Greek Island Hopping by Ferry

Greek island hopping by ferry is one of the best ways to see the country, and the ferry network is extensive enough that most combinations of islands are possible with a bit of planning. The principle is simple: Greece has dozens of inhabited islands spread across several island groups, and the ferry network connects them to each other and to the mainland. What takes some getting used to is that the network is not a single system with a single timetable, but a collection of routes operated by different companies that change significantly between summer and winter.

The main starting points for island hopping are Piraeus, the large port south of Athens city centre, and Rafina, a smaller port east of Athens near the airport. Piraeus handles the majority of routes: Cyclades, Dodecanese, Crete, and the Saronic Gulf islands all depart from here. Rafina is useful for Mykonos, Andros, and Tinos, and is worth considering if you are flying into Athens.

The high season from June to September is when the full network operates, with daily or near-daily sailings on most routes and multiple departures per day on the busiest ones like Piraeus to Paros or Piraeus to Mykonos. Outside of that window, the network reduces but does not stop, and the major routes continue year-round. For practical planning, the key things to know are that high-speed ferries (catamarans) are faster but more expensive and more susceptible to cancellation in poor weather, while conventional ferries are slower but more reliable in choppy conditions and can carry vehicles.

Booking tickets in advance is essential in July and August, particularly for cabin berths on overnight sailings. For shoulder season travel from May to June and September to October, you can often buy tickets a day or two before sailing, though popular routes to Mykonos and Santorini still fill up. The guides in this section cover specific routes, helping you understand travel times, operators, ticket prices, and what to expect at each port.

Ferry Routes

Guides and Information