There is a ferry (BLUE STAR 2) at 17:00 hours departing from Santorini. Your site is so informative,I would like to see Santorinis in its full swing with blue sky and blue water. We land in Athens on September 18 at 12:25pm. Your site is great! Thank you so much for the all the information you provided in this forum. This is the Hellenic Highspeed 7 which is almost identical to the Minoan Lines Santorini Palace (which I dont have a photo of). You, however, have saved me all this work and for that I really thank you. Yes, theres a ferry every day to Santorini. So I was thinking about booking all my Ferry tickets through Danae Travels and collecting it from the airport when I land in Athens. I tried searching one-way from Piraeus but Thira was not loaded in the to drop-down list. Youll definitely find many flights and can pick and choose your flight times. We are travelling from Johannesburg in South African and are starting to plan our trip to Greece. 1. So, were taking my parents to Greece for my dads birthday. Youll have more than enough things to see and do to fill your time in Santorini. Do you think this gives us enough time? When to book tickets: 2 to 3 months in advance (any sooner and some ferry routes might not be released yet, any later and some ferries could be sold out).
The slowest (but often cheapest) ferry from Athens to Santorini. The Zante and the Blue Star are the only ferries next Tuesday and the both get to Piraeus late. From Santorini ferry to Paros, ferry to Mykonos, and ferry back to Athens. I assume there is a bus in the middle of the night that would transport us from Rafina to the airport, but we might be willing to do a taxi directly to the hotel. I was planning to see Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini. You need to purchase the whole cabin to be together. However the only options are the Blue Star 2 leaving at 6:10am which heads straight to Piraeus arriving 11:15am, or the Blue Star Delos leaving at 3:30pm and arriving Piraeus at 11:15pm. Its walkable but try to get a taxi which will be able to take you right up to the ferry. Anyway, I wanted to book ahead of time and now Im worried that there is not a ferry that day. I have been looking at Paros, Naxos, Folegandros, Serifos, Kos. Any information on this will be greatly appreciated. If the e-ticket has a bar code its good for boarding the ferry. I feel comfortable and confident that our trip is going to be world class and all thanks to YOU. Hi Dave, Such amazing work you are doing. The only disadvantage is that there are no ferries from Santorini to Crete in the off season so youd have to return to Athens then go to Crete. Since it is a long trip I thought it might be nice to book a cabin for our luggage and for our own restroom, etc. Can you propose an itinerary (when to travel to the islands/beaches, how many days, which ferries/port etc.) Hi Dave, great website and it really helps a lot! Athens still has lots to do in the winter, so no worries there. You have it exactly right. No big difference, but if you do Santorini then Athens youll have a built in buffer (so as not to miss your flight) in case ferries or flights from the islands are delayed or canceled. Regards You should be fine buying ferry tickets at the airport when you arrive. Taxis are less reliable but if there are some they will be easy to find. You could try emailing Blue Star at [emailprotected]. Thanks. If youre traveling by ferry then you dont have to book your tickets in advance so you could check the weather forecast and go if it looks decent. I would guess that there will be more Rome-Santorini flights added but there are no guarantees especially for any specific day. Its much more comfortable/enjoyable/relaxing. Do you know approximately how far it is or how long it takes to get from E11 to E6 at the port? As long as your cruise is on time youll be fine but thats not guaranteed by any means. My sister and I are both in our early 30s and parents 60s. Also, can i get ferry back to Athens from Santorini in the morning around 7? We have 5 days for this trip. Naxos and Paros on the other hand have direct ferry service with Athens and Santorini making island hopping easy, even in December. Your reply is most appreciated. We are trying to book Blue Star ferry from Athens to Mykonos via their website. 4. We are going to Greece from September 18 October 1 for honeymoon. It obviously depends on when you arrive and depart on each day.
Crete, Naxos, and Paros are also good. But it will cost you extra to book with Danae. I am hesitant to book our Santorini room if there are not flights on the days we planned to go. If youre prone to seasickness choose a different ferry. Mykonos not so interesting outside of summer months. Can we stop over at Mykonos from Athens to Santorini or vice versa? Take an early flight to Santorini and get the last flight back to Athens. Chloe. I am traveling with a friend and her 12 year old daughter and will be taking the Blue Star ferry from Piraeus to Santorini. Do you have a recommendation for accommodations and restaurants close to the airport? I was wondering if you know. Thanks in advance. Hotels are ultra-aware of online forums and reviews and bend over backwards to keep guests happy. Youll be fine booking ferry tickets when you arrive in Athens (buy from any travel agency you come across in Athens a day or two before traveling). January can be windy and wet or sunny and mild, no telling. Athens and Santorini can be great in early December. Is it rough on the inside? Your site is very helpful!
