How to get to Santorini: the complete guide

Are you planning a trip to Santorini? If that’s the case, you might be interested in our Santorini travel guide, which includes all the things to do and see on the island. But before that, let’s discover how to get to Santorini:

• From Athens
• From Mykonos
• From Crete
• From Milos
• From other Greek islands
• From abroad

Ferry or flight to Santorini?

To be or not to be? To sail or to fly? These are some of the most difficult questions, but worry not; we are here for you!

You can either get a ferry or a flight to Santorini. This famous Greek island is one of the most well-connected destinations, as it is very easy to get to from both mainland and other islands. There are plenty of domestic and international flights to the airport of Santorini, Thira International Airport, while ferries arrive at the new port of the island, Athinios.

And as for which is the best way to get to Santorini? That depends on several factors, such as your point of departure, but there are undeniable advantages to each means of transport.

Getting a flight can be very convenient, as the travel time decreases dramatically. However, they are quite expensive, especially in high season, so booking your ticket well in advance is highly suggested.

On the other hand, traveling to Santorini by ferry gives you the flexibility to pack as (almost) heavy as you want and bring along your vehicle to explore every corner of the island. Plus, traveling by ferry is far more environmentally friendly, and this is something that we at Ferryhopper care a lot about.

But let’s have a closer look at what is the easiest, most convenient way to get to Santorini from Athens, other islands and abroad. Hop on!

The famous Red Beach in Santorini

How to get to Santorini from Athens?

Getting to Santorini from Athens is fairly easy. The most beautiful island of Cyclades is well connected to the capital of Greece, both by ferry and plane. You can easily get to Thira (the official name of Santorini) and enjoy the best vacation of your life, as there are daily ferry crossings and flights.

Let’s see what is the best way to travel from Athens to Santorini.

Ferry to Santorini from Athens

One of the most popular and cheapest ways to travel to Santorini from Athens is by ferry. Ferries to Santorini depart from the ports of Piraeus and Rafina daily, and there are many ferry companies traveling from Athens to Santorini.

If you’re planning on spending some time in Athens, then the route from Piraeus to Santorini is the way to go. The port of Piraeus is easily accessible by bus, metro, taxi or car. Either way, make sure to arrive as early as possible, since the port gets quite busy, especially in summer.

The ferry trip from Piraeus to Santorini lasts from around 5 to 11.5 hours and the ticket price starts at €39. The final price of the ferry may vary depending on available offers, seat type and whether you’re traveling with your vehicle or not.

The ferry from Rafina to Santorini is the best option if you’re traveling straight from Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos.

You can find more information on the ferries from Athens to Santorini in our relevant blog post.

Flight from Athens to Santorini

You can also get to Santorini from Athens by plane. It surely is convenient, as the connections are quite frequent, especially in high season. However, you need to pre-book your ticket well in advance, as the island gets quite busy starting in June.

How to get to Santorini from Mykonos?

What if you’re already on the island of Mykonos and dreaming of Santorini’s magical sunsets? Well, no problem there either. Traveling to Santorini from Mykonos is smooth sailing! You can get to Santorini by ferry in about 2-3.5 hours with high-speed ferries and about 9 hours with conventional ferries, with any of the approximately 7-9 daily crossings available.

Ferry tickets for this route cost around €50-90. Ferry connections between the two islands are operated by 4 companies: Seajets, Golden Star Ferries, Fast Ferries, and Saos Ferries.

Reminder: there are no direct flights from Mykonos to Santorini. Indirect flights that connect the two islands vary in travel time, while plane tickets tend to be a bit pricey.

Beautiful sandy beach with amenities in Santorini

How to get to Santorini from Crete?

The best way to travel to Santorini from Crete is by ferry, as there are no direct flights between the two islands. The ferry from Heraklion to Santorini arrives in about 2-3 hours, depending on the type of vessel you’ve chosen (high-speed or conventional). Ferries to Santorini also depart from Rethymno and Sitia.

In summer, there are usually up to 4 daily ferry crossings from Crete to Santorini, operated by 3 companies: Blue Star Ferries, Seajets and Fast Ferries. A standard ferry ticket usually ranges from around €16 to €93.

How to get from Milos to Santorini?

The easiest way to go to Santorini from Milos is by ferry. There is at least 1 daily ferry crossing to Santorini that departs from Adamantas, the main port of Milos. The ferry trip duration ranges between 2 hours and 5 hours. The price of a standard ticket starts at €16 for conventional ferries and at about €94 for high-speed ferries.

The ferry companies that usually serve this connection are Seajets and Zante Ferries.

Reminder: there are no direct flights connecting the two islands. If you wish to travel to Santorini from Milos by plane, you need to check all available options for the most convenient travel time and best price.

Getting to Santorini from other islands

What if you’re already on vacation on another Greek island and want to visit Santorini? Well, where there’s a will, there’s a way, and the way in our case is called island hopping. Santorini is connected by ferry to numerous islands and it’s part of one of the most popular Greek island-hopping tours.

Paros, Ios, Amorgos, and Naxos are all gorgeous islands near Santorini, with frequent ferry crossings to the port of Athinios.

• Paros to Santorini by ferry: in summer, there are usually up to 11 daily ferry crossings from Paros to Santorini. The trip lasts from approximately 1 hour 20 minutes to 4 hours 40 minutes and the ferry ticket cost starts at €32.50.
• Ios - Santorini ferry: in high season, there are 8 daily ferries from Ios to Santorini. The ferry trip lasts from 35 minutes to almost 4 hours, depending on the vessel and ferry company, and the ferry ticket cost starts at €6.60.
• Ferry from Amorgos to Santorini: this route is seasonal and there are up to 2 daily ferry crossings that last from 1 hour 15 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes. The price of the ticket ranges from €11.50 to €77.70, depending on the ferry operator.
• Ferry to Santorini from Naxos: usually, there are up to 9 daily ferry crossings from Naxos to Santorini in summer. The ferry trip lasts from about 1 hour 15 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes and the tickets start at €31.

Tip: you can view all available ferry connections to Santorini on our Map of Ferries and book the island-hopping journey that fits your needs!

Enjoy a delicious meal at a seaside taverna in Santorini

Traveling to Santorini from abroad

So, how do you get to Santorini from abroad? The easiest way is, of course, by plane. There are numerous direct flights to Santorini from Europe (the UK, Italy, Spain, France, for example) that are usually available from May to October.

Countries outside Europe, such as the USA, Canada and Australia are not connected through direct flights. However, you can reach the capital of Greece, Athens, and then travel by plane or ferry to Santorini.

Book ferry tickets to Santorini

So, now that you have all the information you need on how to get to Santorini, booking your ferry tickets is just a few clicks away. On Ferryhopper, you can find all the updated ferry schedules, compare ferry companies and prices, and book ferry tickets online with no hidden fees.