Your options at a glance
Four ways from Athens Airport to Rafina port — side by side.
| Option | Time | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private transferDoor-to-door, pre-booked | ~20–30 min | from €45 (fixed) | Groups, luggage & early ferries |
| KTEL busDirect airport line | ~40–60 min | €4 (fixed) | The cheapest way — stop is inside the port |
| TaxiFrom the airport rank | ~20–30 min | ~€40–55 (metered) | 24/7, no booking needed |
| Rental carPick up at the airport | ~25–35 min drive | compare live rates | Exploring beyond the port |
In a hurry? If you're connecting to a ferry, a pre-booked transfer or a taxi (~20–30 min) is safest. The €4 bus is great value but slower and tied to its timetable — fine if you've got a comfortable gap before your sailing.
Private transfer (fastest, door-to-door)
A driver meets you at arrivals and takes you straight to the port — ideal when you have a ferry to catch.
A pre-booked transfer is the calmest way to start an island trip: your driver tracks your flight, waits at arrivals with a name sign, and drives you the ~25 km to Rafina in about 20–30 minutes. The price is fixed before you book — roughly the same as a metered taxi, but with no surprises and someone waiting even if you land late.
- Fixed price from €45 (standard car, up to 4 + bags); €60–70 for a minibus/van.
- English-speaking drivers, flight tracking & meet-and-greet.
- Child seats on request — handy for families.
Enter your flight and destination for an exact, fixed price — free cancellation up to 24 h before.
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More detail, the full booking widget and a step-by-step in our Athens Airport ⇄ Rafina transfers guide.
The KTEL airport bus (cheapest, €4)
KTEL Attikis runs a direct Airport–Rafina express line — the budget choice at a fixed €4.00. Buses leave from outside the arrivals hall and the journey takes roughly 40–60 minutes, with the final stop right inside Rafina port, steps from the ferry gates.
- Flat €4 fare — buy at the KTEL kiosk or on board (carry cash).
- Catch it just outside Arrivals at the airport; the Rafina end is inside the port.
- Runs every couple of hours — great value, but check it lines up with your ferry.
Always confirm the timetable for your travel date on the official KTEL Attikis Airport–Rafina page — times change by season, and there are fewer late-night departures.
Airport bus at a glance
- Line
- KTEL Airport ⇄ Rafina
- Fare
- €4.00 fixed (cash)
- Journey
- ~40–60 min
- Airport stop
- Outside Arrivals
- Rafina stop
- Inside the port
- Tickets
- Kiosk or on board
Taxi from Athens Airport to Rafina
Always available, no booking — just agree the fare before you set off.
Licensed taxis wait at the rank outside arrivals 24/7, so you can simply walk out and go. The ride to Rafina is the same ~20–30 minutes as a transfer. Unlike the fixed flat fare into central Athens, the trip to Rafina is metered — usually around €40–55 depending on traffic and the time of day (the higher night tariff applies between midnight and 05:00). Ask the driver to estimate the fare before you leave, and have some cash as a backup. Greek taxis rarely carry child seats. Uber and Bolt operate at the airport too, but in Greece they mostly dispatch the same licensed taxis, and late-night supply out to Rafina can be thin — so a pre-booked transfer is the more reliable choice for an early ferry.
Rent a car at the airport
Worth it if you want to explore Rafina, the Attica coast or beaches under your own steam.
All the major rental desks are in the airport's arrivals area, and the drive to Rafina is an easy ~25–35 minutes. A car makes sense if you're staying around Rafina, Nea Makri or Marathon and want to reach the beaches, or you're spending a night before an early ferry. If you're heading straight to the islands, you don't need one for the crossing — note that taking a car on the ferry costs extra, so many travellers leave the car and rent again on arrival. See our parking guide if you're leaving a car at the port.
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Check live prices across all the major suppliers and book free-cancellation rates in a couple of clicks.
Going the other way: Rafina port to Athens Airport
Coming back from the islands with a flight to catch.
Every option runs both ways. The airport-bound KTEL bus and taxis leave from inside Rafina port, and a transfer can be pre-booked to meet your ferry — the driver tracks the boat (ferries can run late) and takes you straight to the terminal. The drive is the same 20–30 minutes. If you've got a same-day flight, aim for around 3 hours between your ferry's scheduled arrival and your departure to stay comfortable for check-in. Catching the very first boat back? Our early ferry from the airport guide covers the tight overnight connections.
Making your ferry — and booking it
How early to arrive, and where to get your ticket.
Aim to be at Rafina port about 1.5 hours before your ferry departs — long enough to find the gate, collect or scan tickets and board without stress. Work backwards from there: for a transfer or taxi allow ~30 minutes from the airport plus buffer; for the bus, give yourself extra and confirm it connects with your sailing.
- Rafina sails to Andros, Tinos, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Santorini, Ios & Marmari.
- Book ahead in summer — popular sailings sell out.
- Compare every operator and get an instant e-ticket below.
Powered by Ferryhopper — or see the full Rafina ferry timetable.
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Athens Airport to Rafina — FAQ
The questions travellers ask most.