Youll need to fly via Athens. Wed like to visit Santorini, Paros and tour Athens on the back end. I absolutely LOVE this. With such limited time dont waste any more of it on a ferry than you have to. Easy to book at a later date so dont worry about that. Is this an okay time to visit Greece in December? Or rather, Id feel fine making those plans. Order you visit doesnt matter. Im travelling from Santorini to Athens on 29th July by Blue Star Ferry and was checking their website. With one or two rare exceptions it doesnt save money to book in advance. The SeaJets Champion Jet 2 ferry. Hi Dave, Neither of us have ever flew to Athens before so not sure what the airport is like, how far away terminals are from each other, how many check in desks etc there are and what baggage collection carousels are like (some airports are notoriously slow Birmingham being one of them!).
Thank you for all the information, its been really helpful. Are you aware if all there special come out at the beginning of the year? Is it beach weather? I might also mention I am looking far in advance to get acquainted with the website because my trip is planned for the week of the July 17, so right now the ferry times are not posted. Which are the best beaches to visit during that time? Take a small bag with just a few necessary items. Plan to stay in Oia. I cant seem to find any information on if they check the tickets to allow access to certain decks/areas. around 7.20am? Hi Dave Ive just started looking into making plans to be in Greece November 17 to 26 (flying in and out of Athens).
i was wondering how to pay you back as a token of appreciation, then i saw the Patron site.
While booking the seat they are showing Economy and AIR SEATS LOUNGE-1. So were thinking Athens for 1 night and then to Santorini for 4 nights, then Paros for 3 nights, Mykonos for 3 nights, then home. Do you know of a ferry option for Santorini to Piraeus that would leave early (7:00?) How is the weather going to be in early February? If we book a cabin, do we get the whole cabin to ourselves or do we share it with others (as it has 4 beds)?. But there are no ferries between Santorini and Crete in November so youd need to fly via Athens to get between the two islands. This will save you the time and hassle of coming into Athens. Your blog is very detailed and I really have gotten so much information on planning my trip. Most ferries from Athens to Santorini also stop in Naxos and Paros en route. You site popped up first when I went to Google with the question about how to get from Athens to Santorini. Ultimately wed ferry from Santorini to Paros and Paros to Athens. Tickets can purchased in Piraeus but its much better to buy ferry tickets in advance. If you only have 3 or 4 then spend all of them on Santorini. Or on the fine print when booking a ticket. Were scheduled to leave Athens and return to Birmingham at 8pm local time. This is a wonderful website. I have flown with them many times. We will be in Athens December 27 January 1, would a day trip to Santorini be possible? Book through Seajets.gr. We will be travelling to Greece, first time for us, on August 11. I recommend staying at the Airport Sofitel which is steps from the terminal. Naxos is a great island to visit in the off season. This trips always take SOOOO much time to research and drill down on all the necessary information. ), Hi Dave, This is a small ferry and can give a very rough ride in choppy seas. 2. We are considering flying from Athens to Santorini to save time. Not so much concerned about the mainland. Without knowing your budget I cant say. Are there any fast hydrofoils the period we are going? Our total trip looks like this: Arrive Athens at 4:30 pm on May 21st, depart Athens on the 28th via 6:00 AM flight (yuck!). We are in an early planning stage and are getting good price on flight (Ryan and Aegean). Were flying to Athens on Dec 16 at 7pm to Dec 24th at 7:55 am. There are multiple flights per day from Athens to Santorini year-round. I am planning to take ferry on September 9 from Naxos to Piraeus. (In past years service has been every day in the high season, but this year Hellenic has dropped a few days through the week.) We are coming to Athens for 3 nights in September then over to Santorini for 3 nights.
So, do you think it is a good idea? We are looking to book in advance as August is the peak season. 3.
My husband and I are planning a trip to Greece the last 2 weeks of July. Seajets duration about 3 hours or Blue star duration 5.5 hours. Every airline is different and they even have different rates depending on where youre flying from. Kos is definitely a no as its a long way from Santorini and few direct ferries. I love to hear that this site is helpful. Now we just need to sort all this out. Those are the 2 best places to visit in the off season. Though it seems tempting to do a cruise/tour I highly recommend planning and traveling on your own. Do you agree? 2. by Santorini Dave Updated: June 8, 2022. Hi Dave, Do the ferries operate on March 25, Independence Day? We are planning to come to Santorini from Athens on April 1 for 1 night. I keep hearing that Crete is too big and need one week just there! Right now Im searching the Internet for some other tour company that will allow us to spend a reasonable amount of time on Santorini. March and April can be wonderful on Santorini (blue skies and warmish weather) as long as you dont want to swim or suntan (for that you have to wait until early May). Have a great trip. Is it better to fly via Athens? Thank you for the reply. We will be travelling to Santorini for 4 days from 22-25th September. We are hoping to spend 3 or 4 nights on Santorini. Greece Athens Athens (Piraeus) to Santorini Then take the Blue Star ferry the following morning at 7:25am from Piraeus. On May 24 it will depart Santorini at 9am and get to Rafina at 15:45. Ive just read that its not great season to visit islands since its cold and wet. I am told that the ferry ride can be rough in the winter. Theyre a fine, typical budget airline in Europe. There should be a Highspeed4 and Cat4 from Piraeus to Santorini throughout May. I looked up sunset time and it will be around 19:00. How to buy ferry tickets: Ferryhopper.com I am having difficulty choosing the 2nd island.
