Traveling from Athens to Santorini was one of the parts of our Greece trip that I spent the most time researching beforehand, and even longer deciding on how to go about it. Once we officially decided Santorini was happening, figuring out the best way to actually get there suddenly became very real very fast. If you’ve started looking into it already (clearly you have if you’re here) than you’ve probably realized there are way more options, ferry companies, ports, and logistics involved than people make it seem online as they’re casually cruising the Greek Islands.
For us, getting to Santorini felt like the true start of the trip. After years of dreaming about those iconic cliffside views and cave hotels, finally making our way there from Athens felt like the official start to the itinerary vs. just arriving at the airport in Athens. We ended up flying directly from Athens to Santorini after landing internationally, and honestly, I’m very happy we did it that way.
Something that surprised me while planning was how different the experience can feel depending on which transportation option you choose. Some people want the fastest and easiest route possible (hello, me!) while others really want the scenic ferry experience across the Aegean Sea. Budget also becomes a factor, especially during the busy summer months when ticket prices for both flights and ferries can jump a lot.
After figuring out this route ourselves, I wanted to put together this guide that actually explains the differences between the transportation options, what I personally think is the most worth it, and what I’d recommend depending on the kind of Greece trip you’re planning.
How to Get from Athens to Santorini
One thing I didn’t fully realize before planning our trip is that getting from Athens to Santorini isn’t quite as simple as hopping on a quick train or drive like the rest of my past Europe trips. Since Santorini is an island in the southern Aegean Sea, you’ll either need to fly or take a ferry to get there. For most travelers, that means choosing between flying out of Athens International Airport or taking a ferry from either the Port of Piraeus or Rafina Port. And honestly, these options feel very different from each other once you really start comparing travel times and logistics.
Flights are definitely the fastest and easiest option, especially if you’re short on time or arriving in Athens after a long international flight like we were. Ferries, on the other hand, feel much more scenic and are a huge part of the whole Greece island hopping experience for a lot of people.
Something I also didn’t account for me while planning our trip was how quickly availability changes depending on the season. We initially were looking at flights a few months out, and before you know it we were a few weeks out and our options were a lot more limited so definitely plan ahead.
How Far Is Santorini From Athens
Santorini is located about 185 miles southeast of Athens in the Aegean Sea. While it doesn’t look extremely far on a map, the journey actually takes longer than you would initially expect depending on the transportation route and season. Now while the number of miles is great to know, I’m from the midwest and we usually talk distance in time: You’re looking at about a 45 minute flight from Athens to Santorini, and a range of 5-9 hour ferry ride depending on which one you take.
Are Athens And Santorini In The Same Time Zone
Yes, Athens and Santorini are in the same time zone. This definitely made planning our transportation a lot easier because there’s no time difference to think about when booking flights, ferries, tours or hotel check-in times. It sounds simple but when you’re coordinating a multi-stop Greece itinerary (especially if you’re island hopping between several islands like we were!) not having to do the math for time zones makes the whole process easier.
How To Go From Athens To Santorini
There are two main ways to travel from Athens to Santorini: by plane or by ferry. Both options have pros and cons (and I’ll let you know my strong opinion on them after traveling there myself!) depending on your budget, schedule, and overall travel style.
Fly From Athens to Santorini
When planning my Greece trip, I went back and forth a lot on whether we should fly or take the ferry from Athens to Santorini. After actually doing the trip myself though, I can confidently say I’m happy we chose to fly.
By happy, I mean very happy because by the time we landed in Athens after our long travel day and overnight flight from the US, I was the most exhausted I think I’ve ever been in my whole life (unfortuately I just can not seem to sleep on planes). The idea of immediately hauling luggage to a ferry port and then onto a several-hour ferry ride sounded absolutely terrible to me at that point. Taking a quick 45 minutes flight to Santorini instead just made the entire day feel so much more manageable. Looking back, I would make the exact same decision again without hesitation.
One thing I think people underestimate when planning Greece is how much time ferry logistics can add. Athens International Airport is already outside the city center, and getting all the way to Piraeus Port can easily take another hour depending on the traffic. Since we were already going to be at the airport anyway and our first stop on the itinerary was Santorini, flying directly to Santorini just made the most sense. Side note: I also really liked starting the trip in Santorini first. After dreaming about those cliffside views for years, it felt so exciting to officially kick off the trip there.
We flew with Aegean Airlines (one of the main domestic airlines in Greece) and overall had a really good experience! One thing I highly recommend though is booking your domestic Greece flights as early as possible. We originally waited because we hadn’t fully finalized our itinerary yet, and the prices basically doubled by the time we went back to book them about a month later. Don’t be like us in this case.
We also booked our Greece domestic flights separately from our international flights, which definitely added a little stress because we had to carefully time everything ourselves. Since we were flying from New York, I intentionally booked a later Santorini flight just in case of delays. Luckily, there were no delays and once we landed in Athens we checked with the Aegean desk and they were actually able to move us onto an earlier flight. It never hurts to ask, and it definitely never hurts to travel during shoulder season (early October in our case!) Honestly, I would not count on that happening during peak summer months.
One thing I’d definitely recommend is giving yourself extra time if you’re connecting through Athens after an international flight. Passport control, baggage claim, delays, and rechecking luggage can a little while. The Greek island flights also board pretty quickly, and in Santorini, you’ll likely board directly from the tarmac using buses rather than traditional jet bridges, which felt very “European vacation” to me in the best way.
Also, yes, the Santorini Airport is tiny and can get chaotic during busy season, but overall I still think flying is the easiest and most efficient way to get there, especially if Santorini island is your first stop in Greece.
Photos from our flight with Aegean Airlines from Athens to Santorini.
