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Ferry RouteAND to RAF

Ferry from Andros to Rafina.

Andros to Athens (Rafina). Compare the operators, a real sailing day and dated fares, then search live times for your date.

Fastest crossing
50 minGolden Star Ferries · checked 24 Sept 2026
Lowest adult fare
€17.50checked 24 Sept 2026
Ferry operators
3Fast Ferries, Golden Star Ferries, Seajets

Dated numbers: a Ferryhopper check or a one-day timetable sample, never live. The search shows live times and prices.

Compare operators

By George K. · Updated

Search live ferries

Andros (Gavrio) to Rafina: live times, seats and prices for your date.

Passengers
2 passengers

Lowest adult fare we found: €17.50, checked 24 September 2026.

Live availability and booking via Ferryhopper, our ferry booking partner.

Andros (Gavrio)
Map of the ferry route from Andros (Gavrio) to Rafina. Coastlines © OpenStreetMap contributors, Natural Earth

How do you get from Andros (Gavrio) to Rafina by ferry?

Ferries sail from Andros (Gavrio) to Rafina every day of the year. Fast Ferries and Golden Star Ferries run conventional ships taking about 1 hr 55 min, and in the warmer months Golden Star and Seajets add fast boats that do it in 50 minutes to 1 hr 5 min. When we checked Ferryhopper on 24 September 2026, the lowest adult fare was €17.50. Winter still has at least two daily operators.

Source: Ferryhopper route page and timetable sample · as of

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01Operators compared

Andros (Gavrio) to Rafina ferry operators compared.

Who sails this route, on what kind of boat, how long it takes and the lowest adult fare we found.

Ferry companies on the Andros (Gavrio) to Rafina route
OperatorVessel typeCrossing timeVehiclesAdult fare from
Fast FerriesConventional ferryabout 1 hr 55 min to 2 hrCars and motorbikes€25
Golden Star FerriesHigh-speed and conventional50 min to 1 hr 5 min fast, about 1 hr 55 min conventionalCars and motorbikes€17.50
SeajetsHigh-speed ferry50 min to 1 hrOn some boats€19.70

Source: Ferryhopper route page, checked by our editors · as of

  • Fast FerriesSailed every day in every month of last year's data.
  • Golden Star FerriesDaily in most months of last year's data. Some of its conventional ships have cabins.
  • SeajetsSeasonal: from two days a week up to daily between spring and autumn in last year's data.

Seajets ferry status today. Search Seajets on the live tracker for today’s sailings and delays. A missing AIS position is not a cancellation. Ferry alerts.

02Fares

Andros (Gavrio) to Rafina ferry prices.

The lowest fares Ferryhopper showed for each party when we checked on 24 September 2026. Each row can come from a different sailing.

Lowest fares between Andros (Gavrio) and Rafina, both directions
PassengersAndros (Gavrio) → RafinaRafina → Andros (Gavrio)
1 adult€17.50€19.70
2 adults€35€39.40
2 adults and a car€51€65.40
2 adults, 2 children and a car€76€83.40

Source: Ferryhopper route page · checked

Lowest fares shown on Ferryhopper when we checked on 2026-09-24. Fares change with the date, vessel and demand; the booking page shows the current price for your sailing.

Search the return, Rafina to Andros (Gavrio)

03Schedule by season

Andros (Gavrio) to Rafina ferry schedule by season.

Andros to Rafina is one of the most reliable links in the Cyclades: Ferryhopper shows sailings every day, all year. In last year's data (the monthly table on the source is labelled as last year's pattern), Fast Ferries sailed every day in every month and Golden Star Ferries ran daily in most months, so even in mid-winter there are normally at least two departures a day. From spring to autumn, Seajets and the Golden Star fast boats add quicker sailings on two to seven days a week, depending on the month. We do not have a sampled timetable for this route, so check the booking page for exact departure times on your date.

The Journey

The Andros (Gavrio) to Rafina crossing.

Andros is the closest of the Cyclades to Athens, which is exactly why it works so well for a weekend away: a mountainous, green island of walking trails and quiet beaches that you can reach and leave without a long day at sea. The ferry back to Rafina is how almost everyone returns to the mainland.

You leave from Gavrio, the island's main port on the north-west coast, a working harbour village about 30 km from Chora, the capital. The boat lands in Rafina, a seaside town on the east coast of Attica, about 30 km from central Athens and much closer to Athens airport than Piraeus. For travellers flying out, that geography is the main reason to use this route.

