Fast Ferry/Hydrofoil to Santorini
 

I can't seem to get any information about a fast ferry to Santorini from Piraeus for June. Is it because the schedules haven't been updated?

If so, what has the schedule been like in the past years? Approx. what time does it leave from Piraeus for Santorini and vice versa? It would be really helpful so we can figure out what time to schedule connecting flights out of greece.

It's because there aren't any fast ferries running from Piraeus to Santorini, they're all car ferries. Check back after March 31 to see if any have been added to the schedule, although I doubt it.

But how come in the Fodors and Frommers guide books they refer to hydrofoils and fast ferries from Piraeus to Santorini??

Schedules for June will not be available yet. It is never a good idea to plan precise connections to and from Greek islands. Sailings can be cancelled by storms even in summer and fast ferries, being small and light, are more vulnerable than ships. If you have to catch a flight from Athens, aim to return there with at least a day to spare. You can always go to Aiyina ("Aegina") or Poros for your last night in Greece - they're near the mainland and ferry crossings are well-sheltered.

I'm just going by what's showing on the ferry websites right now. That's why I said check back. The ferry companies aren't going to send more boats than necessary during the off-season, and passenger volume is way down in the winter months. The reason there are only car ferries now is because they can handle the widest variety of traffic from passengers to freight trucks bringing the daily necessities to the islands.

Yeah - at this point I am so totally frustrated with figuring out how to get from island to island, schedules, prices, etc. I have spent the entire week trying to get information from SOMEWHERE and it seems hopeless. I can't bear the thought of planning this out without some concrete plans - to me that is not a vacation. I am cancelling the whole greece trip. Oh well.

Just because you can't get all your ducks in a row right now does't mean that you have to cancel your whole trip! Thousands and thousands of tourists travel to Greece every year with less information than you've gained here. Have some faith and your experience will be very rewarding. If you make your plans according to the information you have at your disposal now then if more convenient timetables materialize before your trip begins then you're that much further ahead of the game, aren't you? Just wait until you get to Greece to buy your ferry tickets, that's really best anyway.

Don't get discouraged, Hawaii. It is frustrating, I'll grant you, when you are trying to make plans. I'm in the same position, and I also find it strange that the ferries and airlines don't have schedules for their busiest season until March (a mere two months before the season starts). Likewise, all the guide books say there are daily direct flights between Mykonos and Santorini in summer, but I can't seem to find evidence of those, either. BUT, even with all the planning headaches, I can assure you it's worth it. Once you get to the islands and settle into the laid back island life, you will forget all the trouble you had setting it up.

brotherleelove2004 - thanks! I know I got a little too frustrated and wanted to just quit. I was just being silly - my husband made me realize that :).

Anyway - so I contacted Hellas Dolphin Booking department and they were able to give me some some timings for the dates we need - and thought it might help others get an idea:

Pireaus to Santorini (thursday schedule): 16:00 to 20:45
Santorini to Piraeus (Friday schedule: 12:30 to 17:00

I don't know how accurate it is - and it might change - but at least it is something to go by,

Allrightie then!

If you've got a website link to that information, please pass that along as well. I haven't been able to find it.

Welcome to travel in Greece! We went to Folegandros not really knowing when we could get a ferry off. I have some wonderful memories of Greece but part of me wishes we went to Italy or Turkey.

April why would you have preferred Italy or Turkey?

Hi,
Part of the charm of Greece is the laid back atmosphere. When we have gone, in June, we waited until we got there before we made ferry reservations. There are quite a few travel agencies in the Syntagma (sp) area. They have a lot of information and can easily get your ferry tickets. I would return to Athens the day before your plane leaves for home. Therefore, you might want to buy an airline ticket for that leg of your trip before you leave home. You can do that in April. Have a great trip.

Ferries are usually never a problem. Advance scheduling,, even though it will give you peace of mind,is not necessary. I've spent a great deal of time in Greece and I would advise flying to or between islands whenever possible. It's not much more expensive than the ferries, it saves a great deal of time and all the connections, taxis etc. are more readily available at the airports. If you want to hump your luggage onto a boat, arrive in a port with 200 other people fighting for the few available taxis and waste a day of vacation then go by boat. Taxi to airport 20 Euros,
30-40 minute flight to most islands 70-90 Euros, at your hotel and on the beach by 11:00 AM priceless!

Maybe we just met too many surly people and had too many ripoffs (taxi & bus drivers, travel agents, shop keepers) in Greece, Judy. It wouldn't be my first choice of places to return to... although I would go back to Folegandros and Athens, but not to Santorini. My friend raves about the friendly people in Turkey and it has ruins too. Italy, even if its people were as cranky as the Greeks, has the art.

As for the ferries, I rather enjoyed them.

