Rafina Port
Shari Alvine
Compared to the other ports of Athens, the port of Rafina is located closer to the northwestern Cyclades. For this reason, ferries from Rafina are the easiest and fastest way to reach Andros, Tinos and Mykonos.
The passenger port of Rafina has one large terminal, which has 13 ramps for conventional ferries and 2 ramps for high-speed vessels. The positions of the ferries are easily reached on foot, as the pier is located a few meters from the entrance of the port.
During the summer, the port of Rafina can get very crowded due to the multiple ferry departures and arrivals. We, therefore, recommend that you arrive at the port at least 1 hour prior to your ferry departure especially if you are traveling with your vehicle.
There are numerous daily ferry crossings from the port of Rafina all year round. The ferries from Rafina usually travel to the Cyclades, Crete and the islands of the northeast Aegean Sea. There are also regular ferry services from Rafina to Marmari in Evia.
If you have a car or motorbike, you can reach the port of Rafina via Leoforos Marathonos avenue (the extension of Leoforos Mesogeion avenue) or via Attiki Odos (A6/E94) in the direction of Markopoulo and exit to Rafina.
Tip: If you want to skip the lines, Ferryhopper in collaboration with Welcome Pickups offers a transfer service to and from the port of Rafina. Book your transfer to/from Rafina on our page in advance and travel safely and comfortably in Athens.
Rafina is a 45-minute drive from the center of Athens and is the seat of the Municipality of Rafina - Pikermi. The port is located very close to the center of the town of Rafina and is easily accessible on foot or by car.
The port of Rafina is very close to the center of the town, where you will find many stores and useful services. If you have time, we suggest you take a walk in the city and sit in one of the ouzeri and tavernas that are famous for their (fish) delicacies.
If you want to swim before or after your trip, we recommend going to the beautiful beach of Marikes, about 1.5 km south of the port. One part of the beach has umbrellas but if you walk a bit you can access smaller coves for a more secluded time.
On Ferryhopper you can book online ferry tickets from Rafina at no extra cost. Compare all ferry routes, ferry companies, schedules and ticket prices and book the trip to your favorite islands in the easiest way.
In short, to take the bus, you need to get to KTEL Attikis bus station, there, you can get a direct bus to Rafina and the port. There should be a bus route near the square that will take you to the bus station.
Yes, there are several bus stations in Athens, some for long distance service, some operated by the local KTEL Attica. I know I have gotten confused and went to the wrong station on at least one occasion.
I would take Lee's advice, Take the Metro or bus to the Airport, and then take the direct bus from the Airport to Rafina Port. It is pretty much foolproof compared to trying to find the correct bus to the correct bus station.
OP -- this thread is a perfect example of why inquirers should give Important Info when asking advice! IF you had only told us at the beginning that there are FIVE of you, this thread would have need only one answer! Anyone would know to tell you that hiring a vehicle was both the most convenient AND very affordable. Good luck on your "troop movement" !
Piraeus (port code: GRPIR) is the largest passenger port in Greece, with a passenger traffic of almost 18 million people annually. Ferries from Piraeus offer connections to the islands of the Aegean, including the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, the Saronic, the North Aegean islands and Crete.
It is located 12 km away from the center of Athens and bears great significance as a commercial and political center. In fact, the port of Piraeus dates back to antiquity and was established around the 5th century BC, although it has been destroyed, abandoned and rebuilt more than once due to various wars.
These days it serves as a modern port, with a variety of renovated facilities and many things to do in the area before your departure. Keep in mind that traffic congestion around and within the port is a common phenomenon throughout the year, yet even more in summer.
Piraeus is the largest port in Greece, with daily sailings to all Aegean Island groups - the Cyclades and Dodecanese complexes, Saronic Islands, the North Aegean Islands, and Crete. The port is a hub for the leading ferry companies operating in the Aegean including Blue Star Ferries, Hellenic Seaways, Seajets, Minoan Lines, and more.
Several options are available to occupy your time while waiting for your connection, including the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus and Marina Zeas, which hosts waterfront tavernas and an attractive marina that emits a relaxed aura.
