Rafina port is the second ferry port of Athens and the closest to the airport, serving fast, often quicker ferries to Mykonos, Tinos, Andros and the northern Cyclades. Plan island-hopping and transfers alongside tours and tickets from My Greece Tours for a smooth start to your island adventure.
This practical transport guide complements the wider Athens travel guide. The sections below cover what Rafina is, the ferry routes, Rafina versus Piraeus, how to get there from the airport and city, catching your ferry, and key tips.
What is the port of Rafina?
Rafina is the second-largest passenger port of Athens, a small, easy-to-use harbour on the east coast of Attica, only about 16 km from Athens International Airport, making it the closest major ferry port to the airport. It is a key departure point for ferries to the northern Cyclades, especially Mykonos, Tinos and Andros, often by faster routes than Piraeus. Far smaller and simpler than Piraeus, Rafina has a single terminal and no confusing gates.
While Piraeus is the great main port of Athens, many island travellers find themselves using the city’s second port, Rafina, a smaller and far more manageable harbour that is well worth understanding. Rafina sits on the eastern coast of the Attica peninsula, facing the Aegean, and its great advantage is its location: it lies only around sixteen kilometres from Athens International Airport, making it by far the closest major ferry port to the airport, a real boon for travellers heading straight to the islands on arrival. It serves as an important gateway to the islands, in particular the northern Cyclades, being the principal departure point for ferries to popular Mykonos, sacred Tinos and green Andros, among others, and these routes from Rafina are often shorter and faster than the equivalent sailings from Piraeus because the port is closer to those islands.
Crucially for visitors, Rafina is small, relaxed and easy to navigate, with essentially a single compact terminal area and none of the sprawling, confusing numbered gates of Piraeus, so finding your ferry is simple. It makes island travel refreshingly straightforward. Knowing its routes helps you plan. The destinations served are the key to choosing it.
What ferry routes go from Rafina?
Rafina mainly serves the northern Cyclades, with frequent ferries to Mykonos, Tinos and Andros, often faster than from Piraeus. Seasonal and connecting routes also reach Paros, Naxos, Syros, Santorini, Ios and even Crete via the Cyclades. Several fast-ferry companies operate here, with multiple daily sailings to Mykonos in summer. For Andros, Tinos and Mykonos in particular, Rafina is usually the quickest and most convenient port from Athens.
The routes from Rafina are the main reason to choose it, and they focus on the northern and central Cyclades, making it the natural port for certain popular islands. The core destinations served frequently and directly are the northern Cyclades trio of Andros, the first stop and closest, Tinos, the great pilgrimage island, and glamorous Mykonos, with Rafina being the standard and quickest departure point for all three. Beyond these, seasonal and connecting services extend further into the Cyclades, reaching islands such as Paros, Naxos, Syros, Santorini and Ios, with some routes even continuing on toward Crete, particularly in the busy summer months when schedules expand.
Several ferry companies, predominantly operating fast catamaran and high-speed vessels, run from Rafina, and in peak summer there are multiple daily departures to Mykonos, giving good flexibility. The journey times are a key selling point: because Rafina is physically closer to these islands than Piraeus, the crossings, especially on the fast ferries, can be notably quicker, with Mykonos reachable in a little over two hours on the fastest boats. For Andros, Tinos and Mykonos, Rafina is hard to beat. It pairs perfectly with an airport arrival. Comparing it with Piraeus clarifies the choice.
Should you use Rafina or Piraeus?
Choose Rafina if you are heading to Mykonos, Tinos or Andros, or arriving by air, as it is far closer to the airport and these islands and offers faster crossings, in a small, simple port. Choose Piraeus for the widest range of islands, including Santorini, Crete, the Dodecanese and the Saronic islands, and if you are coming from central Athens, to which it is directly connected by metro. Match the port to your island and your starting point.
A common question for island travellers is which of the two Athens ports to use, and the answer depends chiefly on which island you are visiting and where you are starting from. Rafina is the better choice in several clear cases: if your destination is Mykonos, Tinos or Andros, for which it offers the most direct and often fastest service; if you are arriving at or departing from Athens airport, since Rafina is only a short hop away while Piraeus is across the city; and if you simply prefer a small, calm, easy-to-navigate port over a vast, busy one. Piraeus, on the other hand, remains the right choice for the widest range of destinations, as it serves nearly all the Greek islands, including Santorini, Crete, the Dodecanese such as Rhodes, and the nearby Saronic islands, many of which Rafina does not serve at all; it is also far better connected to central Athens, being linked directly by metro, making it more convenient if you are staying in the city centre.
