{"id":51355,"date":"2025-09-11T11:47:36","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T09:47:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/?p=51355"},"modified":"2026-02-05T11:54:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T10:54:09","slug":"ferries-greece","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/ferries-greece\/","title":{"rendered":"Ferries in Greece: Tips, prices and schedules for your trip"},"content":{"rendered":"

By plane to Hellas and off to the beach – that’s how most people imagine an uncomplicated holiday. But discovering Greece by ferry is easier than you think. Over the last 15 years, we have taken the ferry to the Greek islands<\/strong> more than 50 times, and most of the time everything went smoothly.<\/p>\n

\u00bbTravelling by ferry in Greece is a very special kind of holiday: authentic, relaxed and full of adventure.\u00ab<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"F\u00e4hren
By ferry to the Greek islands<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Of the approximately 115 inhabited islands in Greece, not every one has an airport and so you can only reach the small islands away from the crowds by ferry.<\/p>\n

As early as 10,000 years ago, people traveled from island to island by ship. Today you can do that too, but much more comfortably, with a sun deck and cafeteria on board.<\/p>\n

In this article, we will share our experiences of travelling to the Greek islands by ship and provide comprehensive information on ferries in Greece<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

#1 Ferries in Greece: What you should know in advance<\/h2>\n

Around 20 percent of Greece’s almost ten million inhabitants live on the Greek islands. Only 30 islands are equipped with a domestic or international airport. The others don’t have one, so the ferries in Greece play a crucial role in the everyday life of the islanders.<\/p>\n

\"F\u00e4hren
Travelling by ferry as a family<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you don’t necessarily want to spend a holiday on the most popular islands such as Crete, Rhodes, Santorini & Co., then you have to cross to the islands by sea. The ferries not only bring holidaymakers to the Greek islands, but also most food, fuel, medicines and even the mail.<\/p>\n

Depending on the region, small, slow passenger ferries run between the islands, but also large car ferries and fast catamarans. The latter offer amazing comfort both outside and inside, but are often more expensive. Modern ferries have different seating categories (deck, air seat, lounge), with the deck seats always being the cheapest.<\/p>\n

\"F\u00e4hren
Modern ferries offer a high level of comfort<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In addition, there are even caf\u00e9s and restaurants, shops and play areas as well as sun decks with deck chairs on the large Greek ferries – a bit of cruise feeling at a low price, so the ferry ride becomes an experience! With our partner Ferryhopper<\/em>* you can easily book a Greece Ferry<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

\u27b2 Search your ferry with Ferryhopper*<\/a><\/p>\n

\"tipps
Cruise feeling at a low price<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The most important questions about Greece ferries<\/h3>\n

Where can I book ferry tickets for the Greek islands?<\/em><\/p>\n

You can purchase your ferry tickets either directly on the website of the respective ferry company or via the Ferryhopper booking portal<\/strong>. The ferry portal offers a particularly simple and clear navigation in several languages.<\/p>\n

Where can I find an overview of all ferry connections?<\/em><\/p>\n

An overview of almost all ferry connections is provided by our partner Ferryhopper*<\/a>. Simply enter your desired route in the search mask and you will see all available ferry connections between the islands<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Should I book the ferry tickets in advance?<\/em><\/p>\n

If you are traveling with your own vehicle, it is recommended to purchase ferry tickets to the islands in advance<\/strong>. As a foot passenger, you usually get a ticket at the port on the day of departure. Even without a car, we often book our ferry tickets online only one day in advance.<\/p>\n

When will the timetables for the season be published?<\/em><\/p>\n

The Summer timetables of Greek ferries<\/strong> for the holiday season from April to October are usually published by the end of March of the current year. Yes, unfortunately you have to be patient, and we personally find that nerve-wracking too.<\/p>\n

Can I take my rental car on the ferry?<\/em><\/p>\n

No, taking rental cars on the ferry<\/strong> is usually contractually prohibited. In the event of non-compliance, the insurance cover expires. If in doubt, always ask your rental company in advance if you can take the rental car to another island.<\/p>\n

I get seasick quickly \u2013 which ferry should I take?<\/em><\/p>\n

Rule of thumb: The bigger and slower the ferry, the less you notice the swell on the Greece ferry<\/strong>. On car ferries (including Blue Star Ferries) we only noticed a rocking at high wind speeds. High-speed catamarans travel very fast, but even at low winds, they rock considerably.<\/p>\n

\"Griechenland
Real island insider tips are only accessible by ferry<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

#2 Book ferry tickets for Greek islands<\/h2>\n

Booking a ferry to the Greek islands<\/strong> has never been as simple as it is today. A few years ago, you had to go to the ticket offices of the shipping companies or reserve your ferry ticket by phone and then print it out, but today you can do everything online from the comfort of your own home. The ticket will be sent immediately to your e-mail inbox.<\/p>\n

\"Griechenland
Ticket booking via app from the sofa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But don’t worry, if you’re not that tech-savvy, you can also book ferry tickets in Greece at the ticket office<\/strong>. In the port of each island, the different shipping companies have their own physical points of sale or Ferry agencies arrange the tickets. You only rarely buy the ticket on the ship, for example with small ferries.<\/p>\n

\"Ticket
Ticket office at the port<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The purchase of ferry tickets at the port<\/strong> is especially worthwhile for spontaneous trips in the off-season, when you want to travel flexibly from island to island as a foot passenger. However, if you want to book a ferry in Greece at short notice, you need patience at the ticket counter, because the Greeks themselves tick similarly, shortly before the departure of the ferry, the tickets are bought at the port.<\/p>\n

Also note that in the high season and on important holidays (including Orthodox Easter and Assumption Day 15 August), popular routes are booked up quickly. If you are traveling with your own car during the holiday season, you should book your ticket several weeks in advance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Tipps
All aboard – it’s about to start!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you want to be on the safe side and travel with a vehicle, you should book tickets for the Greek islands online in advance<\/strong>, that can also be done months in advance. You can either do this directly on the websites of the shipping companies, as long as you know which company is calling at which island, or you can use well-known booking portals such as Ferryhopper*<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Hafen
Piraeus: The largest port in Greece<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Platform to book ferries for Greece<\/h3>\n

On platforms like Ferryhopper you get a very good overview of all available routes, times and prices – and all this in your language and with customer service, if desired.<\/p>\n

You simply enter your start and destination port as well as the date in the search mask and the booking portal will show you the available ferry connections for Greece<\/strong>. Here you can enter your desired route directly:<\/p>\n