the connection too tightly: allow time for border checks, port procedures and possible seasonal timetable changes.
These routes can be a brilliant addition to an Aegean trip, but they should be planned as international travel rather than as a casual island hop.
| Route | Greek_Port | Turkish_Port | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chios ⇄ Çeşme | Chios | Çeşme | 30–40 mins | One of the shortest and busiest routes |
| Kos ⇄ Bodrum | Kos | Bodrum | 45 mins | Frequent sailings, popular for day trips |
| Rhodes ⇄ Marmaris | Rhodes | Marmaris | 1 hour | Popular among tourists in Dodecanese |
| Samos (Vathy/Pythagorio) ⇄ Kuşadası | Samos (Vathy or Pythagorio) | Kuşadası | 1 hour | Easy access to Ephesus, a top Turkish attraction |
| Lesbos (Mytilene) ⇄ Ayvalık | Mytilene (Lesbos) | Ayvalık | 1.5 hours | Connects Northern Aegean to Turkish mainland |
| Kastellorizo ⇄ Kaş | Kastellorizo | Kaş | 20–30 mins | Very scenic route, small ferries |
| Symi ⇄ Datça | Symi | Datça | 1–1.5 hours | Lesser-known route with a charming coastal town |
| Kalymnos ⇄ Bodrum | Kalymnos | Bodrum | 1 hour | Less frequent, but good for island connections |
| Samos ⇄ Seferihisar (Teos Marina) | Samos (Karlovasi) | Seferihisar | 1.5 hours | Newer and less crowded route |
Prices and availability
Enter your ports and dates below for live fares and sailing times on the routes to Greece and between the islands.
Practical ferry tips for Greece
- Book early in peak season: in July and August, the most popular routes, cabins, vehicle spaces and departure times can sell out quickly.
- Check whether your ferry takes cars: many high-speed catamarans are passenger-only. If you have a car, camper or motorbike, make sure you are booking a vehicle ferry.
- Double-check your departure port: Athens has several ferry ports, including Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio. They serve different routes and are not close enough to swap at the last minute.
- Do not rule out slower ferries: conventional ferries are often cheaper, more stable at sea and more relaxed if you want deck space, food and time outside.
- Travel light if you are on foot: boarding can be busy, and not every ferry setup is ideal with heavy luggage or multiple bags.
- Keep essentials with you: water, snacks, sun protection, medication, documents and chargers are worth keeping in a small day bag.
- Check the season carefully: some routes run year-round, but many catamarans, island-hopping links and international services are seasonal.
- Build in slack: ferry travel in Greece is usually straightforward, but weather, port queues and summer crowds can make tight same-day connections stressful.
- Look beyond the biggest operators: for island-to-island routes, smaller regional companies can sometimes offer the most useful connection.
In short: use Piraeus for the widest Athens ferry network, Rafina and Lavrio for specific Cyclades routes, Patras and Igoumenitsa for Italy crossings, and the island ports themselves when building a proper island-hopping route.
Useful Greece ferry guides
Planning a specific route? These go deeper than this overview:
- Ferry from Italy to Greece: the main guide for car and camper travellers arriving by sea.
- Ferry from Italy to Corfu: if Corfu or the Ionian is the first stop.
- Albania ferry routes: the short crossings between Albania and Corfu.
- Five secret pearls of the Cyclades: beyond Santorini and Mykonos.
Useful for travellers to Greece
Tips for ferry travellers
Is it possible to ferry from Santorini to Thirasia? Is this a regular ferry? Why don’t you have this one listed?