Ferry from Athens (Rafina) to Ios

Ios sits between Naxos and Santorini, and the Golden Star Ferries service from Rafina reaches it in around four and a half hours aboard the Golden Princess. This is a conventional ferry, calling at other Cycladic ports on the way down, so there is deck space and a proper seating saloon rather than airline-style rows. Vehicles are carried, which the fast craft on competing routes cannot always manage.

The ferry berths at Ormos, the harbour village a couple of kilometres below the hilltop Chora. Buses shuttle up to the town and on to Mylopotas, the long sandy beach that most visitors are heading for. Ios has a long-standing reputation for nightlife in the Chora, though the rest of the island is considerably quieter than that suggests.

The route runs about once a day in season and shuts down outside it, so check the calendar before building a trip around it. Current departures and fares are shown below, with tickets from around €48. Ios is well placed for onward hops to Santorini, Naxos and Paros, all of which are short sailings from here.

Rafina to Ios Ferry Fares

Tickets from €48.00.

Weekly Rafina to Ios Ferry Schedule

The repeating pattern behind the dated timetable, without dates. Each row is one scheduled departure and the days it runs.

Hiring a car

Can you rent a car in Ios?

Yes. The port sits about 2km from Chora, with rental desks at both. A car isn't essential for the Chora to Mylopotas stretch, which is walkable and bus-served, but it's worth having to reach quieter spots like Manganari beach, roughly 19km to the south. Check current rates at Discover Cars.

Can you rent a car at Rafina port?

Yes, several international agencies including Sixt, Avis and Budget have desks at the port, roughly 25km from Athens airport by road. It's a useful pickup point if you're collecting a car before driving onward, rather than sailing, or heading into Athens after a ferry from the islands. Compare prices at Discover Cars.

Next 14 days

Every scheduled departure from Rafina to Ios between 24 August 2026 and 6 September 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tips for the Rafina to Ios ferry

• The KTEL bus from Athens Airport to Rafina port runs roughly hourly between around 04:30 and 22:30, picking up between arrivals exits 2 and 3, opposite the Sofitel hotel, and takes about 30 to 40 minutes.
• Rafina is far smaller than Piraeus, with a single terminal and no barrier gates, so arrive around 30 to 45 minutes before departure – boarding typically starts about half an hour beforehand and staff will point you to the right quay.
• There is no free parking directly at Rafina port; the municipal car park is about a three-minute walk from the terminals, with private sheltered lots also nearby – arrive with a plan for where you'll leave your car.
• If you are anxious about rough conditions, sit inside at or near the centre of the vessel and avoid looking out of windows at the waves.
• In Ios, the whitewashed Chora draws visitors with its narrow footpaths, windmills, and the climb to the Church of Panagia Gremiotissa for sweeping views across the Aegean. The island's beaches are among the finest in the Cyclades – Mylopotas, Manganari, and Magganari are the most celebrated – while Homer's reputed tomb lies on the northern hillside.

Plan a journey

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