Because the crossing is short and runs daily all year, Andros works well at either end of a trip: as a gentle first stop before Tinos and Mykonos, or as a last few days of walking and swimming before your flight. Many people also combine it with Tinos, which is only a short hop south.

The main choice is speed versus price and comfort. The fast boats are quick but run mainly from spring to autumn. The conventional ships take closer to two hours, carry cars and run every day of the year. Ferryhopper warns that tickets on this route sell out quickly in summer, so book about a month ahead for July and August, and earlier with a car.

How long the crossing takes

The two ports are about 36 nautical miles apart, and Ferryhopper puts the crossing at 50 minutes to 1 hr 55 min. The fastest option is a high-speed boat from Seajets or Golden Star Ferries, which usually takes 50 minutes to 1 hr 5 min. The conventional ships of Fast Ferries and Golden Star Ferries take about 1 hr 55 min, occasionally 2 hr. That is still a short trip by Greek ferry standards, and on a calm day the slower ship, with its open decks and views back to the Andros mountains, is the more pleasant ride. On this route the time difference is under an hour, so many people choose on price and departure time instead.

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04The ports

Where the Andros (Gavrio) to Rafina ferry docks.

Departure port

Andros

AND · 37.8833° N 24.7333° E

Ferries to Rafina leave from Gavrio, the main port of Andros, on the island's north-west coast. It is about 30 km from Chora, the capital, so allow time for the drive if you are staying there; the resort of Batsi is much closer, about 8 km away. If you are early, the port area has cafés and restaurants, a pharmacy and a few shops, and car rental offices are there too. The port gets busy in summer, so aim to arrive at least 45 minutes before departure, and earlier if you are driving on.

Arrival port

Athens (Rafina)

RAF · 38.0227° N 24.0097° E

Boats from Andros arrive at the main quay of Rafina, a small, lively port town on the east coast of Attica. Restaurants, cafés and shops sit right beside the ferry docks. Central Athens is about 30 km away: roughly 45 minutes by car or about 1.5 hours by bus. KTEL buses link Rafina with central Athens and with Athens International Airport; our route data puts the airport bus at around 30 minutes. That short hop to the airport is why many travellers choose Rafina over Piraeus when they are flying home.

05On Board

On board the Andros (Gavrio) to Rafina ferry.

Facilities are practical rather than lavish. On all the ships you can expect air-conditioned lounges, deck seating on the conventional vessels, and a bar or restaurant for drinks and snacks. Wi-Fi is available for a fee. Numbered airplane-style seats start from about €24.50, and some vessels have business-class lounge seats from about €38. A few of the conventional Golden Star Ferries ships have inside and outside cabins, from about €85, which is more than you need for a two-hour trip but useful for families. There is no luggage check-in: keep bags with you or in the luggage area, and stay under about 50 kg.

06Weather and cancellations

Wind, weather and cancellations on the Andros (Gavrio) to Rafina route.

On a strong meltemi day in July or August, the seasonal fast boats are the first to be held at Gavrio. This route has a real safety net, though: Fast Ferries and Golden Star run conventional ships every day, so a cancelled fast boat usually means a slower crossing later the same day rather than a lost day. Ask the operator to move you, or take your money back if nothing suits. If you are heading for a flight, aim for an earlier ship than you strictly need.

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07Travel Tips

Andros (Gavrio) to Rafina ferry travel tips.

  1. Flying out of Athens? Rafina is far closer to the airport than Piraeus, so this route pairs well with an evening flight.

  2. For July and August, book about a month ahead, as Ferryhopper says tickets sell out quickly; with a car, our operator notes suggest 4 to 6 weeks.

  3. Arrive at Gavrio at least 45 minutes early, especially with a vehicle.

  4. Pets travel free; add them when you book and check the operator's own pet rules before you go.

  5. If you are staying in Chora, allow for the roughly 30 km drive to Gavrio before your ferry.

08Alternatives

Other ways between Andros (Gavrio) and Rafina.

For the outward trip, see our Rafina to Andros page. Andros has no airport, so the ferry is the way to and from the island. If Rafina does not suit you, we also have a page for Andros to Athens (Piraeus). Andros connects with Tinos, Mykonos and Syros as well, so you can continue south instead of heading straight back to the mainland; Mykonos (JMK) and Syros (JSY) both have airports.