Take A Ferry From Athens to Santorini
Taking a ferry is probably the most classic Greece travel experience, and honestly, it really does feel like part of the whole Greek island adventure! While flying was personally my preferred option for getting to Santorini, I did take ferries between islands and then back to Athens later in the trip, and I genuinely enjoyed the experience. Would I still choose flying first if possible? Absolutely. Mostly because I wanted to maximize my time on the island and minimize travel exhaustion after our overnight international flight. But if ferry travel is part of your itinerary, or even your only option, I would still 100% do it.
Most ferries to Santorini leave from the Port of Piraeus, which is the main ferry port in Athens, though some routes also depart from Rafina Port. If you’re spending time in Athens before heading to the islands, taking a ferry can actually fit in really naturally with your itinerary. One thing I quickly realized is that the type of ferry you book makes a huge difference in both travel time and overall experience. A high speed ferry usually takes around 5–6 hours, while more traditional ferries can take much longer depending on the route and how many island stops are included.
We used Seajets during our Greece trip and booked everything through Ferryhopper, which honestly made the process super easy. The ferries themselves were much nicer and more modern than I expected, with indoor seating areas, concessions, and plenty of space to move around. I even walked up to the top to get some fresh air and enjoy the views at one point.
Our Seajets high-speed ferry.
I know people online love warning about rough ferry rides, but if I’m being honest I personally didn’t think the high-speed ferries felt bad at all inside the cabin, and I have been seasick before. Of course weather can always affect that, but our experiences were all very smooth overall.
I would highly recommend though is booking your tickets ahead of time, even during shoulder season. The best departure times can sell out quickly, especially if you’re trying to coordinate multiple islands and hotel check outs/check ins.
Enjoying our ferry ride between islands.
The boarding process itself is kind of chaotic in the most “everyone is going on vacation” way possible. These ferries are massive and carry hundreds of people at once, so once the ferry arrives, everyone starts moving very quickly. I always tried to get near the front of the boarding crowd so we could secure luggage space more easily, because that all definitely filled up fast. Most larger suitcases get stored on racks near the entrance of the ferry, while you bring your smaller bags and backpacks up into the seating cabin with you. We always lock our luggage and kept valuables in our backpacks just for peace of mind. Also, rememebr exactly where you put your luggage because deboarding is fast and we couldn’t find our bags at one point which had us mildly panicking.
Once onboard though, it’s honestly pretty relaxing. Watching the islands come into view from the ferry ended up being one of those experiences that just felt very “Greece” to me.
It’s super simple to book ferry rides in Greece, I purchased our tickets through ferryhopper.com. Some of the main ferry companies operating this route include:
- Seajets (who we booked with!)
- Blue Star Ferries
- Fast Ferries
- Golden Star ferries
The boarding process for ferry rides between islands.
Can You Do A Day Trip From Athens To Santorini
Technically, yes, you can do a day trip from Athens to Santorini, but honestly, I really wouldn’t recommend it unless you absolutely have no other option. The biggest reason is that you just won’t experience Santorini at its best. In my opinion, the absolute best parts of Santorini are the slower mornings and evenings, not the packed middle-of-the-day hours when cruise crowds are everywhere (aka the day trippers).
Because Santorini is an island, getting there still takes a decent amount of travel time even if you fly. Between airport transfers, boarding, transportation once you land, and getting back at the end of the day, you end up spending a huge portion of your trip in transit.
If I had to attempt a Santorini day trip, I would definitely fly, book the first flight out of Athens and the latest flight back, and avoid doing it during peak summer season if possible. I’d also have private transportation arranged ahead of time so you can maximize your actual time on the island instead of wasting it figuring out logistics.
Personally, I would head straight to Oia, spend time around the blue domes and caldera viewpoints, and make a lunch or early dinner reservation in Ammoudi Bay. But even then, I still don’t think you’d fully get the Santorini experience.
Some of my favorite memories from the island were wandering Oia early in the morning before anyone else was awake, relaxing at our hotel pool overlooking the caldera in the afternoon, and staying out later once things became quieter again after sunset. Those slower moments are honestly what made the trip feel so special to me. If possible, I’d personally recommend spending at least 3 to 4 nights in Santorini instead. I really think that’s when the island starts to feel magical instead of rushed.
That said, I know everyone travels differently, and some people genuinely love fast-paced itineraries just to see the highlights. But for me personally, Santorini is definitely somewhere I’d slow down for.
Related: How Many Days in Santorini: The Ideal Amount of Time to Stay
Some of my favorite shots taken in Oia during our trip.
Getting from Athens to Santorini ended up being one of the parts of our Greece trip that I spent a lot of time planning, and now after actually doing it, I completely understand why. Between flights, ferries, ports, schedules, and trying to coordinate everything with hotels and island hopping, there are definitely more logistics involved than the dreamy Instagram photos make it seem.
Looking back though, I’m so happy with how we structured our trip. Flying straight to Santorini after landing in Athens was absolutely the right move for us. After such a long overnight travel day, finally arriving on the island and seeing those unreal cliffside views in person felt like the official start of the trip.
No matter which transportation option you choose, I really think the biggest key is giving yourself enough time to actually enjoy Santorini once you get there. Some of my favorite memories from the entire trip weren’t even the huge “must-do” moments. They were the slower ones, wandering Oia early in the morning before the crowds, taking ferries between islands with ocean views all around us, long sunset dinners overlooking the caldera, and afternoons spent relaxing by the pool after busy mornings exploring.
Santorini really is one of those places that feels as magical as people say, you just have to experience it beyond the middle-of-the-day crowds to fully appreciate it. If you’re planning your own Greece trip, I also put together my full Santorini travel guide with hotel recommendations, restaurants, itinerary tips, and everything I wish I knew before visiting. You can also follow along with my travels on Instagram @sierrainthecity. Happy trip planning!
