The Athens to Santorini ferry runs daily from Piraeus to Athinios port, taking 4h 50m to 11h 30m with tickets from €45.50. Up to 6-8 sailings per day in summer on Seajets (fastest), Blue Star and Fast Ferries.
This is the classic way into the Cyclades: board in Athens' great port in the morning and arrive under the caldera cliffs of Santorini the same afternoon or evening. The crossing covers about 127 nautical miles, and the conventional ships usually call at other islands on the way, so you get a slow-motion tour of the Aegean before the volcano's rim appears. Arriving by sea, with the white villages of Fira and Oia perched on the cliff tops above you, is something a flight simply cannot match.
Santorini is the busiest island in the group, so it rewards some planning. Athinios, where every ferry docks, sits at the foot of the caldera wall, and the zigzag road up to Fira is often congested when two ships arrive together. Book your transfer or know your bus plan before you land. Many visitors spend three or four nights here and then continue by ferry to Ios, Naxos, Paros or Crete rather than returning straight to Athens.
The big decision is which boat. Seajets costs noticeably more than Blue Star but can save several hours. Blue Star Ferries is the best value for most people and carries cars, while Fast Ferries is the slowest option, running long multi-island itineraries a few days a week. In July and August, book early: the fast boats and the cheapest seats go first.
