Andros has no airport, so it is reached only by ferry, and only from Rafina, the smaller port of Athens on the eastern side of the city. The crossing is short and frequent, taking one to two hours. Which makes Andros the closest of the Cyclades to the capital and an easy escape from the mainland. It keeps the island far quieter than the airport-served islands to the south.
This guide covers how to get to Andros in full: the ferry from Rafina, the journey time and cost, the ferry companies. How to reach Rafina from Athens and its airport, where you arrive on the island, the links to other islands. How to get around once there. Read it beside the wider Andros travel guide to plan the whole trip.
How do you get to Andros?
Andros is reached only by ferry, and only from the port of Rafina near Athens. There is no airport on the island. The crossing takes about one to two hours, with several daily sailings year-round and more in summer.
Unlike many Greek islands, Andros cannot be reached by air, as it has no airport, so every visitor arrives by sea. The only ferry route is from Rafina, the second port of Athens on the eastern side of the city. Close to the international airport, which makes the connection convenient for travellers flying into the capital.
The ferry crossing is short by Aegean standards, taking between about one and two hours depending on the vessel. It runs frequently. With sailings a day through the year and more in the summer peak. This makes Andros one of the most accessible islands from Athens, reachable in a morning from the city or the airport.
The lack of an airport and the single ferry route are a large part of why Andros stays quieter and more authentic than the airport-served Cyclades to the south. The sections below cover the ferry, how to reach Rafina, and what to expect on arrival, so you can plan the journey with confidence.
How do you get to Rafina port for the Andros ferry?
Rafina lies about 30 kilometres east of central Athens and only 20 kilometres from Athens airport.
Rafina is on the east coast of Attica, about 30 kilometres from central Athens but only around 20 kilometres from Eleftherios Venizelos airport. Which makes it especially convenient for travellers arriving by air. Its closeness to the airport is a real advantage over the larger port of Piraeus for reaching the islands it serves.
From the airport, the KTEL bus on the airport-to-Rafina route runs regularly. Roughly every half-hour. Reaches the port in about 25 minutes, while taxis make the trip in a similar time. From central Athens, direct KTEL buses run frequently to Rafina in around 30 to 40 minutes, or you can combine the suburban train to Pallini with a connecting bus.
It is worth checking both in advance and allowing time to connect, especially for an early sailing. The convenience of Rafina’s position near the airport, though, means travellers can fly into Athens and reach Andros the same day without going into the city.
How long is the ferry to Andros and what does it cost?
The ferry from Rafina to Andros takes about one and a half to two hours depending on the vessel, and tickets start from around 25 euros. Faster boats cover the crossing more quickly than the conventional ferries.
The crossing from Rafina to Andros takes between about one and a half and two hours, with the exact time depending on the type of vessel: the faster ferries make the trip more quickly, while the larger conventional boats take a little longer but offer more space and comfort. Either way, it is a short and easy crossing by the standards of the Aegean.
Ticket prices start from around 25 euros for a standard seat, with the fare varying by operator, vessel and season, and higher classes and vehicle spaces costing more. Taking a car across adds to the cost but is worthwhile given how useful a vehicle is on the large island. Booking a vehicle space ahead is wise in summer.
For foot passengers, the crossing is straightforward, and the short duration means it is an easy leg of a journey rather than a long haul. Booking ahead in the peak summer weeks secures both a place and a better fare, particularly for vehicles and for the busiest sailings.
Which ferry companies serve Andros?
Several companies serve the Rafina to Andros route, including Golden Star Ferries, Fast Ferries, SeaJets and Blue Star Ferries. Between them they offer frequent daily sailings on both conventional and high-speed vessels.
The Rafina to Andros route is served by several ferry operators, which between them provide a good frequency of sailings. The main companies include Golden Star Ferries, Fast Ferries and SeaJets. With Blue Star Ferries also operating on the wider Cyclades routes that call at Andros, giving a choice of departure times and vessel types.
The operators run a mix of conventional car ferries, which are larger, steadier and carry vehicles, and faster high-speed boats that cut the crossing time. Which you choose depends on your priorities of speed, comfort and cost. On whether you are taking a car. And comparing the day’s sailings across the operators helps find the best departure.
