A vacation in Greece isn’t complete without a visit to at least one of its famed islands. Full of world destinations, the Greek islands are famous for gorgeous beaches, stunning sunsets, and world-class nightlife. Ever fantasized about a stunning sunset in Santorini, or a night out in Mykonos? What if I told you there’s actually over 6,000 islands full of unique experiences for you to choose from.

When it comes to planning your Greek getaway, how do you know the best way to travel? Here are the two best ways to visit the Greek islands!

By Plane

Cons:

Less eco-friendly

Not all islands have airports

Airports can be outside of the main areas

Pros:

Shorter travel time

Can be the cheaper option

Temperature controlled environment

If you plan to visit a bigger island like Crete or Santorini, and you want to cut back on that travel time so you can enjoy more of your trip, then flying will be your best option. Normally flights are more expensive than ferries, but depending on your route there are specific times and islands where flying is actually the economic choice. Islands like Santorini, Crete, and Mykonos all have airports, and for Crete especially flying saves you about 10 hours of travel. However, most islands are built around their ports, so the city centers will be much closer to the arrival ports than the airports, which will usually need to be placed outside of the main tourist attractions. However, flying offers you a gorgeous view of the Mediterranean Sea that you just can’t get from a ferry, and you can physically see the other islands. Pilots will often point out to you the major islands you pass during flight, and it may just inspire your next island adventure. So, what’s the flying experience into the Greek islands?

Getting to the airport

If you’re flying to an island from mainland Greece, you’ll either fly from Athens International Airport, located about 40 minutes by bus from the city center, or Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia located in the north of Greece.

Transportation to the Athens Airport from the city center is very easy. There are busses that run every 15-20 minutes all day long, and pick up in Syntagma Square. You’ll need to purchase your tickets before you get on and there is a kiosk near the pick-up location selling tickets to the airport for €6, or €3 if you have your student ID with you. The bus number is X95 and will be easily marked with airplanes on their front display lights. The bus drops you off directly in front of the main entrance and the airport is open 24 hours a day. Taxis are also available at the city center to the airport, but this can get very pricey around €50+. Make sure your taxi is metered, too, so you can be sure you aren’t overcharged. Unfortunately, Uber does not operate in Greece, but there is an alternative app called Beat that works in the same way and links you to a registered taxi that you can prepay through your phone. This option is a bit less expensive than a taxi, around €35. The metro will also get you to the airport, however you’ll need to purchase a ticket for the metro itself and a separate ticket for the metro line to the airport. A 2-trip metro ticket is €1.80 and the airport ticket is an additional €10.

Bus: €6.00

Taxi: €50.00

Beat: €35.00

Metro: €11.80

The airport itself is easy to navigate. As soon as you enter the flight departures are obviously displayed, check-in is painless, and there are only two terminals (called halls), A and B. All domestic flights go out of Hall B. If you arrive early for your flight, there is plenty of comfortable seating available, and casual restaurants and stores line the walkways. The airport recently went through a renovation so it is very clean and efficient, especially the restrooms - which isn’t always a guarantee in Eastern Europe. You’ll be on a smaller, short-haul plane that you’ll most likely have to be bussed out to from your gate. Once you walk on to your plane, the flight attendants will speak in Greek and English and all announcements will be translated into both. Most flights to islands will take between 1-2 hours so don’t worry about in-flight meals. They also do not offer drink service, so bring a bottle onboard with you!

Travel from Thessaloniki’s city center to the airport is a little longer at 60 minutes, with busses running every 30 minutes. You’ll take the X1 bus during the day and N1 at night. While it may be time consuming, it’s the cheapest option to travel by far at only €2 one way. Taxis are also an option if your main concern is comfort. There’s no need to worry about safety here as drivers are friendly and normally speak English. A taxi ride may take 25 minutes and will cost around €20. Beat is also an option in Thessaloniki and will be €16-20.

Bus: €2.00

Taxi: €20.00

Beat: €16 - €20.00

TOP ISLANDS TO fly into directly

Corfu (CFU)

Chania [Crete] (CHQ )

Heraklion [Crete] (HER)

Kefalonia (EFL)

Kos (KGS)

Lesvos (MJT)

Milos (MLO)

Mykonos (JMK)

Naxos (JNX)

Rhodes (RHO)

Santorini (JTR)

Zakynthos (ZTH)

WHAT AIRLINES FLY TO THE GREEK ISLANDS?