But much better if you can stay even one night. This is an awesome blog David!
Thank you very much for the detail information! Will it be crowded? Your email address will not be published. Then use Booking.com to find hotels with a rating of 8.0 or better.
Would you suggest just getting the Hellenic Seaway Highspeed 6 which leaves 12:25pm and arrives Piraeus 5:05pm, a much more attractive schedule? Yes, they can be cancelled but its not too common. We are planning to book the A2 outside cabin so that we can catch some sleep. Acknowledging that well be exhausted and good for a nice dinner out and early to bed, Im thinking that we could stay the night in close proximity to the Airport to catch a relatively early departure to Santorini. A For Athens). The only flight available from Santorini is at 8:20am, arriving in Athens at 9:10am. The worst for seasickness. So, I would focus on Athens and Santorini and save Mykonos to another visit. Great research, comments and pictures on every step you have to take. After Crete we want to go to Santorini for a few days. Also, if we get the Cabin, do we still get access to business lounge? I was hoping to compare the time and price before booking.
Is that correct? I get extremely sea sick but Id love to travel by sea for the views.
I would book flights as soon as possible as they tend to go up, not down. The Ryanair flight departing Athens for Santorini at 7am looks like the best option to me, as Im thinking 2 hours 30 should be enough time in between the flights to get our hold baggage, check in again and go through security. There are bank machines on all the islands so getting more cash is never a problem. Are there any convenient islands that you would recommend visiting from Santorini? Which is the best month for such climate? The port is 20-minutes by bus or taxi from Fira (Santorinis largest town). We are planning to visit Greece (Athens, Myconos and Santorini) during the 1st week of December. 3. We are arriving in Greece on November 18 and plan on heading to Crete via plane when we arrive. We are thinking to book in advance the Blue Ferry when leaving for Santorini on 22th but leaving for Athens by the Hellenic Seaways on 25th, Monday. My intention was to travel Blue Star for the advantages you outline above (cheapest, most unaffected by weather, most fun). Thank you in advance for your advice. Apart from Santorini and Athens, which places can we see during this span? We will be traveling in Italy end of May-beginning of June and are planning to spend our last few days of the trip relaxing in Santorini. Aegean has a 5:15am flight that arrives in Santorini at 6am. Thank you again for your help! Hi, wonderful help your website is. Do whats best based on the ferry schedule. The fastest boat is the SeaJet that leaves at 7am and gets to Santorini at 11:50am. Neither of us has been to Greece. Our ship arrives at 6am, so Im trying to determine if we can make the 7:25am Blue Star ferry to Santorini. I with my wife will be in Greece from April 15 till April 23, for 9 nights and will be distributing 3 nights each with Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini. Would it be a problem to book the two adults into a luxe cabin and then book an economy ticket for my friends daughter, but have her (and her luggage) join us in the cabin? Yes, there will be a Paros to Rafina ferry in July. Weather in May is generally great for sightseeing and relaxing but can be a tossup for beach weather. Also, we have been told that we should go to Santorini as our 2nd island as nothing compares to it. I have 2 options: There doesnt appear to be a ferry that day. Im planning on going to Greece next September for 10 days any suggestions on how many nights I do in Athens and Santorini and Mykonos? Based on this time of year where would you suggest we spend our time? Dave, In low season there will always be at least one ferry per day. Your website is brilliant! Cool and grey. Of course have good food too. Thank you so much for all the info. I was hoping you could tell me if the water is very choppy at that time of year? 1. The Blue Star Naxos ferry. However, Ive checked through the Hellenic website that there is no Highspeed ferry available for that day. The Hellenic Seaways Ariadne ferry. My family and I are heading to Greece and Italy in June. Hi Dave, Any advice on trip planning? There wont be any direct ferries or flights from Crete to Santorini in November. Any recommendations? Yes, that early flight should work fine. It is SO DANG HELPFUL! So, thank you for that! Is it possible? It takes a little more effort but creates a much more memorable trip. Given that we are staying in Santorini for one night only, we would also like to visit Mykonos for a few hours. Both leave between 7am and 8am from Piraeus. Its just over a mile. How convenient are ferries to other islands (say IOS or Crete) from Santorini during December? when we arrive in Athens (around 9PM on 8/11) for us to maximize few days both at Athens and the islands? I have a good travel agent, but she is using a wholesaler, Gate 1. If you have a few more then go to Ios, Naxos, or Paros to find some great beaches. Stay the night at a cheap hotel. Do you think there will be a problem taking the public transport from Fira to the airport considering I need to be in the Santorini airport about an hour before the flight (right?) Serifos might be a little harder to get to depending on the schedule. Have you ever heard of Volotea airlines? Do you think the proposed flight transit is workable? I contacted bluestar by email, and i am still waiting for their response. The flight will get you there before 7am and youll probably be sitting at a cafe in Parikia with your bags at your feet waiting for 2 or 3 hours. We are travelling to Greece