Are you in Athens and want to take the ferry to the Greek islands? Piraeus, Rafina or Lavrio: which port to choose? How do I get there? Here’s all our advice.
1- The port of Piraeus
Piraeus is the main port of Athens. It is easily accessible by metro, suburban train or bus. But it can be a little daunting when it comes to accessing the boats. Find out more in our article How to get to Piraeus
To find your way around, first look on your ferry or boat tickets for the embarkation pier number (they are numbered E1 to E12). The quays stretch for over two kilometers.
We strongly recommend that you to arrive early to be sure of finding the boat that will take you to your island (first check the company that operates the crossing, then look for the name of your boat on your ticket).
Here’s a tip: at the Athens Tourist Office or directly at the port of Piraeus, you’ll find maps to help you find your way around.
If you want to buy or collect your boat/ferry tickets, agencies are located near the Piraeus metro station and on the embarkation platforms.
For further information, here’s the port’s telephone number: +30 210 455 00 00 or +30 210 455 01 00. Website OLP- Piraeus Port Authority
Finally, if you spend the night in Piraeus, take the opportunity to dine at one of the seafront restaurants in Mikrolimano . And if you need a hotel in Piraeus, here are our recommendations in our article: Finding a hotel in Piraeus, our best-of. You can also find a wide range of accommodation in Piraeus on the Booking.
How to get to the port of Piraeus?
Suburban train: direct line to the airport
A direct line links Athens airport to the port of Piraeus via the Proastiakos suburban train. Allow around an hour for the journey. If you’re at the airport, this is the quickest and most convenient solution. Tickets cost €9. Trains run every hour from 6am to 10pm. Information on Trainose.gr
By metro from central Athens
At Monastiraki, take line 1 (green) to its terminus (Piraeus stop). Or from Monastiraki or Syntagma, take line 3 (blue) to Piraeus.
The metro runs every day from 5am to midnight (2am on Friday and Saturday nights).
It’s about 20-30 minutes by metro from the center of Athens to the Piraeus stop. Frequency: a metro approximately every 10 minutes. More info Line 1 – Line 3
Then, once you’ve arrived in Piraeus, you’ll have to walk to your quay. Beware, in some cases you’ll need to walk for quite a long time, sometimes around 15 minutes. So avoid arriving at the last minute.
By bus
- from Athens airport take the X96 bus (a yellow and blue bus, departing from the arrivals area – journey time approx. 1h – 1h30, depending on traffic jams).
- If you’re in downtown AthensTake bus 40 from Syntagma Square or bus 49 from Omonia Square to the “Harbour” stop. This has no advantage over the metro, which is faster and not dependent on the vagaries of traffic. Except for the fact that line 40 operates 24 hours a day.
By car
You can easily find the port of Piraeus by following the signs or using your GPS. Allow at least 20 minutes’ drive from downtown Athens, 45 minutes from the airport, much longer at certain times depending on traffic.
If you don’t want to take your car on the boat, you can park close to the port. There are several parking lots opposite the pier, including a covered parking lot. But be aware that they are rather expensive.
Find out more about driving in Athens here. And if you want to rent a car for your stay in Athens, go here.
By cab
The advantage is that your driver will drop you off directly in front of your boarding platform. Travel time depends on traffic.
- From Athens airport about 45 minutes. Rates are approximately €58 during the day and €71 at night.
- From downtown: At least a 20-minute drive, but this can double or even triple at peak times. As for prices, expect to pay around 27 euros during the day, and don’t hesitate to ask for the fare before getting into the vehicle.
Personally, for greater comfort and simplicity, we always book our cab to the port of Piraeus with Welcome PickUps. It is reliable and offers quality service. Online booking is very easy. A fixed fare means no negotiation with the driver, and no price hikes when traffic is heavy.
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2- The port of Rafina
The port of Rafina to the east of Athens, about thirty kilometers from the city center. It has many advantages: often less expensive, it is above all smaller and therefore simpler than Piraeus. Above all, it is ideal if you’re coming directly from Athens airport as it’s much closer than the port of Piraeus (only 15 km or so).
The port of Rafina only serves certain Cycladic islands (Evia, Andros, Ios, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Santorini and Tinos).
The shipping companies’ offices are lined up next to each other on the port.
Harbour office number: +30 229 402 23 00 or +30 229 402 88 88.
How do I get to the port of Rafina?
- From Athens airport : you can take a shuttle bus directly from the airport (on the arrivals level, opposite the Sofitel hotel). The port of Rafina can be reached in 45 minutes. You can also take the KTEL bus. Cost about €4. By car or cab Allow 30 minutes for the journey (depending on traffic conditions). Cabs cost around 40 euros.
- From the center of Athens : the port of Rafina can be reached by a Ktel regional bus (orange and white bus) in 1 hour; departure from Nomismatokopio, outside the Metro station (line 3). KTEL timetable. By car or cab: about an hour’s drive (cost: around 50 euros, ask for the price before getting in the cab).
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3- The port of Lavrio
The port is located 60 kilometers southeast of Athens. It too is simpler than Piraeus.
Its advantage: it’s small, so it’s easy to find.
Its big drawback: it’s not well served by public transport, so it’s not easy to get to if you don’t have a car. It may be necessary to take a cab.
The port of Lavrio mainly serves the islands of Kea and Kythnos.
How to get to the port of Lavrio
- By bus : you’ll need to take a bus Ktel (orange and white regional bus) located outside Nomismatokopio metro station-line 3 (2-hour journey-KTEL info) or a bus from the airport, at the arrivals level in front of the Sofitel, with a change at Markopoulo (1-hour drive). Expect to pay around €5-6 per trip. Bus timetables
- By car or cab: From the airport it’s a 30-minute drive, and from central Athens a 1h-1h30 drive depending on traffic.
Spend the night in Lavrio
If you need to spend a night in Lavrio before catching the ferry, you’ll find several accommodations on Booking.
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4- Booking ferry tickets
There are several websites where you can easily book ferry tickets to the Greek islands. They are very practical, allowing you to pay online andprint tickets before departure. We particularly recommend the Ferry Hopper website. It references numerous companies and is easy to use. Above all, it charges no commission or additional fees. It’s the cheapest online ticketing service on the market.
Finally, for more practical information, see our article “How to book your ferry tickets to the Greek islands“.
Laure M.
