More time is always better, but yes, you could see a fair bit in one day. Any insight? We are very excited and Thanks in advance. There will be a ferry from Athens to Sifnos in November. 1. It obviously depends on when you arrive and depart on each day.
My question is are those air plane like seats in the later category and there are two such lounges, do you have any recommendation which one to opt for? I have a few questions as I want to plan this trip on my own and I absolutely detest Indian package tours. So were thinking Athens for 1 night and then to Santorini for 4 nights, then Paros for 3 nights, Mykonos for 3 nights, then home. Yes. ), Hi Dave, Were not big drinkers and I would say were pretty conservative with money. The fastest boat is the SeaJet that leaves at 7am and gets to Santorini at 11:50am. The most romantic island in Greece is Santorini, for sure. We are planning to visit Greece (Athens, Myconos and Santorini) during the 1st week of December. After Crete we want to go to Santorini for a few days. Do you know of a ferry option for Santorini to Piraeus that would leave early (7:00?) Would be happy seeing some historical sites, beautiful ocean, and spend some time with family. You should be the islands tourist bureau chief. Really found it helpful when looking at getting about in Santorini! I would be traveling next Tuesday. If you dont get a chance to book in advance youll be fine showing up at the port an hour before the ferry departs and buying a ticket. Yes, that early flight should work fine. I know its gonna be a little cold and quiet. I have 3 kids (16, 11, 10) and so if I need to consider that into the equation? You cant really go wrong with any of them. Were going to go in using the Blue Star ferry, but plan to take a flight out directly to Athens. I loved it. I do, however, manage to select the above under SeaJets. Any recommendations? Is it beach weather? So we plan to do the Fira-Oia trek, spend some time at Santo wines, Amoudi Bay, etc. 1. Stay the night at a cheap hotel.
And then pick them up from the airport? The Ryanair flight departing Athens for Santorini at 7am looks like the best option to me, as Im thinking 2 hours 30 should be enough time in between the flights to get our hold baggage, check in again and go through security. Im in. Not especially new. Weather in May is generally great for sightseeing and relaxing but can be a tossup for beach weather. Hi Dave, Were flying to Athens on Dec 16 at 7pm to Dec 24th at 7:55 am. Would we be able to see Santorini? Its much more comfortable/enjoyable/relaxing. I have 2 options: A good choice if youre prone to seasickness. Which one would you suggest to take? From Santorini ferry to Paros, ferry to Mykonos, and ferry back to Athens. Any advice on rain gear to carry? We are looking to book in advance as August is the peak season. Your blog is very detailed and I really have gotten so much information on planning my trip. Are there any convenient islands that you would recommend visiting from Santorini? Is that enough time for me to settle down to watch the amazing sunset? Thats what I would recommend getting as its nice having a reserved seat. We are planning to come to Santorini from Athens on April 1 for 1 night. It takes a little more effort but creates a much more memorable trip. Your website is very informative. I have been looking at Paros, Naxos, Folegandros, Serifos, Kos. Neither of us have ever flew to Athens before so not sure what the airport is like, how far away terminals are from each other, how many check in desks etc there are and what baggage collection carousels are like (some airports are notoriously slow Birmingham being one of them!). Are they newer to the scene? Or, assuming youre in Athens the night before, its easy to purchase at any travel agent in central Athens (theyre all over the place). Your info is much appreciated. I was hanging on every word and every tip you gave. The SeaJets Superjet ferry. Is it rough on the inside? I would recommend 2 nights in Athens, 3 in Mykonos, and 4 in Santorini. Last year I traveled with my girls in Europe. Are we able to check through our luggage from Aegean airlines domestic to a Qatar Airways international flight (from Santorini to Doha), thanks. My wife and I plan to visit Santorini in late April. If you did decide to fly the Athens Airport Sofitel is very nice, has a good restaurant, and is steps from the airport. How convenient are ferries to other islands (say IOS or Crete) from Santorini during December? There are morning ferries in April from Santorini to Athens that leave at 7am on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. This is a wonderful website. Great research, comments and pictures on every step you have to take. I feel comfortable and confident that our trip is going to be world class and all thanks to YOU. Youd be able to sleep in a little more (up at 6am instead of 4:30). 