Most visitors use the island's extensive ferry network, which is constantly being upgraded. Ferries sail from Piraeus (Port Authority) and from Rafina, 35 km (22 mi) northeast of Athens (Port Authority). Leaving from Rafina cuts traveling time by an hour; buses leave for the one-hour trip from Rafina to Athens every 20 minutes 6 AM-10 PM. Traveling time from Piraeus varies with the speed (and price) of the boat. Interisland catamarans are fast, but they cannot operate when seas are rough.

Third-class boat tickets cost roughly one-quarter the airfare, and passengers are restricted to seats in the deck areas and often-crowded indoor seating areas. For Blue Star Ferries, get a seat number. A first-class ticket, which sometimes buys a private cabin and better lounge, costs about half an airplane ticket. For information on interisland connections, contact the port authorities on the various islands. High season is June through September; boats are less frequent in the off-season. All schedules must be checked soon before departure, as they change with the season, for major holidays, for weather, and for reasons not ascertainable.

Contacts

Piraeus Port Authority (210/451-1311 or 210/415-1321). Rafina Port Authority (22940/22300).

Andros

For Andros, you must take a ferry from Rafina (not Piraeus); they leave two or three times a day in summer, and the trip takes about two hours. From Andros (contact the Port Authority for more details) boats leave twice daily for Tinos and Mykonos. Boats leave five times weekly for Paros, Naxos, Ios, and Crete. An excursion boat goes daily to Mykonos and Delos, returning in the late afternoon.

Contact

Andros Port Authority (22820/22250).

Mykonos

In summer, there are two to three ferries daily to Mykonos from Piraeus and Rafina. From the Mykonos Port Authority, there are daily departures to Paros, Syros, Tinos, and Andros, and five to seven departures per week for Santorini, Naxos, Ios, and Crete. Possible destinations change monthly. Check which dock they leave from.

Contact

Mykonos Port Authority (Harbor, above National Bank. 22940/22218).

Naxos

In summer, ferries leave Piraeus for Naxos at least three times a day. (The trip takes about four to seven hours.) Boats go daily from Naxos (Port Authority) to Mykonos, Ios, Paros, Syros, Tinos, and Santorini; check for other places served. Boats from Naxos serve the Little Cyclades, Iraklia, Schinousa, Koufonisi, and Donousa.

Contact

Naxos Port Authority (22850/22300).

Paros

About three ferries leave Piraeus for Paros every day in summer. Paros has daily ferry service to Santorini, Ios, Mykonos, Tinos, Andros, Syros, and Naxos; check for other places served. Boats to Antiparos leave from Parikia and car ferries leave from Pounda. Cruise boats leave daily from Paros town and Naousa for excursions to Delos and Mykonos.

Contact

Paros Port Authority (22840/21240).

Santorini

Santorini is served at least twice daily from Piraeus; from Santorini, ferries make frequent connections to the other islands—daily to Paros, Naxos, Ios, Anaphi, and Crete. All ferries dock at Athinios port, where taxis and buses take passengers to Fira, Kamari, and Perissa Beach. Travelers bound for Ia take a bus to Fira and change there. The port below Fira is used only by small steamers and cruise ships. Passengers disembarking here face a half-hour hike, or they can take the cable car (or ride up on the traditional donkeys; but please spare the poor things). The port police can give information on ferry schedules.

Contact

Port Police (22860/22239).

Tinos

Tinos is served in summer by four boats a day from Rafina. There are daily connections with Andros, Syros, Paros, Naxos, and Mykonos and regular boats to Santorini, and sometimes other islands. An excursion boat goes daily to nearby Delos, returning in the afternoon. The Port Authority in Chora gives information, but it's not more reliable than that given at the agencies clustered near the old harbor.

Contact

Port Authority in Chora (22830/22348).