in August. I am thinking to leave Santorini in mid December for Istanbul and transit in Athens. More time is always better, but yes, you could see a fair bit in one day. Good thing I stumbled upon it! Do you know if Hellenic high speed ferries operate in mid May? If its got a good rating the chance of getting a bad hotel are almost zero. May I know from your opinion, is it possible if i only stay for 1 night in santorini? Im thinking that maybe after the tour ends in Athens, we could go back to the ferry port or airport and go to Santorini. If you arrived really early on day 1 and left late on day 2 then you could get a fair bit accomplished. A good choice if youre prone to seasickness. Im feeling a lot more sorted about travelling to Greece after reading this site. Your site is amazing with a wealth of practical info. Some ferries do have 2-berth cabins but the ones on the Santorini route I dont believe currently have these cabins. I would recommend 2 nights in Athens, 3 in Mykonos, and 4 in Santorini. Thanks for the great info! Nomiki. But in general, do I have any insight into what prices will be in January, no. Thanks for all your time and professionalism in putting together this website Dave you are brilliant. I loved it. Were going to Greece this December and I almost cancelled my trip since I kept reading negative comments about going to Greece in Dec BUT, I feel so much better now after reading your comments. The schedule is not official yet but thats what its currently showing. 8.20 am/11.20am (Which is better?) Myself I put the trip which was great success. BUT .. of course there were few bumps like not validating my metro tickets on the platform. Can you tell wether I can board with the online tickets or do I have to go and collect the tickets from the ticket office? The SeaJets Superjet ferry. Also, were bringing a credit card too with no foreign transaction fee. Id plan on taking a taxi. Visit Athens at the end this has the added benefit of giving you some buffer time at the end of your trip in case there are ferry cancellations. The only return flight through Ryanair available from Santorini to Athens is at 4:55pm, arriving at Athens airport at 5:45pm (all being that there are no delays etc!). I just want to be sure before I book cause Ive heard the baggage charges are very heavy.
Or, assuming youre in Athens the night before, its easy to purchase at any travel agent in central Athens (theyre all over the place). 4. Athens and Santorini are 2 of the better destinations in December. Athens and Santorini are both recommended. I doubt therell be more than one flight per day from Santorini to Naples so I would book that one too before prices go up. 2. Ideally, Id like to visit Athens, Santorini, and another island (maybe Crete?). Its one of the smaller Superjets (so could be a rough ride). Micaela. What are the hotels in Santorini that offer a good sea view? I was thinking 3 nights each and the last night near the hotel but Im up for any suggestions. Really found it helpful when looking at getting about in Santorini! Which islands beside Santorini will be a highlight to visit them during that time? Would you like to ask what is the best romantic Island to visit for 3 night? Knowing that March 25 is the Greek Independence Day and it is followed by the Easter holidays, Im wondering if there will be a lot of people taking the ferry during such vacation? I do not see this port on the Blue Star website. There are morning ferries in April from Santorini to Athens that leave at 7am on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Otherwise you have to ticket separately (each on an individual line on the booking app) and youll be in (separate) male and female cabins. Itll be worth it for the extra time. Similarly for the open air theater. Help! Santorini Dave first and foremost congratulation on the best traveling report I have ever seen. Yes, the Air Seats Lounge are big comfortable seats, somewhat like airplane seats but bigger. The SeaJets Sea Jet 2 ferry. There is only one flight at the moment, but hoping again that cheaper flights will come out at the beginning of the year. Thank you for this website. 2) Given that January is off-season, I am told that the volcano & hot springs tour and other such tours will not be operational. Crete is great. Also, there are no ferries between Mykonos and Santorini so youd need to travel via Athens to get from one to the other. Possible? The sea in September is about as calm as it gets but thats no guarantee for what it will do. The issue we are having is in what order to do the islands and if we should do Athens first or last. I have a quick question about sea jet doing a morning round from Santorini to Rafina starting May 20, none of the travel agents are aware of this schedule. We have not found any ferry schedule for November. The only direct flight I see from Rome to Santorini on the day we need leaves Rome @ 23:40 and arrives the next morning @ 02:50. I feel like if I can start with the hotels than I can figure the other things out. This is also a small ferry and should be avoided if youre sensitive to rough seas. Please give me any suggestion for great experience in Greece in Winter season. A ferry would take all day (8 hours) where as plane is maybe 4 hours including security but more expensive. Yes, they will check tickets but that doesnt mean the child would be allowed to access the cabin. Anu. Getting to the airport that early could be a problem (and winter bus schedules are very thin). Definitely skip Mykonos as theres not much to do there outside of the summer season. I am looking into a Paros to Rafina ferry because I plan on flying back to US the following morning and think it might be easier to stay in a hotel near or attached to the airport.
