Greece Transport Guide: Ferries for Island-Hopping, Athens Metro & Car Rentals on Islands
From getting into the city from the airport to inter-island ferries and seasonal schedules, we break down Greece’s transport logic and booking essentials in one go.
Arrival & Getting into Town
| Airport | Way into Town | Time/Price |
|---|
| Athens (ATH) | Metro Line 3 | About 40 minutes, around €9 |
| Athens (ATH) | Airport Bus X95 to Syntagma Square | About 50–60 minutes, around €5.5 |
| Athens (ATH) | Taxi | About 30–45 minutes, around €40 |
| Santorini (JTR) | Bus or taxi to Fira | About 20 minutes |
Athens City Transport
Athens public transport mainly consists of Metro Lines 1, 2, and 3, trams, and buses, covering key spots such as the Acropolis, Syntagma Square, and Piraeus Port. A single 90-minute ticket costs about €1.20, a 24-hour ticket is around €4.10, and the airport line has a separate fare. Tickets can be purchased at vending machines and convenience stores, and you must validate your ticket at the gate before boarding. For taxis, you can use the Beat app, which offers more transparent pricing than hailing one on the street.
Ferries & Island-Hopping
- Major Hub: Piraeus Port is Athens’ sea gateway and is accessible via Metro Line 1 from the city center.
- Main Operators: Blue Star Ferries are slower but more stable and affordable; SeaJets and Hellenic Seaways offer faster high-speed ferries but at higher prices and are more affected by rough seas.
- Common Routes: Athens–Santorini high-speed ferry takes about 5 hours, slow ferry about 7–8 hours; Athens–Mykonos about 5 hours; Santorini–Mykonos about 2–3 hours; Athens–Heraklion (Crete) about 9 hours, or you can fly in about 1 hour.
- Booking: Use platforms like Ferryhopper to book e-tickets. During peak season, book well in advance and allow buffer time for connections.
Car Rental on Islands
Island bus services are limited and can get crowded during peak times. Renting a car or ATV is common, but you’ll need to bring your national driver’s license along with an international driving permit. Be aware that island roads are narrow, steep, and winding. On Santorini and Mykonos, parking is tight during peak season, and some roads have one-way restrictions. Crete is large, so renting a car is the most efficient way to explore the island.
Tips
- High-speed ferries are prone to delays or cancellations in strong winds, so don’t schedule island-hopping trips too tightly.
- Gas stations on islands often close at night, so fill up your tank before returning your rental car.
- Metro and bus tickets must be validated by you; fare evasion fines are steep, so keep your ticket until the end of your journey.