Andros is the northernmost of the Cyclades, and for travellers coming from Athens it has a single front door: Ferryhopper notes that Rafina is currently the only Athens port with sailings to the island. That makes this short hop across the channel from the east coast of Attica the gateway to the whole island, whether you are coming for a long weekend or starting a longer trip through the northern Cyclades.
Rafina is a small, easy harbour town about 33 km east of central Athens and only 26 km from Athens International Airport, so you can land in the morning and be on Andros by lunchtime. The boat arrives at Gavrio, the working port on the north-west coast of Andros, about 30 km from Chora, the capital. Andros is green and mountainous by Cycladic standards, laced with springs, stone paths and walled terraces, and it rewards people who hire a car or lace up walking boots.
Because boats run every day and the crossing takes two hours at most, Andros fits neatly into most itineraries. Many travellers treat it as a first stop before Tinos and Mykonos to the south; others use it for a quiet few days at the end of a trip, within easy reach of the airport for the flight home.
The real decision is fast boat or conventional ship. The high-speed craft save about an hour but are seasonal, while the conventional ships sail all year, carry cars comfortably and have open decks. Rafina sailings get busy at weekends and around Greek holidays, so book early for those dates, especially with a vehicle.