Is that a good idea? Yeah, travel agents suck, not as people obviously but what they offer in terms of hotels are lame. The Blue Star Delos ferry. You can try another website but if the main Blue Star site is not working I have a hard time seeing how adding a middle man is going to help. Hi Dave, Such an awesome website!! With the earlier option I imagine I would need to get up before 5am to try and organise ourselves to be down at the port by 5:30am? There are no guarantees but Id be fine with your 4 hour connection time in Athens. 4. I know its gonna be a little cold and quiet. The fastest ferry from Athens (Piraeus) to Santorini. Im in. You should be the islands tourist bureau chief. I would switch your ferries and take Hellenic to Santorini, and Blue Star (which runs every day) back to Athens. Cabins are nice-ish and you should be able to get some sleep. Any other island would be nice to see in December? 4. Which one would you suggest to take? In December ferries are less common than in summer but there is always a daily ferry to Naxos, Paros, and Athens (and often Ios).
The slowest (but often cheapest) ferry from Athens to Santorini. The Zante and the Blue Star are the only ferries next Tuesday and the both get to Piraeus late. From Santorini ferry to Paros, ferry to Mykonos, and ferry back to Athens. I assume there is a bus in the middle of the night that would transport us from Rafina to the airport, but we might be willing to do a taxi directly to the hotel. I was planning to see Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini. You need to purchase the whole cabin to be together. However the only options are the Blue Star 2 leaving at 6:10am which heads straight to Piraeus arriving 11:15am, or the Blue Star Delos leaving at 3:30pm and arriving Piraeus at 11:15pm. Its walkable but try to get a taxi which will be able to take you right up to the ferry. Anyway, I wanted to book ahead of time and now Im worried that there is not a ferry that day. I have been looking at Paros, Naxos, Folegandros, Serifos, Kos. Any information on this will be greatly appreciated. If the e-ticket has a bar code its good for boarding the ferry. I feel comfortable and confident that our trip is going to be world class and all thanks to YOU. Hi Dave, Such amazing work you are doing. The only disadvantage is that there are no ferries from Santorini to Crete in the off season so youd have to return to Athens then go to Crete. Since it is a long trip I thought it might be nice to book a cabin for our luggage and for our own restroom, etc. Can you propose an itinerary (when to travel to the islands/beaches, how many days, which ferries/port etc.) Hi Dave, great website and it really helps a lot! Athens still has lots to do in the winter, so no worries there. You have it exactly right. No big difference, but if you do Santorini then Athens youll have a built in buffer (so as not to miss your flight) in case ferries or flights from the islands are delayed or canceled. Regards You should be fine buying ferry tickets at the airport when you arrive. Taxis are less reliable but if there are some they will be easy to find. You could try emailing Blue Star at [emailprotected]. Thanks. If youre traveling by ferry then you dont have to book your tickets in advance so you could check the weather forecast and go if it looks decent. I would guess that there will be more Rome-Santorini flights added but there are no guarantees especially for any specific day. Its much more comfortable/enjoyable/relaxing. Do you know approximately how far it is or how long it takes to get from E11 to E6 at the port? As long as your cruise is on time youll be fine but thats not guaranteed by any means. My sister and I are both in our early 30s and parents 60s. Also, can i get ferry back to Athens from Santorini in the morning around 7? We have 5 days for this trip. Naxos and Paros on the other hand have direct ferry service with Athens and Santorini making island hopping easy, even in December. Your reply is most appreciated. We are trying to book Blue Star ferry from Athens to Mykonos via their website. 4. We are going to Greece from September 18 October 1 for honeymoon. It obviously depends on when you arrive and depart on each day. Crete, Naxos, and Paros are also good. But it will cost you extra to book with Danae. I am hesitant to book our Santorini room if there are not flights on the days we planned to go. If youre prone to seasickness choose a different ferry. Mykonos not so interesting outside of summer months. Can we stop over at Mykonos from Athens to Santorini or vice versa? Take an early flight to Santorini and get the last flight back to Athens. Chloe. I am traveling with a friend and her 12 year old daughter and will be taking the Blue Star ferry from Piraeus to Santorini. Do you have a recommendation for accommodations and restaurants close to the airport? I was wondering if you know. Thanks in advance. Hotels are ultra-aware of online forums and reviews and bend over backwards to keep guests happy. Youll be fine booking ferry tickets when you arrive in Athens (buy from any travel agency you come across in Athens a day or two before traveling). January can be windy and wet or sunny and mild, no telling. Athens and Santorini can be great in early December. Is it rough on the inside? Your site is very helpful!
Youll need to fly via Athens. Wed like to visit Santorini, Paros and tour Athens on the back end. I absolutely LOVE this. With such limited time dont waste any more of it on a ferry than you have to. Easy to book at a later date so dont worry about that. Is this an okay time to visit Greece in December? Or rather, Id feel fine making those plans. Order you visit doesnt matter. Im travelling from Santorini to Athens on 29th July by Blue Star Ferry and was checking their website. With one or two rare exceptions it doesnt save money to book in advance. The SeaJets Champion Jet 2 ferry. Hi Dave, Neither of us have ever flew to Athens before so not sure what the airport is like, how far away terminals are from each other, how many check in desks etc there are and what baggage collection carousels are like (some airports are notoriously slow Birmingham being one of them!).