8.20 am/11.20am (Which is better?) Youll definitely find many flights and can pick and choose your flight times. The slowest (but often cheapest) ferry from Athens to Santorini. Would love to hear your thoughts on this! Definitely skip Mykonos as theres not much to do there outside of the summer season. Ideally, Id like to visit Athens, Santorini, and another island (maybe Crete?). Nomiki. You have it exactly right. Would appreciate for your reply. I have flown with them many times. Its one of the smaller Superjets (so could be a rough ride). Please give me any suggestion for great experience in Greece in Winter season. All ferries to and from Santorini use the Athinios Ferry Port. AT this moment my family travels to Santorini and I wanted to look it up. Is it better to fly via Athens? But the ferry from Milos to Santorini is 50/50 at best (though there will be an Athens to Santorini ferry). I have few questions. We are arriving in Greece on November 18 and plan on heading to Crete via plane when we arrive. We have a few queries . Take an early flight to Santorini and get the last flight back to Athens. But much better if you can stay even one night. Best seats: I recommend Business or VIP if available (nicer seats in a more relaxed setting) My husband and I are planning a trip to Greece the last 2 weeks of July. 2. You need to purchase the whole cabin to be together. There is only one flight at the moment, but hoping again that cheaper flights will come out at the beginning of the year. There should also be a ferry from Sifnos to Milos. The SeaJets Worldchampion Jet ferry. Athens and Santorini are 2 of the better destinations in December. Every airline is different and they even have different rates depending on where youre flying from. Tickets can purchased in Piraeus but its much better to buy ferry tickets in advance. Keep it up. The the L2/luxe cabins seem much more spacious/comfortable than the standard cabins, but they are only 2 berth. Sometimes if the two airlines are partners then luggage can be checked through to the destination. Do you know if Hellenic high speed ferries operate in mid May? I get extremely sea sick but Id love to travel by sea for the views. Not so much concerned about the mainland. Ferries leave on time so dont expect any cushion. I cant seem to find any information on if they check the tickets to allow access to certain decks/areas. We will be in Athens December 27 January 1, would a day trip to Santorini be possible? Is it cheaper to buy Ferry tickets online and in advance? I have purchased tickets from Athens to Santorini with high speed ferry. I would recommend booking directly with Blue Star then picking up from the kiosk at Piraeus (right beside the ferry leaving for Santorini). Yes, they will check tickets but that doesnt mean the child would be allowed to access the cabin. The Piraeus Ferry Port is 30-minutes by taxi or metro from central Athens. Are there any other problems this might cause that I might not be thinking about? Thanks in advance. Weve looked at the tours provided by the big firms like Insight, Trafalgar, and Globus, but each one uses the same cruise line for the visits to the island Celestyal. Plan to stay in Oia. Have a great trip. Thank you very much for the detail information! The ferry will take too long. With one or two rare exceptions it doesnt save money to book in advance. But facing issues as the reservation is not getting completed. If youre prone to seasickness choose a different ferry. There is a ferry (BLUE STAR 2) at 17:00 hours departing from Santorini. Is it OK in March or April? The worst for seasickness. Which fast boat will take us there. by Santorini Dave Updated: June 8, 2022. 2. Hi Dave, Thank you for your site! Will it be crowded? I am seeing a less expensive option for Sky Express. There are multiple flights per day from Athens to Santorini year-round. Greek Easter is different than Western Easter so not an issue for your trip. Since it is a long trip I thought it might be nice to book a cabin for our luggage and for our own restroom, etc. I was hoping to compare the time and price before booking. There are bank machines on all the islands so getting more cash is never a problem. (Flying in from Athens). Yes, theres a ferry every day to Santorini. I cant believe the detail you provided and the photos! A ferry would take all day (8 hours) where as plane is maybe 4 hours including security but more expensive. There are no guarantees but Id be fine with your 4 hour connection time in Athens. Some ferries will stop in Ios, Mykonos, Foledandros, Milos, Sifnos, and Serifos. So, I would focus on Athens and Santorini and save Mykonos to another visit. Looking for the box in the metro I was told how to do it. If youre traveling by ferry then you dont have to book your tickets in advance so you could check the weather forecast and go if it looks decent. The pictures of the seating types on the ferry is just what I was looking for. Is this a reliable airline? Theres no easy/quick way of stopping at Mykonos en route to or from Santorini. Do you know if a ferry runs to Santorini from Crete around the week of November 20th? Can you help? Is this an okay time to visit Greece in December? Cool and grey. And you would have access to all the public areas of the ferry (which is most of it) but I dont believe youd have access to the business lounge.
