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Ferry RouteIOS to PIR

Ferry from Ios to Piraeus.

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

Fastest crossing
4h 35mSeajets · checked 24 Sept 2026
Lowest adult fare
€43.50checked 24 Sept 2026
Ferry operators
3Seajets, Blue Star Ferries, Fast Ferries

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

Ios to Piraeus: live times, seats and prices for your date.

Passengers
2 passengers

Lowest adult fare we found: €43.50, checked 24 September 2026.

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

Ios
Map of the ferry route from Ios to Piraeus. Coastlines © OpenStreetMap contributors, Natural Earth

How do you get from Ios to Piraeus by ferry?

Ferries from Ios to Piraeus run on 5 to 7 days a week all year. Seajets high-speed boats take about 4 hr 35 min to 4 hr 50 min and sail from May to October; Blue Star Ferries takes about 6 hr 40 min to 7 hr 35 min and Fast Ferries 6 hr 30 min to over 9 hours. The lowest adult fare Ferryhopper showed in this direction on 24 September 2026 was €43.50.

Source: Ferryhopper route page and timetable sample · as of

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01Operators compared

Ios to Piraeus 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 Ios to Piraeus route
OperatorVessel typeCrossing timeVehiclesAdult fare from
SeajetsHigh-speed ferry4 hr 35 min to 4 hr 50 minNot confirmed€82.70
Blue Star FerriesConventional ferry6 hr 40 min to 7 hr 35 minCars and motorbikes€44.50
Fast FerriesConventional ferry6 hr 30 min to 9 hr 10 minCars and motorbikes€48

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

  • SeajetsMay to October in Ferryhopper's table of last year's data, from once a week in midsummer to daily in October. Vessels include the Champion Jet 1 and Olympic Champion Jet.
  • Blue Star FerriesFive days a week in every month of last year's data; ships such as the Blue Star Delos, with cabins.
  • Fast FerriesThree to five days a week all year in last year's data, on ships such as the Dionisios Solomos.

02Fares

Ios to Piraeus 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 Ios and Piraeus, both directions
PassengersIos → PiraeusPiraeus → Ios
1 adult€43.50€39
2 adults€88.99€78
2 adults and a car€176€165
2 adults, 2 children and a car€256.50€258

Source: Ferryhopper route page · checked

Lowest fares shown on Ferryhopper when we checked on 2026-09-24; outbound is Ios to Piraeus, inbound Piraeus to Ios. Fares change with the date, vessel and demand; the booking page shows the current price. Each row is the cheapest figure found for that party and may come from a different sailing.

Search the return, Piraeus to Ios

03Schedule by season

Ios to Piraeus ferry schedule by season.

Ferryhopper lists departures from Ios to Piraeus in every month, on 5 to 7 days a week, with the earliest boat usually leaving at 04:30 and the last at 22:00. Its operator table, based on last year's data, shows Blue Star Ferries sailing five days a week all year and Fast Ferries three to five days a week. Seajets appears from May to October: twice a week in May and June, once a week in July and August, then five days a week in September and daily in October. From November to April, only the conventional ships are listed. We had no sampled timetable for this direction, so check exact times on the booking page.

The Journey

The Ios to Piraeus crossing.

Ios is famous for its summer nightlife in Chora and the long sandy sweep of Mylopotas, but it is also a lovely, rugged island once the season quietens down. Either way, the trip back to Athens is a long one, and it pays to choose your boat with care.

Three companies make the crossing. Blue Star Ferries is the steady, year-round option, sailing five days a week in every month; Fast Ferries also runs all year, on fewer days; and Seajets adds a much quicker high-speed boat from May to October. Because the conventional ships call at several islands on their way north, the gap between the fastest and slowest sailings is large, from under five hours to over nine.

Many conventional sailings from Ios leave in the evening and reach Piraeus the next day, and the timetable ranges from very early departures, as early as 04:30 according to Ferryhopper, to late ones at 22:00. That can work well: a cabin on an overnight ship saves a hotel night and lands you in Athens ready for the day. Just check the arrival time before you plan anything in Athens.

Piraeus is Athens' main port, about 15 km from the city centre and 45 km from the airport. If you are flying out, the fast boat or an overnight ship arriving early gives you the most room. In summer, book early, as cabins and car spaces on the conventional ships are limited.

