Best for early ferries
Hotel Avra
★★★★- Free Athens Airport shuttle — perfect if you land the night before.
- About 90 m from the town beach, and right by the fish tavernas.
- Sea-view balconies, breakfast and a sun deck over the harbour.
Top recommended stays
Six places we'd actually send a friend to — three by the port, three down the coast.
Best for early ferries
Best sea view
Zeus Essence Ramada by Wyndham Athens
★★★★★- Straight on the seafront, a short walk from Mati's little marina.
- Sea-facing outdoor pool plus an indoor pool, spa and gym.
- Every room has a balcony, facing either the sea or the gardens.
Best for families
Golden Coast Hotel & Resort
★★★★- All-inclusive option, right on the sandy shore of Marathon Bay.
- Village-style bungalows as well as main-building rooms.
- Big pool, tennis, mini-golf, playground and a games room.
Beach + pool
NLH Mati Seafront
★★★★- Direct beach access and a seasonal outdoor pool.
- All 82 rooms have a balcony; family rooms available.
- Restaurant and gym on site; about a 10-minute drive to the port.
Big resort
Zeus Dolce by Wyndham Athens
★★★★★- On the beach in Vravrona Bay, with four restaurants and a spa.
- Outdoor pool, floodlit tennis courts, gym and yoga classes.
- Walking distance to the Sanctuary of Artemis.
Private & quiet
Modular Bungalows with Heated Pool
- Self-contained bungalows, 1–2 bedrooms, with a heated pool.
- Hot tub, sauna and free private parking — closest to the airport.
- About a 9-minute walk to Ippokampos beach.
No stay on this shortlist matches that. or search every hotel around Rafina.
Distances are by road to the Rafina ferry quay and are approximate. Booking links go to Booking.com — we may earn a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend, and we don't take payment for a place on this list.
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Local distancesWe live here, so the walk and drive times are the real ones — not marketing ones.
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Where to stay around Rafina
Four bases, four different trips. Pick the one that matches yours.
Central Rafina0–800 m
Walk to the ferries in minutes, with tavernas, bakeries and the town beach on the doorstep. Best for: early ferries, one-night stops, no car.
Mati4–6 km
Seafront hotels on rocky coves, red rocks and clear water, plus a small marina with cafés. Best for: sea views and a swim, still close to the port.
Nea Makri & Marathon Bay9–15 km
Long sandy beaches and full-service resorts, with Marathon and Schinias just up the road. Best for: families, a beach week, all-inclusive.
Artemida & Vravrona10–14 km
Quiet bays south of the port, closest of all to Athens Airport, next to the Sanctuary of Artemis. Best for: last night before an early flight, private pools.
Why book from this guide
We're not a booking engine. We live here.
Local knowledge
We know which hotels you can genuinely walk to the quay from, and which need a taxi at 6am.
Ferry-friendly picks
Chosen around real departure times, so an early sailing doesn't mean a sleepless night.
A short list, on purpose
Six places, not sixty. Quality over quantity — only the ones worth your money.
Practical tips
Paired with transfers, parking and ferry times so the whole night works.
Need a hand? Tell us your ferry time and we'll suggest where to stay and how to reach the port. Ask a local · book a transfer.
Frequently asked questions
Which hotel is closest to Rafina port?
Hotel Avra — it's about 200 m from the ferry quay, roughly a three-minute walk with a suitcase. It also runs a free Athens Airport shuttle, which makes it the easiest choice if you land the night before an early sailing.
Can I walk to the ferry from my hotel?
Only from central Rafina. Anything in Mati, Nea Makri, Artemida or Vravrona needs a car, taxi or transfer — budget 10–25 minutes depending on the area, and a little more in August traffic. If you have a dawn departure, either stay in town or pre-book the ride the night before.
My ferry arrives in the afternoon and my flight is early the next morning — where should I stay?
If your ferry lands at Rafina, stay the night nearby: it's only 20–30 minutes from Athens Airport, so you skip the trip into Athens and back. Artemida and Vravrona are even closer to the airport if that's your only priority. If your ferry arrives at Piraeus instead, central Athens is easier — see Rafina vs Piraeus.
Which area is best for a beach holiday near Rafina?
Mati for rocky coves and clear water a few minutes from the port; Nea Makri and Marathon Bay for long sandy beaches and resorts with pools and kids' facilities. Our Rafina beaches guide covers each one, including Schinias further north.
Which stays work best for families?
Golden Coast Hotel & Resort is the most family-geared — all-inclusive if you want it, on a sandy beach, with a big pool, playground, mini-golf and tennis. Zeus Dolce is a larger resort with several restaurants and floodlit tennis, and the Modular Bungalows suit a family that wants a kitchen and its own pool.
Do hotels near Rafina offer airport transfers?
Some do — Hotel Avra includes a free Athens Airport shuttle, and the bigger resorts can usually arrange a paid transfer on request. Otherwise the airport is 20–30 minutes away by taxi or pre-booked transfer; see Athens Airport to Rafina for every option and what it costs.
Ready to book your stay in Rafina?
Pick one of our six, or search every option for your dates.
