Ferry from Athens (Piraeus) to Karpathos (Pigadia)
13h 30m to 19h · from €63.50 · 1 operator
Piraeus to Karpathos at a glance
Ferries from Athens (Piraeus) to Karpathos (Pigadia) are scheduled 6 times over the next 14 days, roughly 3 a week. Departures in that window are at 17:00. The crossing takes between 13h 30m and 19h, depending on the vessel. The route is served by 1 operator: Blue Star Ferries. Published fares start from €63.50 on a conventional ferry. There are sailings on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the next fortnight. Operators have published this timetable as far as 30 October 2026.
Tickets from
| Conventional ferry | €63.50 | Book now |
|---|
Lowest published figure for each kind of ticket, one way. The price you pay depends on the sailing and the date you choose.
Operators have published this route's timetable to 30 October 2026. Sailings beyond that date have not been announced yet.
Piraeus to Karpathos Route Map
Blue Star Ferries connect Piraeus with Karpathos using the Blue Star Chios, a long passage of between about thirteen and a half and nineteen hours depending on the calls made. The route runs southeast through the Cyclades and often takes in Crete and Kasos along the way. This is a full-sized car ferry with cabins, and on a crossing this length you will want one.
Ferries arrive at Pigadia, also called Karpathos Town, on the east coast. The island is large, mountainous and rugged, and noticeably less developed than Rhodes or Kos. People come for the scenery and the beaches, Kyra Panagia and Apella among the best known, for hiking, and for the traditional culture that survives most strongly in the mountain village of Olympos in the north.
Sailings run a few times a fortnight and are seasonal, with fares starting around sixty-four euros. The current timetable and prices are shown in the table below. Karpathos also has an airport with domestic flights, which is the faster option if the ferry timings do not suit.
Piraeus to Karpathos Ferry Fares
Lowest fare by vessel class
From €63.50 on a conventional ferry. A high-speed crossing and a conventional one are different products at different prices, so they are listed separately rather than reduced to a single figure.
| Vessel class | From | Operator | Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional ferry | €63.50 | Blue Star Ferries | Blue Star Chios |
Official maximum fares on subsidised sailings
These are ceilings set by ministerial decision for public-service (PSO) sailings, quoted net of VAT and port dues. They are the most an operator may charge on a subsidised departure, not a fare on sale, and they do not apply to commercial sailings on the same route.
| Ticket type | Category | Maximum, net | Valid to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger, conventional ferry | passenger | €28.19 | 2027-04-30 |
| Passenger, conventional ferry (vessel <10y) | passenger | €33.83 | 2027-04-30 |
| Passenger, high-speed | passenger | €56.38 | 2027-04-30 |
| Car up to 4.25m | vehicle | €71.60 | 2027-04-30 |
Weekly Piraeus to Karpathos Ferry Schedule
The repeating pattern behind the dated timetable, without dates. Each row is one scheduled departure and the days it runs.
| Operator | Vessel | Days | Departs | Arrives | Duration | From | Season | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Star Ferries | Blue Star Chios conventional | 17:00 | 12:00 | 19h | €63.50 | 2026-08-21 to 2026-10-30 | Book the Blue Star Chios sailing | |
| Blue Star Ferries | Blue Star Chios conventional | 17:00 | 06:30 | 13h 30m | €63.50 | now to 2026-10-26 | Book the Blue Star Chios sailing | |
| Blue Star Ferries | Blue Star Chios conventional | 17:00 | 10:35 | 17h 35m | €63.50 | now to 2026-10-28 | Book the Blue Star Chios sailing |
Book ferry port and airport transfers here: Welcome Pickups →
Hiring a car
Can you rent a car in Karpathos?
Yes, with desks in Pigadia near the port. It's worth it if you're staying several days: the drive north to Olympos, about 58km, runs along narrow, winding cliff roads that can turn genuinely windy, and buses only cover the main routes. For a short stay, buses and boat trips to the beaches are enough. Compare hire options at Discover Cars.
