Ferry from Santorini (Athinios) to Diafani (Karpathos)

Diafani is the northern port of Karpathos, and Blue Star Ferries reaches it from Santorini on the Blue Star Chios. The passage takes somewhere between about eight hours and thirteen and a half, depending on which islands the ship calls at first. This is one of the more out-of-the-way stops on the southern Aegean line, and the ship does not always call there, so check the routeing carefully.

Diafani is a small fishing village on Karpathos's northeast coast, one of the least developed ports in the Dodecanese. The harbour is tiny, backed by pine-covered hills, and there is little to it beyond a handful of tavernas and rooms. Most people arriving are heading up to Olympos, the mountain village above, reached by road or on foot along the trail from the coast.

Sailings are infrequent, a couple over a fortnight and only in the warmer months. The current dates, journey times and fares are in the table below. Local boats and buses also link Diafani with Pigadia, the main Karpathos port, which is a useful fallback if the direct sailing does not work for you.

Santorini to Diafani Ferry Fares

No published fares for this route yet.

Weekly Santorini to Diafani 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

Is it worth hiring a car on Santorini?

Yes. The ferry port at Athinios sits about 7.5km below Fira up a steep, winding road; the bus takes about 25 minutes and a taxi costs many times the fare. A car lets you reach Oia, Akrotiri and the red and black beaches at your own pace without waiting for infrequent buses; rental desks operate near the port, and you can compare prices across local suppliers at Discover Cars.

Next 14 days

Every scheduled departure from Santorini to Diafani between 24 August 2026 and 6 September 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tips for the Santorini to Diafani ferry

• Arrive at Athinios port at least 45 minutes before departure – the switchback access road down the caldera cliff often backs up in summer, and boarding can start earlier than the printed departure time.
• If you're staying in Oia, note that no bus runs directly to or from Athinios port – you'll need to change at Fira, adding a ticket and a wait, so a taxi or pre-booked transfer is usually more practical.
• Collect paper tickets from the Nomikos or Dakoutros travel agency booths at the port as soon as you arrive, rather than waiting until boarding – queues build quickly as departure time approaches.
• If you're travelling by public bus, stow large luggage in the storage compartment underneath rather than carrying it aboard, as space inside is limited, especially on the busy Fira–Oia route.
• Alcohol makes seasickness worse; if the crossing is rough, stick to water and plain foods.

Plan a journey

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