The return crossingRafina → Andros (Gavrio)50 min · from €24.50
Change boat in Mykonos
  1. Leg 1: Andros (Gavrio) → Mykonos1h 10m · from €21
  2. Leg 2: Mykonos → Rafina
Change boat in Tinos
  1. Leg 1: Andros (Gavrio) → Tinos40 min · from €19
  2. Leg 2: Tinos → Rafina
Change boat in Syros (Ermoupoli)
  1. Leg 1: Andros (Gavrio) → Syros (Ermoupoli)
  2. Leg 2: Syros (Ermoupoli) → Rafina

Other ferries to Rafina

Times and fares on these links come from one-day timetable samples, not live data.

09Island Hopping

Island hopping from Rafina.

All direct ferry routes

10Route matrix

All ferry routes from Andros (Gavrio).

Every direct route from Andros (Gavrio) with a page on Discover Cyclades, with the fastest crossing and lowest fare from its one-day timetable sample. The route you are reading is marked.

Direct ferry routes from Andros (Gavrio): fastest sampled crossing, lowest sampled adult fare and sailings on the sampled day
RouteFastestLowest fareSailings that dayOperators
Andros (Gavrio) → Mykonos1h 10m€218Seajets, Fast Ferries, Golden Star Ferries
Andros (Gavrio) → RafinaYou are hereFast Ferries, Golden Star Ferries, Seajets
Andros (Gavrio) → Syros (Ermoupoli)Blue Star Ferries
Andros (Gavrio) → Tinos40 min€198Seajets, Fast Ferries, Golden Star Ferries

Source: Ferryhopper timetable samples, one sailing day per route · sailing day

Questions

Andros (Gavrio) to Rafina ferry: frequently asked questions.

  • Between 50 minutes and about 1 hr 55 min. The high-speed boats of Seajets and Golden Star Ferries take 50 minutes to 1 hr 5 min, and the conventional ships of Fast Ferries and Golden Star Ferries take about 1 hr 55 min, occasionally 2 hr. Check the listed duration for your sailing when booking.

  • When we checked Ferryhopper on 24 September 2026, the lowest adult fare was €17.50, two adults were from €35, and two adults with a car from €51. The opposite direction, Rafina to Andros, started a little higher at €19.70 per adult. Fares vary with the ship, the day and how early you book.

  • Every day, all year. In last year's data, Fast Ferries sailed daily in every month and Golden Star Ferries daily in most months, so there are usually at least two departures a day even in winter. From spring to autumn, fast boats from Seajets and Golden Star add further sailings on many days of the week.

  • Three: Fast Ferries with conventional ships, Golden Star Ferries with both conventional and high-speed vessels, and Seajets with high-speed boats in the warmer months. Fast Ferries and Golden Star are the year-round operators, and they are the ones to look for if you are travelling with a car.

  • The high-speed boats of Seajets and Golden Star Ferries, which make the crossing in about 50 minutes to an hour. They run mainly from spring to autumn. Outside that season, the conventional ships at about 1 hr 55 min are usually the only choice.

  • Yes. Most ferries on this route have garages. Car transport starts from about €50 and motorbikes from about €20, and two adults with a car were from €51 when we checked. Our operator notes say vehicle spaces are limited and sell out in summer, so book 4 to 6 weeks ahead for July and August, and arrive at Gavrio at least 45 minutes before departure.

  • For July and August, book about a month ahead: Ferryhopper warns that tickets on this route sell out quickly in summer, and booking early also gets you cheaper fares. With a car, allow 4 to 6 weeks, as our operator notes suggest. Outside summer the daily conventional ships give you more flexibility, but check your date on the booking page.

  • Rafina. It sits on the east coast of Attica, much closer to Athens International Airport than Piraeus, and KTEL buses run between the port and the airport; our route data puts the bus ride at around 30 minutes. That makes the Andros to Rafina ferry a good choice before a flight.

  • The fast boats are the ones most often held in strong summer wind; the daily conventional ships are more likely to sail. If yours is cancelled, the operator will move you to a later ship or refund you, and with Fast Ferries and Golden Star both running every day, a later sailing the same day is often possible.

  • From Gavrio, the main port on the north-west coast, about 30 km from Chora and about 8 km from Batsi. The port area has cafés, restaurants, shops, a pharmacy and car rental offices. Allow enough time for the drive if you are staying in Chora or the south of the island.

  • Some of the conventional Golden Star Ferries ships have inside and outside cabins, from about €85. For a trip of under two hours most people use a numbered seat, from about €24.50, or a business lounge seat from about €38, where available.

  • The reverse trip runs every day of the year with the same three companies, from about 50 minutes on a fast boat to around two hours on a conventional ship. When we checked, adult fares from Rafina started at €19.70. See our Rafina to Andros page for details.

Island Guides

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