Athens is a wonderful, eternal city. There’s a lot to see and do, from unparalleled archaeological sites to unique urban landscapes to amazing cosmopolitan experiences and vibrant nightlife. But it doesn’t stop there! Athens is so versatile that it can be your base for island hopping in the Aegean.
So, not only can you combine city life and urban delights with the picturesque beauty of the islands, but you can have a large variety of that, as well! Some of the itineraries make for excellent day trip excursions, while others can be your gateway to an entire island cluster.
What is certain is that Athens can and will give you the flexibility to have vacations in the islands when you want to, for as much as you want to.
All you need to do is know what islands you can access and from where. With this guide, you will be able to go island hopping from Athens like a pro!
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How to Island Hop from Athens
Athens has three ports.
Though the most famous port of Athens is Piraeus, it is not the only one. There are three ports that have itineraries connecting Athens to an array of different islands, so let’s start by listing them and how to get there:
Port of Piraeus
Piraeus is the main port of Athens and one of the most important ports in Europe. From here, you can take a boat to the Cyclades, to Crete, to the Dodecanese, and to the Northern Aegean islands. It is a massive complex with 12 gates, each dedicated to a group of destinations. Fortunately, there is a free shuttle service that can quickly take you from the entrance to various strategic spots in the port.
You can go to Piraeus in a variety of ways. If you are in the center of Athens, you can take the metro, bus, or taxi to Piraeus. Considering the frequent traffic jams in Athens, however, opting for the metro or train is often the most prudent option.
Go to Piraeus by bus.
You can take the bus to Piraeus by taking the 040 or 049 bus lines. The 040 bus line takes you from Syntagma Square to Piraeus, while the 049 line takes you from Omonoia Square to Piraeus. Make sure you get off at the Korai Square bus stop!
Then, it’s just 10 10-minute worth of walk to the port. The entire trip should take around 35 to 40 minutes if you don’t encounter traffic jams. The ticket is 1.20 euros for 90 minutes.
Go to Piraeus by train.
You can take the train to Piraeus in two ways: by hopping on the green line (also known as Line 1) from the Monastiraki train station, which is pretty central in Athens, with directions towards Piraeus.
The trip takes around 25 minutes, and once you arrive at the Piraeus metro station, you need to walk roughly 5 minutes to get to the port’s entrance. The ticket is 1.20 euros for 90 minutes.
Alternatively, if you’re at Athens’ airport Eleftherios Venizelos, and you want to go directly to Piraeus, your best option is metro line 3 which connects you directly to Piraeus’ port. The trip is roughly 1 hour, and the ticket is 10 euros.
Go to Piraeus by taxi.
If you opt to go by taxi, allow for at least an hour’s worth of time to get there comfortably. Technically, the trip to Piraeus by car is around 35 minutes, but traffic jams can draw out that time. The taxi fare for this trip is around 20 euros, with a 5 euro cap during nighttime.
No matter what way you choose for getting to Piraeus, always calculate at least 30 minutes of additional time that you will spend navigating the port itself! Keep in mind that it is a massive port with many gates, and walking to where you need to go is a task, even if you take the shuttle.
Port of Rafina
The port of Rafina is Athens’ second-largest after Piraeus. It’s located about 30 km from Athens’ center, towards the east. Rafina is a lot more manageable than Piraeus and quite smaller, so it will make for a less hectic experience!
You can go to Rafina by taxi or by bus. The drive to the port is roughly an hour, depending on traffic.
Go to Rafina by bus
You can take the KTEL bus to Rafina. To do so, you can first hop on the train to get to Victoria Station, then walk to Pedion tou Areos Park, where you will find the bus station at Mavrommateon Street. The bus fare is 2.60 euros, and the trip is roughly an hour, though depending on the season and the traffic, it can be as long as an hour and a half. The good thing is that you will get off right at the port!
Go to Rafina by taxi.
The fare for a trip from the center of Athens to Rafina by taxi is around 40 euros and should take 45 minutes, especially if you take the highway of Attiki Odos. The cheapest and most comfortable way to get a taxi is to pre-book it; otherwise, you may get extra caps in the fare.
Port of Lavrio
This port is fairly small and only serves very specific routes to islands, as we will see in a bit. That makes it low in crowds and extremely manageable. The port of Lavrio is in the southeast of Attica’s coastline. It’s 65 km from the center of Athens but only about half of that from Athens airport!
