You dream of going to a Greek Island and soaking up the sun while sipping ouzo, but how did you get to those beautiful islands you dream of? Most of the islands are only accessible by ferry, although some of the larger, more popular islands have airports. Booking ferry tickets is much easier than it used to be, but a first-timer may need some help navigating the ins and outs of taking a Greek ferry.
Flights and the Ferry
My advice is to never ever book your ferry tickets on the same day as your flight. This is especially true if you have hotel reservations paid for or work to return to after your vacation. Fly in and stay in Athens for the night or book a hotel near the ferry port. On my last trip, my ferry choices were to leave either at 7 AM or 4:30 PM, which meant arriving in Ios after midnight. I opted for 7 AM, so I booked myself a hotel at Piraeus port for the night before. In this case, I could have never made a 7 AM ferry with any flight.
Which Ferry
There are many ferry lines, but not all the ferry lines go to every island. This means you won’t have a lot of choices on which ferry line you take. You may be able to choose a fast or a slow ferry depending on which island you are going to.
Some of the Greece ferry lines include Blue Star Ferries, Seajets, and Hellenic Seaways. They are all reliable ferry companies.
The advantages of taking the fast ferry are less time on the ferry and more time on the Greek Islands. The other advantage is that the fast ferries are usually more modern than the slow ferries.
The disadvantages are if you get seasick easily, the fast ferry might not be for you. Many of the fast ferries are hydrofoils, which are less stable in the sense that you feel the waves, not that they are going to flip over. Another disadvantage is that you are usually not allowed on the deck, especially if the weather is bad. If the weather is really bad, the hydrofoils will be canceled. If you are going to a Greek island in winter, keep this in mind and allow for it in your schedule and bookings.
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Which Port to Catch Your Greece Ferry
Athens has three ports from which ferries leave, Piraeus, Lavrio, and Rafina. The issue with this is that not all islands are served by each port. For example, to get to Kea, you will have to leave from Lavrio. If you are booking your own ferry tickets, then I recommend using FerryHopper. It is straightforward and will give you indirect routes as well as direct routes. If you are booking your tickets through an agent, make sure to check which port you are leaving from before you set out for your ferry as they are far apart and you will miss your ferry.
Getting On and Off
The first time I took a Greek ferry, it was from Ios to Santorini and back. Ios is small enough, and I had help, so it wasn’t very hard. But in Santorini, I was alone, and there were a lot more people and a lot more ferries. It also seemed a bit disorganized, although in hindsight, it wasn’t.
If you are on an early morning ferry, go early as you may be able to get on without all the rushing that is associated with getting on later in the day. This is especially true if you are embarking on at the first stop. In Piraeus, you may board even an hour early on some ferries.
At Piraeus, there are many gates the ferries leave from, and from the beginning to the end is far, so check it and arrive early to find the right gate. On the islands, there may only be one gate or very few gates. The best way to figure out where your ferry will depart from is the ask the Port police. They are in navy uniforms that look a little military in style. Your ferry ticket should have the name of the ferry on it, and most ferries are clearly marked. Some tickets will have your gate number on them.
You need to be there early but not more than 30 minutes. Rarely are ferries early in Greece and more often a few minutes or more late. But the disembarkation and embarkation process is fast, and they won’t wait for you. However, if they arrive early, they will not leave early. Don’t worry if you see your ferry arriving before you have reached the port.
What to Do with Your Luggage
Once you are on, you should store your larger luggage in the area you are directed to. There are too many stairs involved on the ferry, and you won’t want to bring it to your seat. Unless your bag is light, leave it here. It will be fine, and there is no reason to worry about it being stolen. Do take your valuables with you, to be sure, though.
Proceed up the stairs, and someone will help you find your seat. Last year, I sat where I wanted, well, except for business class, but this year they really seemed keen on people sitting in their assigned seats.
They will announce each port as they get close, and everyone will move downstairs to gather their luggage. It will seem chaotic, but don’t stress; you will get your luggage and get off the ferry. It is a very efficient system even if it doesn’t look like it.
Book Your Greek Ferry Tickets
There are many ways to get ferry tickets. You can purchase your tickets in the port at a ferry ticket office and many travel agency offices in whatever town you are in. It is also possible to purchase your tickets online. As I have mentioned before, I use FerryHopper to book all my ferry tickets. Some ferry tickets are now electronic and there is no need to pick them up. However, if you need to get them, you can arrive early at the port to pick them up. If you pick them up from a travel agency that you did not book with, they may charge €1 per ticket to print them.
Do You Need to Book Greek Ferries in Advance
It depends! When are you coming? If you are traveling to Greece in July and August, I recommend booking in advance. This is the high season in Greece, and ferries can fill up quickly, especially for islands such as Santorini and Mykonos.
If you are traveling to Greece at other times, such as September or October, booking a few days in advance is fine. For the rest of the year, you don’t need to book your Greek ferry tickets in advance. The only caveat to this is if a Greek holiday is happening, such as Orthodox Easter. The ferries then will be just as full as in summer and actually sometimes overcrowded.
Do you have any tips for the Greek ferry? Share with us.