By metro: Two metro lines are connected with Piraeus Port - the Green Line from Omonoia and Monastiraki and the Blue Line from Syntagma and Monastiraki. In Piraeus, the metro station lies right across the harbor. That is the only port in Athens that can be reached via the metro. The metro operates from 05:30 am to 00:20 am; however, on Fridays and Saturdays, it is open until 01:30. A typical metro route starting from Syntagma lasts for roughly 25 minutes. Every 10 minutes (maximum time), subways to Piraeus depart from all metro stations.
Ticket Price: 1.20 EUR
Learn more about the metro network of Athens.
Piraeus is huge and the distances between the gates are long; in fact, it can take 1 hour to go from one side of the port to the other!
For this reason, there is a shuttle bus that will allow you to reach some remote spots and it is free of charge for ferry passengers.
Its route is: Railway Terminal - Ag. Dionissios 1: Hellenic Railway - Ag. Dionissios 2 - Ietion 1 - Ietion 2 - Dexamenes - Ministry of Mercantile Marine - Vassiliadis 1: Customs - Vassiliadis 2 - Terminal.
The port gates are listed below, although the gate where your ferry departs from will also be written on your ticket.
Depending on your destination, there may be conventional and/or high-speed ferries available, which are provided by the following companies: Blue Star Ferries, Seajets, Minoan Lines, Hellenic Seaways, ANEK Superfast, Saronic Ferries, Fast Ferries, Zante Ferries, Alphalines, Aegean Sea Lines, and San Lorenzo Ferries.
If you have some free time to spend in the area near Piraeus Port, restaurants, bars and cafes can be found within a short distance.
Piraeus also offers several landmarks, places of interest and monuments worth visiting, including the Municipal Theater, the churches of Agia Triada, Agios Vasilios and Agios Nikolaos, the Maritime Museum, the Piraeus Municipal Gallery, the historic Castella neighborhood, the Ancient Walls, the yacht port Zea (Pasalimani), the picturesque Mikrolimano Harbor or the commercial street Sotiros.
There are also two beaches in this area, Votsalakia and the Beach of Freatida. Swimming is not really recommended due to pollution, but you can spend some time sunbathing and enjoying the view.
If you have to spend the night there, there are several hotels, while tourist buses offer tours to all these landmarks and will keep you busy for many hours.
Rafina port is situated close to Athens Airport and it can also be reached from the city center. Taxis and cars are among the options, while Athens city center is also connected to the port via public bus. Alternatively, KTEL buses are available for your transfer from Athens City or Athens Airport to the port of Rafina and they are the cheapest option after the public bus.
By car: You can reach Rafina port from Athens International Airport by car in about 30 minutes via Al. Fleming Street > Marathonos Avenue (EO54). An alternative coastal route is via Provincial Road Peanias-Loutsas.
Unlike Piraeus, the port of Rafina is quite small and there are no gates. There is only one terminal with 15 launch ramps in total. Two of them are used for high-speed ferries and the rest serve the conventional ones. One area for catamarans is also available.
Ferries from Rafina sail to Andros, Tinos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, and Santorini (Thira). Ferry companies operating from Rafina include Fast Ferries, Seajets and Golden Star Ferries.
You can check all schedules on our Ferry Booking engine.
If you have some spare time to spend exploring the area around the port, you can go downtown to visit one of the local fish taverns and restaurants.
The area's signature landmark is the church of Agios Nikolaos which offers amazing sea views, only 5 minutes away from the port.
The nearest beaches are Marikes, which offers tourist facilities and Kokkino Limanaki, which is not organized. Rafina Beach is also located very close to the port and it is popular for watersports (kitesurfing).
Karamanli Park can be found near Rafina Beach and is a nice place for a stroll. The most important ancient monument in Rafina is the Askitario prehistoric settlement.
For those with more free time and a car, the temple of Artemis at Artemida Beach, the Archaeological Site of Brauron, and a few beaches along the coastline are worth visiting, all less than 30 minutes away from the port.
Lavrio (port code: GRLAV), also known as Lavrion or Laurium, is the third biggest port in the area of Attica, serving approximately 180,000 passengers per year.
It is located 50 km away from the Greek capital and is a great alternative for passengers traveling to the Cyclades among other islands of the Aegean. Its proximity to the airport makes it quite popular, while it is closer to the Cyclades than the port of Piraeus. It has a relaxing atmosphere, as it is much smaller and less congested compared to the busy Piraeus Port.