Tickets can be booked through the ferry companies or the usual online ferry booking platforms, which show all the operators’ sailings together for easy comparison. Booking ahead is recommended in the summer peak, when the popular sailings and the vehicle spaces fill, while off-season a shorter lead time is usually fine.
How often do ferries run to Andros?
Ferries run to Andros daily year-round, with about three sailings a day off-season and at least four in the summer peak, spread across the morning and afternoon. The service is more frequent in summer than in winter.
Andros enjoys a daily ferry service from Rafina throughout the year, which is a real advantage over the more remote islands, reflecting its closeness to Athens and its steady traffic. Off-season there are usually around three sailings a day, enough for flexible travel, while the winter months have the leanest schedule.
In the summer peak the frequency rises to at least four departures a day from Rafina. Spread across the morning and the afternoon. There is almost always a convenient sailing to fit your plans. The greater frequency in summer makes day-of-travel flexibility easier, though the popular sailings still fill and are best booked ahead.
Checking the current timetable when planning is essential, especially for off-season travel or an early start. The reliable daily service, though, means reaching Andros is rarely difficult, and the island is easy to include in a trip at any time of year.
Where does the ferry arrive in Andros?
The ferry arrives at Gavrio, the island’s main port on the north-west coast. From there it is about 8 kilometres to the resort of Batsi and 30 kilometres to the capital, Chora, reached by hire car, taxi or local bus.
Ferries dock at Gavrio, the island’s only main port, on the north-west coast of Andros. It is a working harbour town with tavernas, cafes, shops and car-hire desks serving arriving travellers. It is the starting point for reaching the rest of the island. Whether the west-coast resorts or the capital across on the east coast.
From Gavrio it is a short drive of about 8 kilometres south to the main resort of Batsi, while the capital, Chora. Lies about 30 kilometres away on the opposite, eastern coast, a drive of roughly 40 minutes across the island. Car-hire desks at the port, taxis and the local bus service, timed around the ferries, all provide onward transport.
Arranging onward transport from Gavrio is part of planning the trip. Collecting a hire car at the port is the most convenient option for most visitors, since a vehicle is useful for exploring the island. The guide to Chora covers reaching the capital.
Can you reach Andros from other islands?
Yes. Andros is connected by ferry to other Cycladic islands, including Tinos, Mykonos, Syros, Paros and Naxos, on the routes that run from Rafina through the islands.
Beyond the direct Rafina link, Andros sits on the ferry routes that run from Rafina down through the Cyclades. It is connected by sea to a string of other islands. The most frequent links are to nearby Tinos and Mykonos, with services also reaching Syros, Paros and Naxos, giving options for island-hopping onward from Andros.
This makes Andros a natural first or last stop on a Cyclades trip, combining the green, quiet north with the busier, more famous islands to the south. A common route pairs Andros with neighbouring Tinos and Mykonos, moving from the walker’s island to the pilgrimage island to the party island in a single chain.
The frequency of the inter-island services varies by season and route, so checking the timetables when planning an island-hopping itinerary is important. The connections mean Andros need not be a standalone destination, and its green landscapes make a restful counterpoint to the busier islands on a wider Cyclades tour.
Is there an airport on Andros?
No, Andros has no airport, so it cannot be reached by air. The only way to the island is the ferry from Rafina near Athens, which is why travellers flying in connect through Athens airport to the nearby port.
Andros is one of the Cycladic islands without an airport, so there are no flights to the island and every visitor arrives by ferry. For travellers coming from abroad, this means flying into Athens and then transferring to the port of Rafina for the ferry. Rather than flying directly to the island as is possible with Santorini, Mykonos or Naxos.
The convenience, though, is that Rafina lies very close to Athens airport. Only around 20 kilometres away. The transfer from a flight to the ferry is quick and easy, often achievable the same day. This keeps the journey to Andros simple despite the lack of an airport, and visitors reach the island within hours of landing in Athens.
The absence of an airport is part of what preserves the island’s quiet, unspoiled character, sparing it the mass tourism that direct flights bring to other islands. For travellers, it simply means planning the short hop from the airport to Rafina, after which the frequent ferry does the rest.
Can you take a car on the Andros ferry?
Yes. The conventional ferries from Rafina to Andros carry vehicles, and taking a car is well worth it given how useful one is on the large island. Book a vehicle space ahead in the summer peak, when they fill.
