Photograph by Kaymaria Daskarolis
Greek ferry company Hellenic Seaways offers one-way, round-trip, and multi-leg ferry trips between the main ports of mainland Greece (Piraeus, Rafina, Agios Constantinos, and Volos) and 32 Greek islands.
The company’s Web site is very easy to use, and permits online ticket purchase and multiple ticket pick-up options.
While you can almost always find ferry tickets at the last minute, advance purchase expands fare and schedule choices. As we head into the “high season” of tourism in Greece, you would do well to book your ferry tickets in advance.
We checked a fare to Spetses at the end of April and found we could take the two-hour Flying Dolphin, a high-speed boat, from Piraeus to Spetses for €58.30 round trip—not bad for travel to the weekend getaway destination of choice for wealthy Athenians.
Great news if only I could find the website, written in English, naming the closest port to Athens airport, which does not give me a list of topics that it refuses to answer and assures me if I hear nothing within 2 weeks the answer is NO.
Is it any wonder Greece is Bankrupt?
Why not just consult a map? Piraeus is probably the port you are looking for. But that assumes you are heading to the Cyclades, the north-east Aegean islands or the Saronikos islands. Were you bound for the North Sporades then Volos would be the port to head for. Volos is about 300 km from Athens Airport. Piraeus is much closer to the airport. Bus X96 runs directly from the airport to the main port at Piraeus. The bus service takes between 85 and 110 minutes depending on the traffic.