How long the crossing takes

Ferryhopper gives a shortest trip of 4 hours 35 minutes from Ios to Piraeus and a normal range of 4 hours 35 minutes to 10 hours 35 minutes, depending on the ship and its stops. The Seajets high-speed boats take 4 hours 35 to 4 hours 50 minutes. Blue Star Ferries needs about 6 hours 40 minutes to 7 hours 35 minutes, and Fast Ferries 6 hours 30 minutes to 9 hours 10 minutes in last year's monthly data. The sea distance is roughly 112 nautical miles, about 226 km, and the conventional ships stop at other islands along the way.

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04The ports

Where the Ios to Piraeus ferry docks.

Departure port

Ios

IOS · 36.7233° N 25.2811° E

Ferries to Athens leave from the port of Ios, also called Gialos, on the west coast, about 2 km below Chora. The harbour area is compact, with cafés, restaurants, bakeries, shops, ATMs, ticket offices, car hire and hotels nearby. From Chora it is about a 20-minute walk down or a 5-minute taxi ride; in summer, local buses run between the port, Chora and Mylopotas roughly every 15 to 20 minutes. The public car park by the waterfront fills fast when boats are due. Ferryhopper advises arriving at least an hour early, or two hours with a vehicle, as the port gets very busy in high season.

Arrival port

Athens (Piraeus)

PIR · 37.9475° N 23.6412° E

Ships from Ios usually dock at one of gates E4, E6, E7, E9 or E10 in Piraeus, depending on the company and vessel. Around the gates you will find waiting areas, snack bars, toilets and taxis. Central Athens is about 15 km away: metro Line 1 runs from Piraeus into the city, and the tram also serves the port area. Athens International Airport is about 45 km away, so allow plenty of time for the transfer by metro, bus, suburban railway or taxi, especially if your ship arrives at a busy time of day.

05On Board

On board the Ios to Piraeus ferry.

On a crossing of five to nine hours the ship matters. The conventional Blue Star and Fast Ferries ships are built for long trips, with air-conditioned lounges, outer decks, cafés, self-service and à la carte restaurants, shops and children's play areas. Blue Star sells cabins for one to four people, including sea-view, accessible, pet-friendly and shared cabins, from around €92. Numbered reclining seats started at about €60 and business or VIP lounges at around €77. The Seajets boats are simpler, with air-conditioned lounges, TVs and a snack bar. Blue Star and Seajets allow 50 kg of luggage; Fast Ferries lets you bring whatever you can carry yourself.

06Weather and cancellations

Wind, weather and cancellations on the Ios to Piraeus route.

The route north from Ios crosses the central Cyclades, right in the path of the summer meltemi, the north wind that is strongest in July and August. The Seajets high-speed boat is the most exposed and the most likely to be delayed or kept in port; the big Blue Star ships usually keep sailing, though they can run late. The port authority can stop any departure when it is unsafe. If your sailing is cancelled, your operator will move you to another departure or refund you. With a long crossing and not every company sailing daily, leave at least a day between your ferry and any important flight.

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07Travel Tips

Ios to Piraeus ferry travel tips.

  1. On an evening conventional sailing, book a cabin and arrive in Athens rested.

  2. For the fastest trip, choose Seajets, about 4 hr 35 min, but check it runs in your month.

  3. Blue Star Ferries had the lowest fare in this direction, from €44.50, and sails five days a week all year.

  4. Arrive at the Ios port an hour early, or two hours with a car, especially in July and August.

  5. If Piraeus boats are full, look at the seasonal Ios to Rafina ferry, which lands closer to the airport.

08Alternatives

Other ways between Ios and Piraeus.

For the outward trip, see our Athens (Piraeus) to Ios page. Ferryhopper also lists a seasonal Ios to Rafina ferry, usually with one crossing a day from May to October; Rafina is about 30 km from central Athens and about 16 km from the airport. Ios has no airport, but Santorini (JTR), Naxos (JNX) and Paros (PAS) do, and all three have ferries from Ios.