Thank you for all the information, its been really helpful. Are you aware if all there special come out at the beginning of the year? Is it beach weather? I might also mention I am looking far in advance to get acquainted with the website because my trip is planned for the week of the July 17, so right now the ferry times are not posted. Which are the best beaches to visit during that time? Take a small bag with just a few necessary items. Plan to stay in Oia. I cant seem to find any information on if they check the tickets to allow access to certain decks/areas. around 7.20am? Hi Dave Ive just started looking into making plans to be in Greece November 17 to 26 (flying in and out of Athens).
i was wondering how to pay you back as a token of appreciation, then i saw the Patron site.
While booking the seat they are showing Economy and AIR SEATS LOUNGE-1. So were thinking Athens for 1 night and then to Santorini for 4 nights, then Paros for 3 nights, Mykonos for 3 nights, then home. Do you know of a ferry option for Santorini to Piraeus that would leave early (7:00?) How is the weather going to be in early February? If we book a cabin, do we get the whole cabin to ourselves or do we share it with others (as it has 4 beds)?. But there are no ferries between Santorini and Crete in November so youd need to fly via Athens to get between the two islands. This will save you the time and hassle of coming into Athens. Your blog is very detailed and I really have gotten so much information on planning my trip. Most ferries from Athens to Santorini also stop in Naxos and Paros en route. You site popped up first when I went to Google with the question about how to get from Athens to Santorini. Ultimately wed ferry from Santorini to Paros and Paros to Athens. Tickets can purchased in Piraeus but its much better to buy ferry tickets in advance. If you only have 3 or 4 then spend all of them on Santorini. Or on the fine print when booking a ticket. Were scheduled to leave Athens and return to Birmingham at 8pm local time. This is a wonderful website. I have flown with them many times. We will be in Athens December 27 January 1, would a day trip to Santorini be possible? Book through Seajets.gr. We will be travelling to Greece, first time for us, on August 11. I recommend staying at the Airport Sofitel which is steps from the terminal. Naxos is a great island to visit in the off season. This trips always take SOOOO much time to research and drill down on all the necessary information. ), Hi Dave, This is a small ferry and can give a very rough ride in choppy seas. 2. We are considering flying from Athens to Santorini to save time. Not so much concerned about the mainland. Without knowing your budget I cant say. Are there any fast hydrofoils the period we are going? Our total trip looks like this: Arrive Athens at 4:30 pm on May 21st, depart Athens on the 28th via 6:00 AM flight (yuck!). We are in an early planning stage and are getting good price on flight (Ryan and Aegean). Were flying to Athens on Dec 16 at 7pm to Dec 24th at 7:55 am. There are multiple flights per day from Athens to Santorini year-round. I am planning to take ferry on September 9 from Naxos to Piraeus. (In past years service has been every day in the high season, but this year Hellenic has dropped a few days through the week.) We are coming to Athens for 3 nights in September then over to Santorini for 3 nights. So, do you think it is a good idea? We are looking to book in advance as August is the peak season. 3.
My husband and I are planning a trip to Greece the last 2 weeks of July. Seajets duration about 3 hours or Blue star duration 5.5 hours. Every airline is different and they even have different rates depending on where youre flying from. Kos is definitely a no as its a long way from Santorini and few direct ferries. I love to hear that this site is helpful. Now we just need to sort all this out. Those are the 2 best places to visit in the off season. Though it seems tempting to do a cruise/tour I highly recommend planning and traveling on your own. Do you agree? 2. by Santorini Dave Updated: June 8, 2022. Hi Dave, Do the ferries operate on March 25, Independence Day? We are planning to come to Santorini from Athens on April 1 for 1 night. I keep hearing that Crete is too big and need one week just there! Right now Im searching the Internet for some other tour company that will allow us to spend a reasonable amount of time on Santorini. March and April can be wonderful on Santorini (blue skies and warmish weather) as long as you dont want to swim or suntan (for that you have to wait until early May). Have a great trip. Is it better to fly via Athens? Thank you for the reply. We will be travelling to Santorini for 4 days from 22-25th September. We are hoping to spend 3 or 4 nights on Santorini. Greece Athens Athens (Piraeus) to Santorini Then take the Blue Star ferry the following morning at 7:25am from Piraeus. On May 24 it will depart Santorini at 9am and get to Rafina at 15:45. Ive just read that its not great season to visit islands since its cold and wet. I am told that the ferry ride can be rough in the winter. Theyre a fine, typical budget airline in Europe. There should be a Highspeed4 and Cat4 from Piraeus to Santorini throughout May. I looked up sunset time and it will be around 19:00. How to buy ferry tickets: Ferryhopper.com I am having difficulty choosing the 2nd island. But much better if you can stay even one night. This is an awesome blog David!
Thank you very much for the detail information! Will it be crowded? Your email address will not be published. Then use Booking.com to find hotels with a rating of 8.0 or better.