Thanks. Of course have good food too. Id plan on taking a taxi. Thank you so much for all the info. I have a recollection of flights during this time being quite cheap and abundant in January. We are then looking at flying from Santorini to Naples. Easy to book at a later date so dont worry about that. My husband and I will finally be taking our honeymoon to Santorini. Should we spend first few days in Athens then go to Santorini? Can you recommend any nice hotels near Athens airport? Our ship arrives at 6am, so Im trying to determine if we can make the 7:25am Blue Star ferry to Santorini. Thanks for your help and for this wonderful website! Its thrilled to bumped into your blog and got so much useful info for travelling in Athens & Santorini! If we book a cabin, do we get the whole cabin to ourselves or do we share it with others (as it has 4 beds)?. Hi, wonderful help your website is. Do the ferries operate on March 25, Independence Day? But it will cost you extra to book with Danae. But in general, do I have any insight into what prices will be in January, no. Just be sure to arrive in Piraeus 60 to 90 minutes prior to departure. It is SO DANG HELPFUL! Based on this time of year where would you suggest we spend our time? I went online to Blue Star Ferrys website and there doesnt appear to be a ferry that day (or perhaps their website has an error?)
Some ferries do have 2-berth cabins but the ones on the Santorini route I dont believe currently have these cabins. I tried searching one-way from Piraeus but Thira was not loaded in the to drop-down list. I really dont want to arrive in Piraeus at 11:15pm given we are only in Athens for 2 nights. Without knowing your budget I cant say. Ill be arriving Athens on March 25 and plan to do the blue star ferry to Santorini on March 26. Similarly for the open air theater. 
We are coming to Athens for 3 nights in September then over to Santorini for 3 nights. 1. You can see the route you need to take here. but arrive in the afternoon? Do you think this will leave enough time to collect our hold baggage, check in for our flight home to Birmingham and go through security etc again? 2. I might also mention I am looking far in advance to get acquainted with the website because my trip is planned for the week of the July 17, so right now the ferry times are not posted. If not, then youll need the email and a passport to pick up your tickets from the Kiosk at Piraeus. 3) Weather wise, I understand that the temperature will be in the low teens and windy. Be prepared for anything and definitely have a good thick rain coat. Taxis are less reliable but if there are some they will be easy to find. Its walkable but try to get a taxi which will be able to take you right up to the ferry. Ultimately wed ferry from Santorini to Paros and Paros to Athens. Your site is so informative,I would like to see Santorinis in its full swing with blue sky and blue water. I looked up sunset time and it will be around 19:00. I have a good travel agent, but she is using a wholesaler, Gate 1. I have a quick question about sea jet doing a morning round from Santorini to Rafina starting May 20, none of the travel agents are aware of this schedule. Anyway, I wanted to book ahead of time and now Im worried that there is not a ferry that day. We are hoping to spend 3 or 4 nights on Santorini. Which islands beside Santorini will be a highlight to visit them during that time? You, however, have saved me all this work and for that I really thank you. The end-result is that most hotels nowadays are good or better and the bad ones dont stay around long. Also, there are no ferries between Mykonos and Santorini so youd need to travel via Athens to get from one to the other. Or will Santorini will fullfill 90% of things we will see in the other islands? Were scheduled to leave Athens and return to Birmingham at 8pm local time. Flights are a little more expensive than Id like to spend now for October, Athens to Santorini and back. Really appreciate your advice!
