Piraeus or Rafina for Mykonos: which Athens ferry port should you use?

Mykonos is served from both ports, but tickets are port-specific and the two ports are on opposite sides of Attica. Booking "Athens" without checking the port is the most common way this crossing goes wrong.

Ferries, gates and fares change by season and sometimes by week. Treat the figures below as planning ranges and check your exact sailing before you travel.

Where the two ports are

Piraeus is the main harbour of Athens, on the Saronic Gulf, and serves most of the Aegean: Crete, the Dodecanese, the Saronic islands and much of the Cyclades. The port is large. Its gates run along roughly 2.5–3 km of waterfront, so a far gate with luggage can take a long walk.

Rafina is a smaller port on the east coast of Attica. Its main routes are Andros, Tinos and Mykonos, with some seasonal high-speed services further south. The terminal is compact, and the trade-off is fewer sailings and fewer fallback options.

Mykonos is one of the few islands reachable by ferry from both ports. Andros and Tinos are mainly served from Rafina, and Santorini, Milos and Sifnos are mainly served from Piraeus.

Which port fits your plan

Starting from Athens airport: usually Rafina. - ATH to Rafina is about 16 km. A taxi takes around 20–35 minutes, or a direct KTEL bus takes about 30–40 minutes. Both run on the eastern side of Attica, so you never cross the city. - ATH to Piraeus is about 50 km. The metro takes about an hour, or 60–90 minutes or more by bus or taxi in traffic. - If the gap between your landing and the ferry departure is under about four hours, Rafina is the safer choice unless it has no sailing that day.

Starting from central Athens: usually Piraeus. - From Plaka, Monastiraki, Syntagma or Koukaki, the metro (Line 1 or Line 3) reaches Piraeus in about 15–25 minutes. - Reaching Rafina from the centre means a KTEL bus of about an hour, or a taxi of 40–50 minutes. Buses are less frequent early in the morning, which is when the fast boats sail.

So the question is: where are you sleeping the night before? Sleep in central Athens and use Piraeus. Sleep near the airport or on the east coast and use Rafina.

Crossing times

Rafina is slightly closer by sea, at about 71 nautical miles against 86 from Piraeus. The timetable shows the difference.

Fast catamarans slow down in strong wind before they cancel, so their advertised times are a best case. On the high-speed crossings, the sea-time difference between the two ports is modest. The airport transfer difference is usually what decides it.

Most sailings from both ports to Mykonos are in the morning or early afternoon. Check the timetable before relying on an evening sailing.

Operators

• From Piraeus: Blue Star Ferries runs conventional ships, including the direct Myconos sailing and the Paros route via Syros and Tinos. Seajets runs high-speed catamarans.
• From Rafina: Golden Star Ferries runs high-speed and conventional sailings. Fast Ferries runs conventional sailings, usually via Andros and Tinos. Seajets runs some seasonal high-speed services.

Check each operator's current routes for your date. Schedules change, and some operators run only some routes in some seasons. In winter, the route thins to a few sailings a week.

Gates and terminals

Piraeus is harder to navigate because of its size. Mykonos sailings use the Cyclades gates: Blue Star Myconos and the Seajets Champion Jets from E7, Blue Star Paros passengers from E6, and the Seajets World Champion from E9. Gate assignments can change on the day, so check the gate on your ticket and in the operator's app the evening before, and again on the board on arrival. Allow real time for a walk or shuttle to a far gate.

Rafina is simpler. It is one compact terminal, and you walk to your dock. There is no metro or train. Use the KTEL bus, a taxi or a pre-booked transfer, and book the transfer for an early boat.

Either way, tickets are port-specific. A Piraeus ticket does not board a Rafina sailing, and the reverse is also true.

Fares

Fares change by season, operator and how far ahead you buy, so only ranges are useful. Indicatively, per adult one way:

• Conventional from Rafina: from about €35–38.
• Conventional from Piraeus: from about €43–53.
• High-speed from Rafina: from about €52–77.
• High-speed from Piraeus: from about €88.
• Car from Rafina: from about €74. Car from Piraeus: from about €123 on the conventional ship.

Price the flight too. On this route a flight is often in the same range as the fast boat.

Meltemi and cancellations

The meltemi is a dry northerly that blows down the Aegean in July and August. It can blow for several days under a clear sky. The northern Cyclades, including Mykonos, Tinos and Andros, take it head on.

