Carta_Pisana

I'm trying to determine if there is a high speed ferry leaving Athens on Sept. 9th - going to Santorini. I know there is a slow ferry. Besides Piraeus - where else to ferries leave Athens?

brotherleelove2004

Hellenic Seaways operates the highspeed ferry to Santorini.

http://www.hellenicseaways.gr/index.asp?a_id=219

Apparently their schedules don't yet extend beyond September 7, but if you keep checking back with them eventually they will be updated for September and October.

Ferries also leave from the port of Rafina, but not for Santorini.

Heimdall

Actually the Hellenic Seaways timetables for the rest of the season are there on the Greek version of the website: http://www.hellenicseaways.gr/index.asp?a_id=875

My Greek isn't very good, but the way I read it, from Sep 8-28 Highspeed 3 runs from Piraeus to Santorini every day <i>except Tuesdays &amp; Wednesdays</i>. Sep 9th is a Tuesday.

There is also a timetable for FlyingCat 3, showing it running every afternoon <i>except Tuesday</i> throughout the summer. That timetable ends on Sep 7th.

Gaspard or brotherleelove, look at the timetable to see whether I am correct.

Carta_Pisana, it looks like you are out of luck for the highspeeds, unless Sea Jets Consortium is running something that day. If you are in a hurry to get to Santorini, try booking a flight with Olympic or Aegean.

Carta_Pisana

thanks everyone.

I know I'll get to Santorini somehow on Sept. 9th - pretty sure I don't want to fly again (after flying for 10 hrs but...) Maybe the slow way is the way to go...I'll check the websites next week.

Once again - thanks.

wlzmatilida

Heimdall,

&quot;...my Greek isn't very good&quot;....

thanks for the site - but if you look at the upper left, there's some teeny tiny little maps there, and if you click on the UK map, there's English!

Regards,

Melodie

Gaspard

Heimdall is correct. And me too I can find the timetable only in Greek. In this case the little flag is of no help.
G.

Carta_Pisana

there is a Hellenic Seaways high speed on Sept 2 - and September is still high season - so maybe..I'll let you know.

Aegean has numerous flights Sept 9th - 5:30 am flight is 37E (arriving 6:15am), the 10:35am is 117E. Olympic has only one flight in the morning - 5:45am - for 50E.

Can anyone comment on how timely the island flights leave - and being a domestic flight can I arrive an hour before hand?

Also - will any place be open for breakfast at 6:15 am in Santorini?

Heimdall

Wlzmatilda, I know there is an English version of the website, but since the timetables don't appear on it, I was forced to go to the Greek one.

I can read a little Greek, but Gaspard and brotherleelove are better with the language than me, which is why I appealed for their help.

brotherleelove2004

Sorry, it's all Greek to me!:-? Wlzmatilida, Heimdall's being modest, he gave you the right information.

Carta_Pisana, Aegean's flights are usually on time but Olympic has been plagued with delays and cancellations this year. And yes, you can arrive one hour before departure.

If you take the 5:45 flight, by the time you get into Fira from the airport it'll be closer to 7 AM. You might be able to find a cafe open somewhere near the main square, but I can't swear to it. That's still pretty early for the businesses to be open.

Heimdall

Carta_Pisana, If you arrive in Athens early enough for that &euro;37 Aegean flight at 5:30am, recommend you book it ASAP. Island flights are normally timely, and you can check in as late as 1hr before departure.

There is also a Blue Star ferry departing Piraeus at 7:25am, arriving on Santorini at 3:20pm.

Regarding breakfast, if you arrive on Santorini at 6:15am, by the time you get to Fira or Oia there should be somewhere about ready to open for breakfast. If not, look for a bakery - they are usually open very early.

Heimdall

As a matter of interest, earlier this year Hellenic Seaways planned to run Highspeed 5 from Piraeus to Santorini daily (except Wednesdays) until Sep 28th. I printed out that timetable last April, and saved it for reference. Then, in late April or early May, Hellenic Seaways drastically cut back its highspeed and flying cat sailings for the beginning and end of the season. That's why many services stop on Sep 7th this year. I don't know, but am guessing, that the cutbacks are due to the rise in fuel costs.

Carta_Pisana, just because there is a sailing on Sep 2nd doesn't mean there will be one on the same day the following week. You could still be proved right, but I wouldn't count on it.

nametaken

I understand why you don't want to fly so soon after arriving to the first step of your vacation, but I would recommend you do just that. My husband and I did several flights to the Cyclades Islands, and a few very short hydro foils between islands. You will have much more time to see the Greek islands, and you can also avoid getting seasick if the weather is rough. Explore your options., and I hope you have a great trip. The flights should not be expensive.

Carta_Pisana

Hellenic Seaways says they'll be posting additional September ferry times at the end of July.

wlzmatilida

Hi All,

I'm also in Greece in September, so I was checking this thread as I know there's a Blue Star ferry from Athens to Naxos but it's at the crack of dawn (ok 7AM), so I was hoping for something later and faster!

But after reading the subsequent posts, I see where the confusion is --

I clicked on the teeny map for English, but I didn't look for a timetable -- I just went right to &quot;Book Online&quot;, figuring departure times would show up (
or NOT, because in my case, Naxos wasn't even on the drop down menu as an option....ditto for the next leg, Naxos to Santorini).

So, I'll check back @ the end of July or next month and see if anything new's been posted on that site.

Regards,

Melodie

Carta_Pisana

one more question - if I was going to do that 5:45 AM flight to Santorini- should I book it via Aegean's website or wait till I get to Athens?

brotherleelove2004

If you wait you take a chance on the plane being fully booked.

Carta_Pisana

thanks brotherleelove - I'm going to wait till the end of July to see if Hellenic decides to run a fast ferry - if not, I'll arrange a ticket with Aegean.

Carta_Pisana

bought an e-ticket on Aegean Airlines - decided to take the 5:45 am flight - eeekkk - just won't go to bed that night.....a month and counting, I'm getting excited....