The larger conventional ferries on the Rafina to Andros route carry cars, motorbikes and campervans. You can bring your own vehicle to the island rather than hiring one on arrival. Given how spread out the island’s beaches, villages and trailheads are. Having a car is a real advantage. Taking your own can work out well for a longer stay or an island-hopping trip.
Vehicle spaces cost more than a foot passenger ticket and vary by size and operator. They are limited, so booking ahead is strongly advised in the summer peak, when the car decks fill on the popular sailings. The faster high-speed boats not carry vehicles, so check the vessel type when booking a car crossing.
For most visitors flying into Athens, hiring a car on Andros at the port of Gavrio is simpler than bringing one. For those driving in Greece or touring islands. The vehicle ferry is a useful option. Either way, a car is close to essential for exploring the large island fully.
What tips you know for the Andros ferry?
Book ahead in summer, arrive at Rafina at least an hour before departure as the port gets busy, check the current timetable, and allow for the meltemi wind, which can occasionally delay or cancel high-speed sailings.
A few practical tips smooth the journey to Andros. In the summer peak, book your tickets ahead, especially for vehicle spaces and the popular sailings. Arrive at the port of Rafina at least an hour before departure, as it gets busy and finding parking and your boat takes time. Rafina is smaller and easier than Piraeus, but it still fills in high season.
Always check the current timetable when planning, as the schedule changes with the season and can shift year to year. Confirm the vessel type if you are taking a car or want the faster crossing. Keep some flexibility around connections from the airport or the city, since the bus and ferry times do not always align neatly.
Finally, bear the weather in mind: the meltemi, the strong summer wind of the Aegean. Can occasionally delay or cancel the faster high-speed boats, which are more affected by rough seas than the larger conventional ferries. In windy spells, the bigger ferries are the more reliable choice, and it is worth checking for any disruption before travelling.
How do you get around Andros after arriving?
A hire car or scooter is the practical way to get around Andros, as the island is large and its beaches, villages and trailheads spread far apart.
Andros is a big, mountainous island with its attractions scattered from the port of Gavrio and the resort of Batsi in the west to the capital. Chora, in the east and the bay of Korthi in the south-east. A hire car or scooter, collected at the port on arrival. Is the most flexible way to explore. It turns the island’s size from a limitation into the freedom to see both coasts and the green interior.
Public buses do run between the main towns, Gavrio, Batsi, Chora and Korthi, timed loosely around the ferries. Which suits travellers based in one town who want the occasional outing. The infrequent service makes it less practical for touring or for reaching the remote beaches and trailheads. Taxis are available for shorter transfers.
For most visitors, a hire car is best treated as part of the cost of a trip to this large island. Unlocking the beaches, villages and hiking trails that the buses cannot reach conveniently. A stay focused on Batsi and its beaches can partly manage without one, but exploring Andros properly calls for your own transport, as the guide to things to do in Andros makes clear.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to Andros from Athens?
Andros is reached by ferry from Rafina, the smaller port of Athens on the eastern side of the city. About 30 kilometres from the centre and only 20 kilometres from Athens airport. The crossing takes about one and a half to two hours, with several daily sailings year-round. There is no airport on Andros, so the ferry is the only way to the island.
How long is the ferry from Rafina to Andros?
The ferry from Rafina to Andros takes about one and a half to two hours, depending on whether you take a faster high-speed boat or a larger conventional ferry. Tickets start from around 25 euros, and the crossing runs daily year-round, with about three sailings a day off-season and at least four in the summer peak.
Does Andros have an airport?
No, Andros has no airport, so it can only be reached by ferry from the port of Rafina near Athens. Travellers flying in connect through Athens airport, which lies only about 20 kilometres from Rafina. Making the transfer from a flight to the ferry quick and often achievable the same day. The lack of an airport helps keep the island quiet and unspoiled.
Where does the Andros ferry arrive?
The ferry from Rafina arrives at Gavrio, the main port of Andros on the north-west coast. From there it is about 8 kilometres to the resort of Batsi and 30 kilometres, a roughly 40-minute drive, to the capital, Chora, on the east coast. Hire cars, taxis and the local bus, timed around the ferries, provide onward transport from the port.