• High-speed catamarans are usually the first to be cancelled. Rafina's exposed east coast puts its high-speed sailings among the earliest casualties, and its fewer sailings leave fewer alternatives.
• From Piraeus, a cancellation usually leaves more options: more operators, conventional ferries that still sail in stronger wind, and sometimes another sailing the same day.
• Safety decisions are made on the day, using the wind and the sea. If your plan is tight, take a morning departure, since the wind tends to build through the afternoon, and choose a large conventional ferry over a catamaran.
• If a missed or cancelled sailing would wreck your plans, Piraeus usually has more fallback options, even when Rafina looks faster on paper.

Refund and re-routing rules depend on the cause and on your ticket conditions. A refund for a cancelled sailing does not cover a missed hotel night or flight.

Arriving in Mykonos

Most large ferries from Athens dock at the New Port at Tourlos, a short distance from Mykonos Town, not at the Old Port. Departures also leave from Tourlos. Check the arrival port on your ticket, and allow time for the transfer into town.

Taxis on the island can be scarce after a ferry arrival, especially in August. For a late arrival, pre-book a transfer or confirm a bus. Tell your hotel which sailing you are on.

Booking

There is no single timetable that shows both ports clearly, and the departure port is often in small type on the booking screen.

1. Decide your starting point and first island date, then choose the port. Do not search "Athens to Mykonos" without a port.
2. Before you pay, check three things on the confirmation: the departure port, the operator and the arrival port on Mykonos.
3. Book early for July and August, especially for a vehicle or a specific morning departure.
4. If you are taking a car, check that the vessel has a car deck, since not every high-speed does, and declare the full dimensions.
5. Check the operator's own check-in and collection deadlines. They differ between companies.
6. Keep a backup: the next sailing from both ports, and a hotel near each port in case you need it.

Decision guide

1. Landing at ATH, first stop Mykonos, under about four hours before departure: Rafina.
2. Sleeping in central Athens, no early flight: Piraeus.
3. Forecast shows strong northerlies, or you are prone to seasickness: choose a conventional ferry, and Piraeus if cancellation resilience matters.
4. A flight home the day after the ferry: do not compress the schedule. A night's buffer costs less than a missed flight.
5. Continuing from Mykonos to other islands: plan the onward crossing from Tourlos. Routing back through Athens is rarely the best option.

Common mistakes

• Reading "Athens" on the confirmation and assuming Piraeus.
• Booking a Rafina fast boat while staying in central Athens, then needing a cross-city bus at dawn.
• Assuming you can walk from the metro to a far gate at Piraeus without allowing time.
• Assuming the return leaves from the Old Port. It leaves from Tourlos.
• Planning a same-day flight after an early ferry in high season.
• Using a summer timetable for a winter trip.

FAQ

Is Rafina or Piraeus better for Mykonos?

Rafina is usually better if you are coming straight from the airport or want the fastest crossing. Piraeus is usually better if you are sleeping in central Athens, want the cheapest conventional ship, or need more fallback options. Start with where you will be the night before.

Which is faster?

Rafina, on the high-speed crossings. The sea-time difference is modest, but the shorter airport transfer usually makes Rafina quicker overall.

Can I take the metro to Rafina?

No. Rafina has no rail link. Use the KTEL bus, a taxi or a pre-booked transfer.

Are tickets interchangeable between the two ports?

No. Check the departure port on the confirmation before you pay. Rebooking on the day depends on space, which can be scarce in July and August.

Last checked

Operators, routes and fares change by season. Verify your exact sailing on the operator's booking site before you travel.

Disclosure

This article contains practical recommendations and links that may qualify as affiliate links, for example to ferry booking platforms or transfer and accommodation providers. If you book through an affiliate link, the site may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate links are not placed inside safety-critical steps such as cancellation or disruption guidance.

Further planning

• Route page: Piraeus to Mykonos ferry (/routes/piraeus-to-mykonos)
• Route page: Rafina to Mykonos ferry (/routes/rafina-to-mykonos)
• Guide: Athens airport to Piraeus ferry port
• Guide: How early should you arrive at Piraeus?
• Guide: Which gate at Piraeus?
• Guide: Ferry cancelled due to wind
• Guide: Common mistakes taking ferries from Piraeus