In short, match the port to your specific island and your starting point. For the northern Cyclades from the airport, Rafina wins; for breadth and city access, Piraeus. Getting to Rafina is the next step. It takes a little planning.
How do you get to Rafina port?
Rafina is easy to reach. From Athens airport, just 16 km away, a KTEL bus runs frequently, taking about 30 to 40 minutes for a few euros, or a taxi takes around 20 minutes for roughly €20 to 30. From central Athens, KTEL buses depart from the Pedion tou Areos terminal, taking about an hour. No metro line reaches Rafina, so a bus or taxi is the way. Allow buffer time for traffic, especially for early sailings.
Reaching Rafina is straightforward, though unlike Piraeus it is not on the metro, so you travel by bus or taxi, with the route depending on whether you start at the airport or in the city. From Athens International Airport, the proximity is a major advantage: the port lies only about sixteen kilometres away, and frequent KTEL intercity buses connect the airport directly to Rafina in roughly thirty to forty minutes for a few euros, while a taxi covers the distance in around twenty minutes for approximately twenty to thirty euros, turning a flight arrival into a ferry departure in well under an hour, traffic permitting. From central Athens, KTEL buses to Rafina depart regularly from the terminal near Pedion tou Areos park, taking around an hour depending on traffic, and a taxi from the centre is also an option, though longer and pricier.
Because there is no rail link, it is wise to allow a comfortable buffer of extra time for the bus or for possible traffic, particularly if you are catching an early-morning ferry or have heavy luggage, so you arrive at the port relaxed rather than rushed. With its closeness to the airport, Rafina is genuinely convenient. Once there, boarding is simple. The small port makes catching your ferry easy.
How do you catch your ferry, and what tips help?
Catching a ferry at Rafina is easy, as the port is small with one terminal and the boats moored within steps of each other, so there are no confusing gates. Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before departure, with your ticket ready, check the boarding board, and walk to your clearly marked ferry. Book tickets in advance for summer sailings, bring snacks, and note the waterfront cafés and tavernas if you have time before boarding. It is a relaxed, stress-free port.
One of the great pleasures of using Rafina, especially after the daunting scale of Piraeus, is how simple it is to actually catch your ferry, thanks to the port’s small and compact layout. Unlike the sprawling gates of the main port, Rafina has essentially a single terminal with the ferries moored along the quay within a short walk of one another, so you simply arrive, identify your boat from the signage and the departure information board, and walk straight to it, with no risk of getting lost or facing a long trek to a distant gate. It is sensible to arrive around thirty to forty-five minutes before your scheduled departure to allow time to find your ferry and board calmly, keeping your ticket and identification handy. For the popular summer routes to Mykonos and the other Cyclades, booking your ferry tickets in advance is strongly advised, as sailings can sell out in peak season.
The little town of Rafina is a pleasant fishing port in its own right, lined with waterfront cafés and seafood tavernas, so if you have time before boarding you can enjoy a coffee or a meal by the harbour. It is worth arriving a touch early in summer, when the small port can grow busy with departing day-trippers and island-hoppers all converging on the quay at once. Keep an eye on the departure board and any announcements, as fast ferries can be affected by strong winds, occasionally delaying or cancelling sailings, so it pays to stay flexible and check your boat’s status. Overall, Rafina offers a refreshingly relaxed and stress-free start to an island trip. It is island travel made easy. The questions below cover the points visitors ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you reach Rafina port from the airport?
Rafina port is only about 16 km from Athens International Airport, the closest major ferry port to it. A KTEL bus runs frequently between the airport and Rafina, taking about 30 to 40 minutes for a few euros, while a taxi takes around 20 minutes for roughly €20 to 30. No train serves Rafina, so a bus or taxi is the way to go.
Which islands does Rafina serve?
Rafina mainly serves the northern Cyclades, with frequent, often faster ferries to Mykonos, Tinos and Andros. Seasonal and connecting routes also reach Paros, Naxos, Syros, Santorini, Ios and even Crete via the Cyclades. For Mykonos, Tinos and Andros in particular, Rafina is usually the quickest and most convenient port from Athens, especially when arriving by air.
Is Rafina better than Piraeus?
Rafina is better if you are heading to Mykonos, Tinos or Andros, or arriving by air, as it is closer to the airport and those islands and offers faster crossings in a small, simple port. Piraeus is better for the widest range of islands, including Santorini, Crete and the Saronic islands, and for access from central Athens by metro. Match the port to your island and starting point.