The return crossingPiraeus → Ios4h 15m · from €48
Change boat in Paros (Parikia)
  1. Leg 1: Ios → Paros (Parikia)55 min · from €24.50
  2. Leg 2: Paros (Parikia) → Piraeus
Change boat in Naxos
  1. Leg 1: Ios → Naxos45 min · from €22.50
  2. Leg 2: Naxos → Piraeus
Change boat in Milos (Adamas)
  1. Leg 1: Ios → Milos (Adamas)2h 50m · from €14.50
  2. Leg 2: Milos (Adamas) → Piraeus
Change boat in Mykonos
  1. Leg 1: Ios → Mykonos1h 30m · from €72
  2. Leg 2: Mykonos → Piraeus

Other ferries to Piraeus

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

09Island Hopping

Island hopping from Piraeus.

All direct ferry routes

10Route matrix

All ferry routes from Ios.

Every direct route from Ios 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 Ios: fastest sampled crossing, lowest sampled adult fare and sailings on the sampled day
RouteFastestLowest fareSailings that dayOperators
Ios → Amorgos (Katapola)Seajets, Small Cyclades Lines
Ios → Folegandros1h 20m€5.502Seajets, Fast Ferries
Ios → Milos (Adamas)2h 50m€14.502Seajets, Fast Ferries
Ios → Mykonos1h 30m€723Seajets, Golden Star Ferries
Ios → Naxos45 min€22.504Blue Star Ferries, Seajets
Ios → Paros (Parikia)55 min€24.505Blue Star Ferries, Seajets, Golden Star Ferries
Ios → PiraeusYou are hereSeajets, Blue Star Ferries, Fast Ferries
Ios → Santorini (Athinios)35 min€6.507Blue Star Ferries, Seajets, Golden Star Ferries, Fast Ferries
Ios → Sikinos30 min€41Fast Ferries

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

Questions

Ios to Piraeus ferry: frequently asked questions.

  • From 4 hours 35 minutes to more than 9 hours. Seajets high-speed boats take 4 hours 35 to 4 hours 50 minutes. Blue Star Ferries takes about 6 hours 40 minutes to 7 hours 35 minutes, and Fast Ferries 6 hours 30 minutes to 9 hours 10 minutes. Ferryhopper's outer range for the route is 10 hours 35 minutes.

  • Ferryhopper showed a lowest adult fare of €43.50 in this direction when we checked on 24 September 2026. By operator, Blue Star Ferries started at €44.50, Fast Ferries at €48 and Seajets at €82.70. Two adults came to €88.99 and two adults with a car to €176 on the cheapest sailings.

  • On 5 to 7 days a week, all year. Blue Star Ferries sails five days a week and Fast Ferries three to five, in every month of last year's data. Seajets adds high-speed boats from May to October, most often in September and October.

  • Yes, on the conventional ferries, which have car decks. Ferryhopper's indicative vehicle charges start around €95 for a car, with motorbikes from €32 and camper vans from €206. Two adults with a car started at €176. Bring your licence, registration and insurance papers, and arrive two hours before departure.

  • Seajets is best for speed, at under 5 hours, but only runs from May to October and costs more. Blue Star Ferries is the most regular, five days a week all year, with cabins and the lowest fares. Fast Ferries is a useful extra option on days Blue Star does not sail.

  • Yes. Ferryhopper notes that many conventional ferries leave Ios in the evening and arrive in Piraeus the next day. Book a cabin, from around €92 on Blue Star, or at least a numbered reclining seat, so you can sleep on the way.

  • Yes, Seajets runs high-speed catamarans that take about 4 hours 35 minutes to 4 hours 50 minutes. In last year's data they sailed from May to October, only once or twice a week in midsummer but daily in October, with fares from €82.70.

  • Usually at gate E4, E6, E7, E9 or E10, depending on the company and ship. From there, metro Line 1 and the tram connect with central Athens, about 15 km away, and the airport is about 45 km away by metro, bus, suburban railway or taxi.

  • Only with a lot of slack. Even the fast boat takes about 4 hours 35 minutes, the conventional ships up to 9 hours, and summer winds cause delays. An overnight ship that lands early can leave time for an afternoon or evening flight; otherwise spend a night in Athens.

  • In July and August the meltemi can delay or stop the Seajets boats, and in storms the port authority can hold any ship. The operator will rebook or refund you. As not every company sails daily, the next suitable boat may be the following day, so avoid tight flight connections.

  • The same three companies sail the outward route, with a shortest trip of 4 hours 15 minutes and fares from €39 on Ferryhopper when we checked. See our Athens (Piraeus) to Ios page for the details.

Island Guides

Plan the rest of your trip.

IOStoPIR

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fastest 4h 35m · from €43.50

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