A good choice if youre prone to seasickness. There can be a big difference between early May (generally sunny but still some rain and cool days) and late May (rain is less common, can be quite warm). Were going to Greece this December and I almost cancelled my trip since I kept reading negative comments about going to Greece in Dec BUT, I feel so much better now after reading your comments. Book through Seajets.gr. Hi Dave, Acknowledging that well be exhausted and good for a nice dinner out and early to bed, Im thinking that we could stay the night in close proximity to the Airport to catch a relatively early departure to Santorini. BUT .. of course there were few bumps like not validating my metro tickets on the platform. However the only options are the Blue Star 2 leaving at 6:10am which heads straight to Piraeus arriving 11:15am, or the Blue Star Delos leaving at 3:30pm and arriving Piraeus at 11:15pm.
Myself I put the trip which was great success. Or perhaps simplifying it and just staying in Santorini only for 5 nights. Then take the Blue Star ferry the following morning at 7:25am from Piraeus. The only direct flight I see from Rome to Santorini on the day we need leaves Rome @ 23:40 and arrives the next morning @ 02:50. My wife and I are in the early stages of planning a visit to the Greek Islands when it gets warmer. Thank you in advance for your advice. Can we book in other portals like greekferries.gr? She wants to see Santorini in its proper glory with all the vibrant colors. Thank you so much for the all the information you provided in this forum. We havent decided for how many days yet. Hotels are ultra-aware of online forums and reviews and bend over backwards to keep guests happy. You can try another website but if the main Blue Star site is not working I have a hard time seeing how adding a middle man is going to help. Also, which Hotels/B&B should I choose for a reasonable price? Chloe. 1. Your site is very helpful! I am going to be traveling from Athens to Santorini on September 26th. Is there any other way I can confirm or find the ferry schedule? Then use Booking.com to find hotels with a rating of 8.0 or better. But Aegean and Qatar airlines are not partners so I doubt it. We are thinking to book in advance the Blue Ferry when leaving for Santorini on 22th but leaving for Athens by the Hellenic Seaways on 25th, Monday. If the e-ticket has a bar code its good for boarding the ferry. Should we just stay in Athens and Santorini since were going in December? About a 1 minute walk from the terminal. Irene. Does that sound like a good plan? Do you have a better itinerary idea or any suggestions. Also, the ferry will get you to Paros at 11:30 when your hotel room will likely be ready. Your site is great! Any other place will be very quiet and hard to get to and from. There should be taxis waiting at your cruise port but the first ones will get snapped up quickly so try to be the first off your ship. Good restaurants, nice rooms, great little pool, gym, sauna. 3. But there are no ferries between Santorini and Crete in November so youd need to fly via Athens to get between the two islands. Santorini is a 4.5 to 6-hour ferry ride from Athens by the fastest highspeed ferries and catamarans, and 7 to 9 hours (or more) by the slower car ferries and overnight ferries. Thanks Jenny. Anu. We are trying to book Blue Star ferry from Athens to Mykonos via their website. No big difference, but if you do Santorini then Athens youll have a built in buffer (so as not to miss your flight) in case ferries or flights from the islands are delayed or canceled. My wife and I will be visiting Santorini in the last week of January. The port is 20-minutes by bus or taxi from Fira (Santorinis largest town). Naxos and Paros on the other hand have direct ferry service with Athens and Santorini making island hopping easy, even in December. Is that comfortable for some shuteye? We will be in Athens for the marathon in November and we were considering traveling to Milos, Sifnos, and Santorini. Im travelling from Santorini to Athens on 29th July by Blue Star Ferry and was checking their website. Really helpful. The only disadvantage is that there are no ferries from Santorini to Crete in the off season so youd have to return to Athens then go to Crete. Personally, I would go into Athens, enjoy an evening meal in the Plaka and stay at a hotel that is close to the Monistiraki metro station (e.g. Will more flights from Rome to Santorini become available in the spring or is that typical? Also, can i get ferry back to Athens from Santorini in the morning around 7? Because our flight into Athens arrives late afternoon May 21st, and 45 minutes is probably not enough time to make a turn around to catch the 5:15 to Santorini, were looking at alternate options. Greece Athens Athens (Piraeus) to Santorini Hi Dave! Though it seems tempting to do a cruise/tour I highly recommend planning and traveling on your own. Is that a good idea? Ferries to Santorini depart from Gates E6, E7, and E8 (center of photo) which are directly across the street from the metro station. This is an awesome blog David! We will be traveling in Italy end of May-beginning of June and are planning to spend our last few days of the trip relaxing in Santorini. Good luck. Given that we are staying in Santorini for one night only, we would also like to visit Mykonos for a few hours. But you have lots of time its not going to sell out in May. Help! Or rather, Id feel fine making those plans. We are going to take the bluestar ferry. Thanks so much loving your site. Just found your site and it is so helpful. My Husband and I are planning to travel from 31st January to 6th February. We will be travelling to Greece, first time for us, on August 11. