Ferries to Thira

The ferry port of Thira, better known as Santorini, is the central arrival point on the Cycladic island for ferries and vehicles. From here you can reach 26 destinations, among them Naxos, Paros and Piraeus, plus Ios, Mykonos, Heraklion on Crete and, in summer, outlying islands such as Anafi and Chalki. Together the services add up to as many as 123 departures a day, and crossings take between 45 minutes and 14.5 hours. The port is served by 6 operators, among them Blue Star Ferries, Cyclades Fast Ferries and Golden Star Ferries.

Getting there and the terminal

The port is called Athinios and lies below the caldera on the west coast, not in Fira. According to the port administration it is eight kilometres to the main town and seven to the airport; allow more time for that stretch than the distance suggests. The port operates around the clock on every day of the year. On the quay you will find parking, a taxi rank and a bus stop, plus a waiting area, cash machines, wi-fi and step-free access; shops and cafés are on the landward side directly behind the terminal. Conventional ferries and fast boats use the same quay.

Check-in

For its routes in the Cyclades, Blue Star Ferries asks you to be in the boarding area at least one hour before departure, on foot as well as with a vehicle. Hellenic Seaways states the same deadline and additionally points to the port regulations, which determine the order in which vehicles are loaded.