Would you suggest just getting the Hellenic Seaway Highspeed 6 which leaves 12:25pm and arrives Piraeus 5:05pm, a much more attractive schedule? Yes, they can be cancelled but its not too common. We are planning to book the A2 outside cabin so that we can catch some sleep. Acknowledging that well be exhausted and good for a nice dinner out and early to bed, Im thinking that we could stay the night in close proximity to the Airport to catch a relatively early departure to Santorini. A For Athens). The only flight available from Santorini is at 8:20am, arriving in Athens at 9:10am. The worst for seasickness. So, I would focus on Athens and Santorini and save Mykonos to another visit. Great research, comments and pictures on every step you have to take. After Crete we want to go to Santorini for a few days. Also, if we get the Cabin, do we still get access to business lounge? I was hoping to compare the time and price before booking.
Is that correct? I get extremely sea sick but Id love to travel by sea for the views.
I would book flights as soon as possible as they tend to go up, not down. The Ryanair flight departing Athens for Santorini at 7am looks like the best option to me, as Im thinking 2 hours 30 should be enough time in between the flights to get our hold baggage, check in again and go through security. There are bank machines on all the islands so getting more cash is never a problem. Are there any convenient islands that you would recommend visiting from Santorini? Which is the best month for such climate? The port is 20-minutes by bus or taxi from Fira (Santorinis largest town). We are planning to visit Greece (Athens, Myconos and Santorini) during the 1st week of December. 3. We are arriving in Greece on November 18 and plan on heading to Crete via plane when we arrive. We are thinking to book in advance the Blue Ferry when leaving for Santorini on 22th but leaving for Athens by the Hellenic Seaways on 25th, Monday. My intention was to travel Blue Star for the advantages you outline above (cheapest, most unaffected by weather, most fun). Thank you in advance for your advice. Apart from Santorini and Athens, which places can we see during this span? We will be traveling in Italy end of May-beginning of June and are planning to spend our last few days of the trip relaxing in Santorini. Aegean has a 5:15am flight that arrives in Santorini at 6am. Thank you again for your help! Hi, wonderful help your website is. Do whats best based on the ferry schedule. The fastest boat is the SeaJet that leaves at 7am and gets to Santorini at 11:50am. Neither of us has been to Greece. Our ship arrives at 6am, so Im trying to determine if we can make the 7:25am Blue Star ferry to Santorini. I with my wife will be in Greece from April 15 till April 23, for 9 nights and will be distributing 3 nights each with Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini. Would it be a problem to book the two adults into a luxe cabin and then book an economy ticket for my friends daughter, but have her (and her luggage) join us in the cabin? Yes, there will be a Paros to Rafina ferry in July. Weather in May is generally great for sightseeing and relaxing but can be a tossup for beach weather. Also, we have been told that we should go to Santorini as our 2nd island as nothing compares to it. I have 2 options: There doesnt appear to be a ferry that day. Im planning on going to Greece next September for 10 days any suggestions on how many nights I do in Athens and Santorini and Mykonos? Based on this time of year where would you suggest we spend our time? Dave, In low season there will always be at least one ferry per day. Your website is brilliant! Cool and grey. Of course have good food too. Thank you so much for all the info. I was hoping you could tell me if the water is very choppy at that time of year? 1. The Blue Star Naxos ferry. However, Ive checked through the Hellenic website that there is no Highspeed ferry available for that day. The Hellenic Seaways Ariadne ferry. My family and I are heading to Greece and Italy in June. Hi Dave, Any advice on trip planning? There wont be any direct ferries or flights from Crete to Santorini in November. Any recommendations? Yes, that early flight should work fine. It is SO DANG HELPFUL! So, thank you for that! Is it possible? It takes a little more effort but creates a much more memorable trip. Given that we are staying in Santorini for one night only, we would also like to visit Mykonos for a few hours. Both leave between 7am and 8am from Piraeus. Its just over a mile. How convenient are ferries to other islands (say IOS or Crete) from Santorini during December? when we arrive in Athens (around 9PM on 8/11) for us to maximize few days both at Athens and the islands? I have a good travel agent, but she is using a wholesaler, Gate 1. If you have a few more then go to Ios, Naxos, or Paros to find some great beaches. Stay the night at a cheap hotel. Do you think there will be a problem taking the public transport from Fira to the airport considering I need to be in the Santorini airport about an hour before the flight (right?) Serifos might be a little harder to get to depending on the schedule. Have you ever heard of Volotea airlines? Do you think the proposed flight transit is workable? I contacted bluestar by email, and i am still waiting for their response. The flight will get you there before 7am and youll probably be sitting at a cafe in Parikia with your bags at your feet waiting for 2 or 3 hours. We are travelling to Greece in August. I am thinking to leave Santorini in mid December for Istanbul and transit in Athens. More time is always better, but yes, you could see a fair bit in one day. Good thing I stumbled upon it! Do you know if Hellenic high speed ferries operate in mid May? If its got a good rating the chance of getting a bad hotel are almost zero. May I know from your opinion, is it possible if i only stay for 1 night in santorini? Im thinking that maybe after the tour ends in Athens, we could go back to the ferry port or airport and go to Santorini. If you arrived really early on day 1 and left late on day 2 then you could get a fair bit accomplished. A good choice if youre prone to seasickness. Im feeling a lot more sorted about travelling to Greece after reading this site. Your site is amazing with a wealth of practical info. Some ferries do have 2-berth cabins but the ones on the Santorini route I dont believe currently have these cabins. I would recommend 2 nights in Athens, 3 in Mykonos, and 4 in Santorini. Thanks for the great info! Nomiki. But in general, do I have any insight into what prices will be in January, no. Thanks for all your time and professionalism in putting together this website Dave you are brilliant. I loved it. Were going to Greece this December and I almost cancelled my trip since I kept reading negative comments about going to Greece in Dec BUT, I feel so much better now after reading your comments. The schedule is not official yet but thats what its currently showing. 8.20 am/11.20am (Which is better?) Myself I put the trip which was great success. BUT .. of course there were few bumps like not validating my metro tickets on the platform. Can you tell wether I can board with the online tickets or do I have to go and collect the tickets from the ticket office? The SeaJets Superjet ferry. Also, were bringing a credit card too with no foreign transaction fee. Id plan on taking a taxi. Visit Athens at the end this has the added benefit of giving you some buffer time at the end of your trip in case there are ferry cancellations. The only return flight through Ryanair available from Santorini to Athens is at 4:55pm, arriving at Athens airport at 5:45pm (all being that there are no delays etc!). I just want to be sure before I book cause Ive heard the baggage charges are very heavy.