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. around 7.20am? There are no guarantees but 2 hours 15 minutes should be plenty of time. First decide where you want to stay: Mykonos Town or one of the beaches on Mykonos; Oia, Imerovigli, or Fira on Santorini; Chania, Rethymnon, or Agios Nikolaos on Crete. Dave! Kos is definitely a no as its a long way from Santorini and few direct ferries. Hi Dave, Hi Dave, Such amazing work you are doing. Hi there, thanks so much for your very helpful website! Thank you so much. I was hoping you could tell me if the water is very choppy at that time of year? (I cant say for sure on that last point. So I was thinking about booking all my Ferry tickets through Danae Travels and collecting it from the airport when I land in Athens. Your reply is most appreciated. The problem is that the ship arrives in Santorini about 1600 and leaves after sunset.
While booking the seat they are showing Economy and AIR SEATS LOUNGE-1. Most ferries from Athens to Santorini also stop in Naxos and Paros en route. On May 24 it will depart Santorini at 9am and get to Rafina at 15:45. Getting to the airport that early could be a problem (and winter bus schedules are very thin). We definitely want to go to Santorini and are thinking of adding Paros and Mykonos. So, do you think it is a good idea? With such limited time dont waste any more of it on a ferry than you have to. My family and I are heading to Greece and Italy in June. We land in Athens on September 18 at 12:25pm. I want to come to Greece, but Im overwhelmed. But the Vueling one is so cheap, Id be tempted to book it as an insurance policy if you do start booking hotel rooms but dont want to commit to the Athens flight. Since youre arriving late at night there wont be any ferries so youll have to wait until the next morning to get something and you wont be to an island until the early afternoon at the earliest so I would consider looking for a flight from Athens to Santorini for the night of your arrival. The SeaJets Champion Jet 2 ferry. Its just over a mile. The sea in September is about as calm as it gets but thats no guarantee for what it will do. I think I want to visit Athens briefly, then go to Mykonos, Santorini and possibly Crete. I was thinking 3 nights each and the last night near the hotel but Im up for any suggestions. Hi Dave, Neither of us has been to Greece. 
With that in mind, Naxos is probably the best 2nd island. Not really. Should I book ferry tickets in advance? Picking the ferry tickets up from the airport will be a few euro more than booking or buying through the actual ferry companies. If you only have 3 or 4 then spend all of them on Santorini. 3. If you want faster than that then youll have to fly. Is it possible? Since Hellenic is owned by Blue Star this will often be listed as the Blue Star Ariadne. Would you like to ask what is the best romantic Island to visit for 3 night? Aegean has a 5:15am flight that arrives in Santorini at 6am. The Zante and the Blue Star are the only ferries next Tuesday and the both get to Piraeus late. Is that correct? We are travelling to Greece in August. We are planning to book the A2 outside cabin so that we can catch some sleep. Serifos might be a little harder to get to depending on the schedule. I have a couple of logistics that Im trying to work out and hoping you can help. I would fly Athens to Santorini to start your trip (youre already at the airport) and save yourself the time going into Athens and then back to the airport the next morning. It seems to be the low season and not much transportation available when compared to the summer months. Take a small bag with just a few necessary items. The Blue Star Patmos ferry. Yes, the Air Seats Lounge are big comfortable seats, somewhat like airplane seats but bigger. I just want to be sure before I book cause Ive heard the baggage charges are very heavy. Hi Dave we will be visiting Santorini in mid October, and arriving in Piraeus on a cruise ship in Terminal A, which appears to be E11 according to the maps. My intention was to travel Blue Star for the advantages you outline above (cheapest, most unaffected by weather, most fun). How to buy ferry tickets: Ferryhopper.com A good choice if youre prone to seasickness. Knowing that March 25 is the Greek Independence Day and it is followed by the Easter holidays, Im wondering if there will be a lot of people taking the ferry during such vacation? Your site is amazing with a wealth of practical info. Mykonos, less so, as it really shuts down in the off season. Appreciate any light you can throw on the above queries. I would book flights as soon as possible as they tend to go up, not down. 