Can you rent a car in Piraeus?
Yes, several agencies meet passengers directly at the ferry gates (E1 to E12), so there is no need to arrange transport into central Athens first. It suits travellers continuing on to the mainland rather than islanders, since central Athens is only 20 minutes away and has good metro and bus links. Compare local suppliers at Discover Cars.
Next 14 days
Every scheduled departure from Piraeus to Karpathos between 24 August 2026 and 6 September 2026.
| Date | Departs | Arrives | Duration | Vessel | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 2026-08-24 | 17:00 | 06:30 | 13h 30m | Blue Star Chios | Blue Star Ferries |
| Wed 2026-08-26 | 17:00 | 10:35 | 17h 35m | Blue Star Chios | Blue Star Ferries |
| Fri 2026-08-28 | 17:00 | 12:00 | 19h | Blue Star Chios | Blue Star Ferries |
| Mon 2026-08-31 | 17:00 | 06:30 | 13h 30m | Blue Star Chios | Blue Star Ferries |
| Wed 2026-09-02 | 17:00 | 10:35 | 17h 35m | Blue Star Chios | Blue Star Ferries |
| Fri 2026-09-04 | 17:00 | 12:00 | 19h | Blue Star Chios | Blue Star Ferries |
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do ferries run from Piraeus to Karpathos?
Ferries from Athens (Piraeus) to Karpathos (Pigadia) are scheduled 6 times over the next 14 days, roughly 3 a week. In that fortnight there are departures on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Operators have published this route's timetable as far as 30 October 2026, and nothing beyond that date has been announced yet.
Are there ferries from Piraeus to Karpathos today?
Yes, there is 1 sailing from Athens (Piraeus) to Karpathos (Pigadia) today. Departure time: 17:00.
How many ferries run from Piraeus to Karpathos this week?
3 sailings from Athens (Piraeus) to Karpathos (Pigadia) are scheduled over the next seven days, typically 1 a day on the days it runs.
What time is the first ferry from Piraeus to Karpathos?
Scheduled departures from Athens (Piraeus) to Karpathos (Pigadia) leave at 17:00.
How long is the ferry from Piraeus to Karpathos?
The fastest crossing from Athens (Piraeus) to Karpathos (Pigadia) takes 13h 30m and the slowest 19h.
How much does the Piraeus to Karpathos ferry cost?
Published fares for the Athens (Piraeus) to Karpathos (Pigadia) ferry start from €63.50 on a conventional ferry. Some departures on this route are subsidised public-service sailings, on which a ministerial decision sets the maximum passenger fare at €28.19 net of VAT and port dues. The figure you pay depends on the vessel, the ticket class and the date you travel.
Which ferry companies operate the Piraeus to Karpathos route?
The Athens (Piraeus) to Karpathos (Pigadia) route is served by Blue Star Ferries. Crossings run on conventional ferries.
Tips for the Piraeus to Karpathos ferry
- Piraeus port is large, with departure gates E1 to E10 spread along the waterfront – allow extra time to find yours, as it can be a 15–20 minute walk from the metro station, and check the gate number printed on your ticket.
- Ferries to the Saronic islands – Aegina, Hydra and the nearby islands – depart from Gate E8, while Cyclades sailings (Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos) leave from gates in the E6–E10 range, so double-check your specific gate on arrival.
- Take Metro Line 1 or Line 3 to Piraeus station, then use the free shuttle bus that circulates around the port roughly every 10–15 minutes, linking the metro to all gates – useful if your ferry departs from a distant terminal such as E2 or E3.
- There is no parking inside the port itself, so if you are driving, use one of the private car parks nearby rather than looking for a space at the gate; ticket booths at each gate can print e-tickets if you have not already.
- Once you arrive in Karpathos, you'll find an unspoiled island with an extensive network of around 50 hiking routes crossing rugged mountains and remote villages. The northern village of Olympos, perched on a clifftop ridge, is one of the most striking traditional settlements in the Dodecanese.
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