Aegean Air is the national airline of Greece. Aegean flies to all the Greek islands listed above and then some. The airline tends to have cheaper tickets, however it is not a low-cost carrier. If you’re looking for a trip based solely on price, Aegean has a subsidiary airline that has more cost-friendly prices.

Olympic Air is the subsidiary airline to Aegean and flies between 29 island destinations in Greece, usually offering multiple flights to the same destination per day. Olympic Air also has one of the most interesting airline fleets in the country with it’s giant propellers attached at the front of its airline’s wings.

RyanAir has flights going from Thessaloniki and Athens to various island destinations. RyanAir consistently offers the lowest cost to certain islands, and offers direct international flights. Popular routes you can fly are to Chania, Corfu, Heraklion, Kalamata, Kefalonia, Kos, Mykonos, Rhodes, and Santorini. This Dublin-based airline is a great choice if you’re flying directly from another European country.

EasyJet is the main competitor to RyanAir in terms of Europe’s low-cost carriers. This British-based airline does fly directly to Greek islands, however it has limited routes to only 9 island destinations. Among those are Chania, Corfu, Heraklion, Kalamata, Kefalonia, Kos, Mykonos, Rhodes, and Santorini.

Volotea Airline is a small airline with limited destinations, but to islands where it does travel, the prices are almost unbeatable. I just used Volotea for my flight from Athens to Santorini. Be prepared for the random hours that this airline operates in - my flight was at 4:50AM - but if your schedule is flexible and you’re willing to give up a few hours of sleep, Volotea will certainly get you to your destination. This airline heavily advertises that you can reach one of the Greek islands for as little as €9. As I visit the site now I see some tickets for as little as €5, from Athens to Mykonos.

travel WARNING

During high season (June to September) the airports will be very crowded as tourism to islands like Santorini and Mykonos has pushed the airports beyond their current capacity. Many airports are in the process of expanding to accommodate the influx. Be mindful, too, of when you’re traveling as many islands have limited or even no flights outside of high season. Some airlines, like Olympic Air, also offer online discounts.

You can us Google Flights, visit Skyscanner.net or book directly through the airlines to find the cheapest flights to your desired island!

By Ferry

Pros:

Eco-Friendly choice

Students and groups receive discounts

An authentic experience and beautiful views

Cons:

Slower travel time

Easier for island hopping

Can seem disorganized and confusing

Traveling the Greek islands by ferry is a truly unique experience filled with gorgeous views of the Mediterranean waters and the mesmerizing landscape of the surrounding islands on your journey. It is also the means of transportation that Greeks use most often when visiting the Greek islands. A growing concern in Greece, ferry hopping is also a more eco-friendly option than flying as less air pollution is emitted and fewer trips are needed. Where a small passenger plane may only be able to carry 120 passengers to an island, a Blue Star Ferry for example can carry up to 2,000 passengers. Knowing you’re making the eco-friendly choice you can better enjoy sunbathing in the warm sun from the ferry deck, or relaxing inside the air-conditioned cabin seating as you drift to your desired destination.

In Greece, there are three passenger ports to set out from. The port of Thessaloniki, located in Northern Greece, Rafina port in East Attica, and Piraeus port in west Attica and closest to the city of Athens.

ports of greece

Thessaloniki: The port of Thessaloniki is located along the city’s expansive waterfront boardwalk. During the summer months of June to September, ferries run from Thessaloniki to the Sporades islands of Alonissos, Skiathos, and Skopelos, as well as popular Cycladic islands like Mykonos and Naxos. If you’re up for a long haul, you can also take the 30 hour ferry ride down to Greece’s largest island, Crete. The city of Thessaloniki is also worth exploring before you go on your island adventure. My favorite city, Thessaloniki has a rich cultural history and a beautiful boardwalk that runs the length of the city.