I do not see this port on the Blue Star website. I was wondering if it runs and how do I go about booking it? Its hard to give advice for an indeterminate number of days. If its got a good rating the chance of getting a bad hotel are almost zero. Im planning on going to Greece next September for 10 days any suggestions on how many nights I do in Athens and Santorini and Mykonos? Crete, Naxos, and Paros are also good. Im hoping you may be able to give some advice on the airport Me and my partner are flying overnight from Birmingham (UK) to Athens on Saturday 23rd July and arrive at 4:30am local time. No. Otherwise you have to ticket separately (each on an individual line on the booking app) and youll be in (separate) male and female cabins. Our total trip looks like this: Arrive Athens at 4:30 pm on May 21st, depart Athens on the 28th via 6:00 AM flight (yuck!). Thank you for this website. You should easily be to Oia by 18:00. Here are the best hotels in Santorini. What are the hotels in Santorini that offer a good sea view? In December ferries are less common than in summer but there is always a daily ferry to Naxos, Paros, and Athens (and often Ios). Paros, Naxos, Felegandros, and Serifos are all wonderful islands. I would guess that there will be more Rome-Santorini flights added but there are no guarantees especially for any specific day. Do you think there will be a problem taking the public transport from Fira to the airport considering I need to be in the Santorini airport about an hour before the flight (right?) Santorini Dave first and foremost congratulation on the best traveling report I have ever seen. Is it better to look at flights from Rome to Athens and then fly from Athens to Santorini? Now we just need to sort all this out. The greatest informative site by far. Thanks for the great info! In high season (May to October) there will be 4 to 7 ferries per day from Athens. Which is the best month for such climate? Both leave between 7am and 8am from Piraeus. I wanted to book it for May 24 as I have to catch a flight out of Athens at 8. Do you think this gives us enough time? Mykonos not so interesting outside of summer months. Athens and Santorini can be great in early December. Hi Dave, Such an awesome website!! You could try emailing Blue Star at [emailprotected]. What a fabulous website. Were pretty chill people. 2) Given that January is off-season, I am told that the volcano & hot springs tour and other such tours will not be operational. The Zanteferries Dionisios Solomosis ferry. Are there any fast hydrofoils the period we are going? Possible?
Thanks, Aubrey. The flight will get you there before 7am and youll probably be sitting at a cafe in Parikia with your bags at your feet waiting for 2 or 3 hours. Most flights via Athens reach Heraklion only around noon at the earliest, so half the day will be lost. Im planning to visit Greece from November 28 to December 4 this year. Chitradip Saha. Visit Athens at the end this has the added benefit of giving you some buffer time at the end of your trip in case there are ferry cancellations. Dave, There should be a Highspeed4 and Cat4 from Piraeus to Santorini throughout May. Can you tell wether I can board with the online tickets or do I have to go and collect the tickets from the ticket office? And yes there will be a bus from Rafina to the airport. Any information would greatly be appreciated. Does it rain a lot? We are visiting at the end of December. Youll have more than enough things to see and do to fill your time in Santorini. Seajets duration about 3 hours or Blue star duration 5.5 hours. I was wondering if you know. My plan is to buy the tickets at the airport without prior booking. I was planning to see Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini. Any advice on trip planning? Apart from Santorini and Athens, which places can we see during this span? How much Euro we should bring for 4 people if we book our hotels from here? Do you know approximately how far it is or how long it takes to get from E11 to E6 at the port? 3. We are in an early planning stage and are getting good price on flight (Ryan and Aegean). 