Ferry leaving Rafina port for the Cyclades

Rafina to Santorini ferry

Limited direct sailings — plus the smart connections

Direct ferries from Rafina to Santorini are limited and seasonal — when they run, the high-speed crossing is around 5–6½ hours. Many travellers instead connect via Mykonos, Paros or Naxos, or sail from Piraeus. See what’s running below.

Check ferry times Airport transfer

Rafina → Santorini at a glance

Crossing
~5h–6h30m
Operators
Golden Star (seasonal)
Arrives
Santorini
Vessel
high-speed
Runs
seasonal (limited)

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Rafina → Santorini

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Top things to do on Santorini

Going to Santorini? These are the tours travellers book most — the caldera, the Oia sunset, a volcano cruise and wine tastings.

Watch: the crossing to Santorini

The high-speed Golden Princess racing across the Aegean — the direct Rafina–Santorini boat.

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The Rafina–Santorini crossing

Santorini sits at the southern end of the Cyclades, a long way from Rafina. A small number of seasonal high-speed sailings make the direct run in roughly 5–6½ hours, but they don’t operate every day.

If nothing direct suits your dates, the usual approach is to take a fast, frequent Rafina boat to Mykonos, Paros or Naxos and connect onward to Santorini — or to sail from Piraeus. The live search below shows what is actually running for your dates.

Tips for this route

  • Check dates carefully — direct Rafina–Santorini sailings are seasonal and infrequent.
  • No direct boat that day? Connect via Mykonos, Paros or Naxos, or sail from Piraeus.
  • Book well ahead in July & August — high-speed seats sell out fast.

At a glance

Crossing time
~5h–6h30m
From
Rafina
Operators
Golden Star (seasonal)
Frequency
Limited · seasonal
Vessels
High-speed
Season
Summer only

Other ferries from Rafina

Island-hopping? These routes also leave from Rafina.

Paros2h30m–3h Naxos3h30m–4h All routesParos, Naxos, Santorini… Port guideGetting there & parking

Rafina–Santorini FAQ

Is there a direct ferry from Rafina to Santorini?
Yes, but it is limited and seasonal — a few high-speed sailings in summer, not every day. Check the live search for your dates.
How long is the crossing?
Around 5–6½ hours direct, as Santorini is at the far south of the Cyclades.
What if there is no direct boat?
Connect via Mykonos, Paros or Naxos from Rafina, or sail from Piraeus — both are common ways to reach Santorini.
Which company sails it?
When it runs, the direct Rafina–Santorini service is operated by Golden Star Ferries.
Should I sail from Rafina or Piraeus?
Piraeus has more frequent direct Santorini ferries. Rafina makes most sense if you are near the airport or combining Santorini with the northern Cyclades.

Rafina to Santorini: the closer route

The high-speed Golden Princess is the only ferry sailing Rafina → Santorini direct — and the crossing runs about an hour faster than going the long way via Piraeus.

Ferry routes from Rafina and Piraeus to the Cyclades Rafina, on the east coast of Attica near Athens airport, has a short, direct sea route to the Cyclades. Piraeus, southwest of Athens, must sail the long way south around the Attica peninsula. ATTICA AndrosTinosSyrosMykonosParosNaxosIosSantorini Athens Athens Airport 20–30 min PIRAEUS RAFINA ≈ 1 hour faster shorter crossing + skip Athens traffic From Rafina — short & direct From Piraeus — the long way round

Stylised map for orientation; island and port positions are approximate. Sailing times vary by vessel and season — check live times in the ferry search.