Volos: The port of Volos is situated in the city of Volos and has direct ferries to the Sporadic islands. Volos is a port city and, like Thessaloniki, also has a long boardwalk that lets you watch the boats as the enter and leave the marina. Though it’s the third largest city in Greece, Volos is not close to an airport and relies heavily on its port for travel.

Rafina: Rafina is the smaller port located in the Attica region with ferry routes to and from the Cycladic islands, including Mykonos, Paros, and Tinos. On the eastern side of Greece, Rafina port is more difficult to reach from the Athens Airport with limited public transportation.

Piraeus: Piraeus Port is the largest port in Greece and the second largest port in Europe. With 12 gates and thousands of passengers being ferried to and from the Greek islands, Piraeus has routes to the Cycladic island, the Ionian islands, and the Dodecanese islands. As well as international ferries from Italy and Croatia. The port is easy to reach from Athens city center, taking about 40 minutes by metro using one line.

ferry companies in greece

how to book tickets

There are a number of tools on the internet for finding the best ferry booking company. Of all I’ve seen, the best ferry booking company in Greece is Ferryhopper. Their user-friendly platform allows you to book direct and indirect ferries. It’s easy to book multiple ferry tickets at once, and there’s no service fee, so the prices you see listed are the same prices seen on the ferry company’s sites. This is also easier than organizing multiple flights because successive purchases can be made at once. Students can receive a discount of 50% off their ferry tickets as long as they have their International Student Identity Card or their European student ID card. It’s a little confusing on the site because it specifies that discount are for Greek students only, but all European students under 26 can receive the discount. Their blog also has some travel tips and port information!

You can book your tickets directly from their ferry companies (links to booking on the logos above), however their websites are often outdated. Ferryhopper will also send you notifications directly from the ferry companies to changes or cancellations for your ferry.

Collecting your ferry tickets can be done at specific kiosks near your port or at various locations around the cities. When you book online your receipt will tell you where designated pick-up locations are for tickets. It is not common to show e-tickets, although it’s increasingly more acceptable. There are still limits to e-tickets, though, and some ferry companies still require the physical ticket.

experience on the ferry

Boarding can also be a bit confusing as the ports are not easily marked, so I suggest looking up the map of your port beforehand and arriving at the port 45 minutes before boarding. Boarding tends to look like a swarm of people entering the back of the boat while guards briefly check for tickets. The announcements are not always translated from Greek to English so you’ll have to take cues from the people around you on what is being said.

Seating is based on your ticket. Deck/Economy seating is at the top of the boat on the deck, normally without a roof and with plastic chair seating. This is the cheapest option, but it can be uncomfortable for trips longer than 2 hours. Standard lounge seating is for cushioned seating in the boat with air-conditioning and power outlets available. Business class is like private rooms and the most expensive option.

Food is available in multiple locations throughout the ferry with places for take away and to sit down and televisions are mounted throughout the hull. Restrooms are usually clean and can be found on each floor of the ferry. While inside the ferry is comfortable, it’s the views you’ll see from the deck and outdoor seating that make the ferry trip to and from the islands so mesmerizing. Especially if you plan your travel around sunrise of sunset the view from the water is absolutely gorgeous. Strong sea winds can sometimes be annoying, but really the calm and relaxing atmosphere can put you in a trance. Passing between some of the most beautiful islands in the world is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before.

Once you’ve docked, exiting the ferry is the same brief period of chaos as boarding was. However, the docking experience is an overwhelming introduction to the island and a brilliant way to start any trip. Once you’ve left the ferry, the port is usually situated right next to the main city so transportation to your accommodation will be brief. Busses are likely to be available to the main towns and taxis will be lined up waiting for visitors to call them over. Similarly, when your island adventures comes to an end, busses will be available to bring you back to the ports so the island hopping can continue.

common ferry routes

Athens to Santorini:

Duration: 5.5 hours
Price: €57.00

Athens to Mykonos:

Duration: 4 hours
Price: €40.00

Mykonos to Santorini:

Duration: 3 hours
Price: €56.00

My favorite route: Milos to Santorini

Duration: 2 hours
Price: €55.00

Have you traveled the Greek islands? Let me know if you think these tips are helpful. Leave a comment below!

Sky or Sea? The Best Way to Travel the Greek Islands