You can go to Lavrio by bus or taxi.
Go to Lavrio by bus
Like with Rafina, you can take the KTEL bus from Mavrommateon Street at Pedion tou Areos park. The trip is roughly 2 hours, and the fare is 5.60 euros.
Go to Lavrio by taxi.
The trip by taxi is around 1 hour 45 minutes if there is moderate traffic. Expect the fare to be around 45 euros or up to 65 euros if you pre-book it and you have a lot of luggage.
General information on booking tickets for island hopping
The best way to book your tickets and plan your island hopping is to do so online, using a site like ferryhopper to pick the best ferry routes at the best possible price (remember, the earlier you do it, the better).
Most ferry trips always have tickets to purchase, even at the last minute, all the time. However, it’s not a guarantee. You may need to wait for the next ferry, which means you will be losing precious time, especially during the high season. Therefore, it’s recommended that you book everything in advance, at least a month or two early.
If you purchase your ticket online, it’ll be either an e-ticket with a barcode or a regular ticket without a barcode. If it’s one without a barcode, it means you have to go and manually pick up your paper ticket from the ticket office at the port before you can board the ship. Ticket offices are very close to the port or even the ship you will be boarding, so don’t stress over it!
If your ticket is an e-ticket, you can do an online check-in and download your boarding pass on your phone. That means you can go ahead and board your ferry when it’s time.
Be aware that there may be strikes! Strikes in Greece can be frequent, especially since the financial crisis has made things dire for a lot of professional classes. While during high season, they tend not to affect major tourist industries, it’s not a guarantee.
Make sure your scheduling isn’t affected by checking in advance whether there are strikes. An easy way to do this is by checking this site for scheduled strikes. No matter the strikes, there will always be some transportation that can get you to the port.
If the port is experiencing strikes and the ferries can’t depart, you will be compensated, and your ticket will be reissued for a different time or day. The one strike you can predict is the one that always takes place on May Day (May 1st), so make sure you don’t schedule anything on that day!
Easiest island-hopping routes from each port of Athens
While technically, there are several islands you can go to from at least Piraeus and Rafina, the easiest island hopping routes that will give you more variety for the minimum of time in travel are very specific per port.
The point of island hopping is to fit as many islands as possible and have the time to experience them in a short amount of time. Therefore, here are the best routes for exactly that from each port!
Island hopping from Piraeus
A tour of the Saronic islands
The gorgeous Saronic islands are the closest ones to Athens and, thus, extremely popular for short vacations with Athenians. There are five of them, of which at least four should be on your list: Aegina, Poros, Hydra, and Spetses.
Each island boasts stunning natural beauty, crystal clear waters, iconic architecture, and rich history and culture for those interested in immersing themselves in tradition and heritage. And if you’re into relaxation and lounging on some of the best beaches you can find, then you should consider spending some time in Agistri.
To have some time to spend in each and do so comfortably, you need at least a full week. Ten days is even better.
Aegina is a gorgeous island just an hour away by ferry from Piraeus. Begin by exploring the island’s Chora, with the picturesque port promenade and Greece’s first-ever National Archaeological Museum, founded by the country’s first governor in 1829, just eight years after the Greek War of Independence. Spend a full day exploring the various archaeological sites (especially the Temple of Aphaia) and lounge on some of its most beautiful beaches, namely Aghia Marina and Perdika.
Poros
The ferry from Piraeus to Poros is a little over an hour. Begin by exploring the island’s picturesque Chora with a visit to its Archaeological Museum and the stunning sweeping view of the entire island from Roloi Tower. Don’t miss the ruins of the temple to Poseidon and the rich history behind it! The best beaches include Askeli and Monastiri.
Hydra is the most well-known of the Saronic islands and is very prominent in Greece’s recent history. It’s also famous for its ban on cars within its Chora, where you can only use donkeys or horses or go everywhere on foot! It’s extremely picturesque, with impressive architecture and an iconic, timeless style that you will love. Visit historic mansions, and enjoy the beaches, especially Mandraki and Kastello.