Or, assuming youre in Athens the night before, its easy to purchase at any travel agent in central Athens (theyre all over the place). 4. Athens and Santorini are 2 of the better destinations in December. Athens and Santorini are both recommended. I doubt therell be more than one flight per day from Santorini to Naples so I would book that one too before prices go up. 2. Ideally, Id like to visit Athens, Santorini, and another island (maybe Crete?). Its one of the smaller Superjets (so could be a rough ride). Micaela. What are the hotels in Santorini that offer a good sea view? I was thinking 3 nights each and the last night near the hotel but Im up for any suggestions. Really found it helpful when looking at getting about in Santorini! Which islands beside Santorini will be a highlight to visit them during that time? Would you like to ask what is the best romantic Island to visit for 3 night? Knowing that March 25 is the Greek Independence Day and it is followed by the Easter holidays, Im wondering if there will be a lot of people taking the ferry during such vacation? I do not see this port on the Blue Star website. There are morning ferries in April from Santorini to Athens that leave at 7am on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Otherwise you have to ticket separately (each on an individual line on the booking app) and youll be in (separate) male and female cabins. Itll be worth it for the extra time. Similarly for the open air theater. Help! Santorini Dave first and foremost congratulation on the best traveling report I have ever seen. Yes, the Air Seats Lounge are big comfortable seats, somewhat like airplane seats but bigger. The SeaJets Sea Jet 2 ferry. There is only one flight at the moment, but hoping again that cheaper flights will come out at the beginning of the year. Thank you for this website. 2) Given that January is off-season, I am told that the volcano & hot springs tour and other such tours will not be operational. Crete is great. Also, there are no ferries between Mykonos and Santorini so youd need to travel via Athens to get from one to the other. Possible? The sea in September is about as calm as it gets but thats no guarantee for what it will do. The issue we are having is in what order to do the islands and if we should do Athens first or last. I have a quick question about sea jet doing a morning round from Santorini to Rafina starting May 20, none of the travel agents are aware of this schedule. We have not found any ferry schedule for November. The only direct flight I see from Rome to Santorini on the day we need leaves Rome @ 23:40 and arrives the next morning @ 02:50. I feel like if I can start with the hotels than I can figure the other things out. This is also a small ferry and should be avoided if youre sensitive to rough seas. Please give me any suggestion for great experience in Greece in Winter season. A ferry would take all day (8 hours) where as plane is maybe 4 hours including security but more expensive. Yes, they will check tickets but that doesnt mean the child would be allowed to access the cabin. Anu. Getting to the airport that early could be a problem (and winter bus schedules are very thin). Definitely skip Mykonos as theres not much to do there outside of the summer season. I am looking into a Paros to Rafina ferry because I plan on flying back to US the following morning and think it might be easier to stay in a hotel near or attached to the airport.
Is that a good idea? Yeah, travel agents suck, not as people obviously but what they offer in terms of hotels are lame. The Blue Star Delos ferry. You can try another website but if the main Blue Star site is not working I have a hard time seeing how adding a middle man is going to help. Hi Dave, Such an awesome website!! With the earlier option I imagine I would need to get up before 5am to try and organise ourselves to be down at the port by 5:30am? There are no guarantees but Id be fine with your 4 hour connection time in Athens. 4. I know its gonna be a little cold and quiet. The fastest ferry from Athens (Piraeus) to Santorini. Im in. You should be the islands tourist bureau chief. I would switch your ferries and take Hellenic to Santorini, and Blue Star (which runs every day) back to Athens. Cabins are nice-ish and you should be able to get some sleep. Any other island would be nice to see in December? 4. Which one would you suggest to take? In December ferries are less common than in summer but there is always a daily ferry to Naxos, Paros, and Athens (and often Ios).