While not discounting April's experiences, I've got to stick up for the Greeks. I spend a little more than a month there in 2004 and had absolutely nothing but great experiences with everyone we met.

In Athens or out in the islands, folks were welcoming and wonderful, even far outside the tourist track.

Maybe we were just unlucky. :-|

brotherleelove2004 - i haven't found a website with the summer schedule. I had actually emailed the dates in question at the following: [email protected]

I corresponded with someone named Mouflouzelli Eleni in the Booking Dept. of Hellenic Seaways. I had also written to a lot of travel agents and the ALL replied the same thing - "we don't know the summer schedule yet."

It was only this email that gave me exact times. But again, I am not going to plan everything around it since I understand that the ferries schedules can change at any given moment. But it sounds (by people posts here) that there will be one way or another to get around. If not the fast ferry, then the slow one.

As soon as I find the summer schedule - i will surely post it here. :)

It's a VERY good idea to be vigilant when it comes to unexpected and unannounced changes to ferry and plane scheduling. And it's true there always seems to be some way to move aroung the islands as long as you remain flexible.

Lee's right on. Please rest assured that you will get where you need to be . . . you just won't know the exact times for a while.

Take comfort in the fact that whatever town you are in you'll be in a great place with warm people, great food, beautiful vistas and (probably) fine weather.

And in June, I'll be stuck in a convention in Orlando ... wanna trade? :)

There is a fast ferry (Catamaran car ferry) to Santorini usually via Sifnos. The company that runs them is CALLED Hellas Flying Dolphins. I am afraid you have been mislead by people saying they are passenger only flying dolphins(hydrofoils), I have not seen them in the Cyclades for many years. There is no problem getting to Santorini there are around 4/day ferries in summer.

Brotherleelove, according to the Hellas Flying Dolphin website there is no ferry from Sifnos to Santorini no matter which dates I plug in, regardless of the month. I can't seem to get a response for Piraeus to Santorini either. Can you clarify? I must be doing something wrong. Could the route you mentioned be a summer-only addition to their normal scheduling?

http://www.forth-crs.gr/hfd/english/pgres.exe?PM=CR

I was in Athens in June of 1998. I know for a fact that there was/is a ferry/hydrofoil/boat from Piraeus to Santorini. A couple from Sydney that my friend and I met travelled there by one of these boats. My friend and I saw them off at the port of Piraeus. We were travelling to Hydra at the time. Couldn't you make travel plans at the last minute once you get to Athens? I am sure a travel agent in Athens could hook you up with getting to Santorini. I agree with those above who state that it is not wise to plan too arduously in Greece.

Don't give up hope.

There are plenty of car ferries from Piraeus to Santorini, that's not in question. I'm wondering about faster hydrofoil ferries, both passenger-only and full-service. I can't seem to find any references to them on the websites I've found. On the www.gtp.gr website the code for catamarans that carry both cars and passengers is "cc". When I look for ferries from Piraeus to Santorini all eleven of the ferries listed from three different companies (none of them Hellas) are designated "cf" which is the standard slower car ferry that carries passengers as well. I'm thinking that the "cc" and "hf" (passenger only hydrofoils) must be summer-only services that haven't been added to the list yet.

I recently stumbled across this page with the Hellas Flying Dolphin schedule for summer 2005. I haven't checked it out so you may want to verify things but I hope helps.
http://www.milostravel.gr/anaxoriseis/info%20HFD2.htm

Excellent, janaturner, thanks.

So I took a look at the website mentioned by janaturner and noticed that the summer hours begin on June 17, 2005. We will be there a week before that. Do you think beginning of June is still considered "Summer Hours" or will I have to go my the off season time tables??

It's all a bit confusing, isn't it? The trick is to have a little faith, keep flexible and hope for the best. Don't try to have every move arranged in your mind in advance or you'll never relax and enjoy yourself.

This website shows a different timetable for the Cyclades-Crete run by Flying Dolphin. It says Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from April 22nd, and "Daily" from May 30th onward.

http://www.greekislands.gr/hfd/

I've also noticed that the www.gtp.gr website has now posted updated summer timetables.

I am also trying desperately to arrange our holiday. I have been to Greece before and not booked Ferries, however this time I am taking a family of 4, and have to pre-book accommodation.

I spend 3 weeks in Greece a few years ago. Took every mode a transportion available. Plane, train, hydrofoil, ferry. Just remember even just island hoping plan to spend a full day traveling. Nothing runs on time in Greece. Nothing!! So just go with the flow. Just realize that your ship that is suppose to leave the port at noon probably will not show up till 4. That said once we went with the flow it was the best trip I ever had. Oh, and sometimes they don't follow the sequence of islands they are suppose to go to. Have fun. Also just make your reservations when you get there. It is much easier.