Just 2 ½ hours from Piraeus, Spetses is the epitome of retro heritage, beautiful historic sceneries, and lovely seasides. Again, this island is very prominent in the country’s modern history. Visit the various historic mansions, like one of Laskarina Boumboulina, one of the heroines of the Greek War of Independence. Enjoy the cosmopolitan flair of the island and lounge on the gorgeous beaches of Kaiki and Zogieria.
An entry point to the Cyclades
You can easily begin your island hopping around the Cyclades by starting from any of the following beautiful islands, quickly reached from Piraeus:
The gorgeous capital of the Cyclades is only 2 hours with the hydrofoil and 3 with the regular ferry. Syros’ Chora, called Ermoupolis, is also one of its highlights, with stunning neoclassical architecture and several museums and churches to visit.
Make sure you also visit Ano Syros, right over Ermoupolis, for a complete experience of tradition and history. Syros is connected to almost every Cycladic island, so it’s the perfect entry point for island hopping!
3 to 4 hours away by ferry from Piraeus, there is Tinos island. It’s also known as the Island of the Virgin Mary or the Island of the Winds. Explore Tinos’ Chora with the huge complex of the Church of the Virgin Mary (Evaggelistria), the picturesque winding whitewashed streets, and the beautiful seaside promenade. You can also hop from Tinos to several Cycladic islands, including Mykonos and Syros!
Depending on the type of ferry, you are only 2 to 4 hours away from Mykonos when you depart from Piraeus. Mykonos needs little introduction, as it’s internationally famous for its cosmopolitan venues, the gorgeous Little Venice, and the windmills- and the easy access to more islands!
Again, from Piraeus, you’re only 2 to 4 hours away from the beautiful Serifos, known for its gorgeous wild natural vistas of rocky landscapes, picturesque villages, and emerald blue waters. If you’re a nature lover, this should be your entry point to the Cyclades.
Sifnos is 2 to 5 hours away from Piraeus, again depending on the type of ferry. Sifnos is the quintessential Cycladic island, with lots of customs and traditions, gorgeous vistas, picturesque, white-washed villages, and beautiful beaches.
One of the gorgeous volcanic islands of the Cyclades, Milos, is 3 to 7 hours away from Piraeus, depending on the ferry type. Famous for its gorgeous, exotic beaches with stunning rock formations, the traditional fisherman villages, and its mysterious sea caves, Milos is perfect for a first but also unique experience of the Cyclades.
Island hopping from Rafina
A different entry point to the Cyclades
Rafina is arguably the better port for getting a quick entry point to the Cyclades, though it has a narrower selection of islands to reach. You will reach them faster than you will from Piraeus!
Andros is just under two hours away from Rafina, and even less than that if you take the speedier boats! A gorgeous island with sandy beaches, unusually lush natural landscapes, neoclassical architecture, beautiful museums, and imposing beaches, Andros is not too typical of the rest of the Cyclades. All the more reason to make Andros your entry point and add variety from the get-go!
Tinos and Mykonos
You can also reach Tinos and Mykonos from Rafina! You will get to them slightly faster (about an hour sooner if you choose the right type of boat), and the hassle of dealing with the port and boarding will be a lot simpler than in Piraeus. Most Athenians prefer Rafina port for their forays into the Cyclades.
Island hopping from Lavrio
Direct access to the atypical Cyclades
Kea
In roughly an hour, you can get from Lavrio port to Kea, one of the lesser-known but stunningly beautiful Cycladic islands. Kea is not like the other Cyclades. Instead of whitewashed houses, you will see gorgeous neoclassical mansions.
Instead of arid hill slopes, there are lush verdant pathways and hiking trails to explore. Kea is the unusual entry point to the Cyclades, from where you can then easily hop on to Syros and continue your exploration of them!
Kythnos
In roughly two hours, you can also get from Lavrio to Kythnos, the unknown Cycladic island that is, however, famous for its thermal springs. Picturesque, imbued with traditions, and typical in its architecture and style with sugar cube houses and brightly colored fences and doors, Kythnos offers a laid-back, tranquil atmosphere.
Make sure you explore its various pathways and the Katafyki cave with its beautiful interior before you hop to another island!
All of the above destinations make for excellent day trips from Athens if you’re looking for quick dips into the gorgeous setting of the Greek islands or ideal entry points for island hopping from island to island. All you need to do is sit back, design your itinerary, and combine Athens with an island adventure!