Rafina, Piraeus or Lavrion? Which Athens Ferry Port to Use

Many visitors assume every ferry leaves from Piraeus. In fact Athens has three passenger ports, and picking the right one can save you an hour on the road or a missed boat. Here is how we explain it to our guests.

Piraeus: the biggest choice

Piraeus is Greece’s main port, with ferries to almost everywhere: the Cyclades (Syros, Paros, Naxos, Mykonos, Tinos, Ios, Santorini), Crete (Heraklion and Chania), the Dodecanese (Rhodes, Kos), the Saronic islands (Aegina, Poros, Hydra, Spetses) and the eastern Aegean (Chios, Lesvos, Ikaria, Samos). It has the most sailings and the best back-up options if a boat is cancelled.

One thing to know: Piraeus is huge. Ferries leave from numbered gates (E1 to E10) spread over several kilometres, and walking from one end to the other can take 30 to 45 minutes. Gate assignments change, so check your ticket or the ferry company’s app the evening before, and give your driver the gate number so you are dropped right at your ship. See our Piraeus port taxi prices.

Rafina: the shortcut to Mykonos, Tinos and Andros

Rafina is a small, friendly port on the east coast, about 16 km from Athens airport, a drive of roughly 25 to 30 minutes. It is the strongest choice for Andros, Tinos and Mykonos, with seasonal sailings on to Paros, Naxos, Ios and Santorini. Crossings to Mykonos are often shorter than from Piraeus, which is why many travellers fly in and head straight to Rafina.

The catch: Rafina has no metro, and in strong summer winds (the meltemi) its fast ferries are usually the first to be cancelled.

Lavrion: for Kea and Kythnos

Lavrion lies near Cape Sounion, about 35 km from the airport. It is the main gateway to Kea (about an hour’s crossing) and Kythnos, with some sailings to other islands depending on the season. Choose Lavrion because it has the ferry you need, not because it looks close on the map.

How to choose, in one minute

• Going to Mykonos, Tinos or Andros straight from the airport? Look at Rafina first.
• Going to Crete, Rhodes, Santorini, the Saronic islands or the eastern Aegean? Piraeus.
• Going to Kea or Kythnos? Lavrion.
• Staying in central Athens first? Piraeus is usually the easiest.

Leave enough time

After an international flight, allow at least 4 hours between landing and a ferry from Rafina, and at least 5 hours for Piraeus or Lavrion. Flights run late, luggage takes time, and ferries do not wait.

Getting to the port without stress

We drive guests to all three ports every day, from the airport, your hotel or your Airbnb. Prices are fixed and per car, with luggage, VAT and tolls included: from Athens airport it is €85 to Rafina or Lavrion and €95 to Piraeus for 1 to 3 people, with minivans and minibuses for bigger groups. See all Rafina and Lavrion port taxi details or ask us for a quote.