Ferry Athens-Ios

Discover the best ferries from Athens to Ios, travel tips, prices, and much more. Here we go!

In brief, traveling from Athens to Ios is very easy!
- Ios is connected by ferry to Athens throughout the year.
- The route is operated by both conventional and high-speed ferries.
- A standard ticket costs between '23.50' 'EUR' (23.50 euros) and '84.70' 'EUR' (84.70 euros).

➜ Search schedules online

The ferry Super Express of Golden Star Ferries

Disclaimer: The information provided below is based on previous years' data. To find the exact routes for your dates, please refer to our booking engine.

Ferries from Athens to Ios depart from all ports of Athens: Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio. During the high season, several crossings are available every day.
• From Piraeus Port: Between May and September, there are 2-5 daily connections from Piraeus to Ios. A ferry operates on a nearly daily basis during the low season too.
The first ferry leaves at 07:00, and the last one at 22:30.
• From Rafina Port: The route is seasonal, with 1 daily connection between June and September. The ferry leaves at 07:20.
• From Lavrio Port: Throughout the year, there is 1 weekly connection between Lavrio and Ios. The ferry leaves at 07:15.

The ferry Blue Star 1 of Blue Star

The route from Athens to Ios is operated by both conventional and high-speed/catamaran vessels.

➜ Conventional vs High Speed: What ferry should you select?

The distance between Athens and Ios is 107 nautical miles (123 miles or 199 kilometers).
The duration of the trip depends on the ferry type you are traveling with. The journey with a high-speed vessel takes 5 hours on average, while the trip with a conventional ferry can last from 7 hours and 15 minutes to 11 hours and 10 minutes.
The fastest ferry is the Worldchampion Jet by Seajets.

A standard ticket costs between '23.50' 'EUR' (23.50 euros) and '84.70' 'EUR' (84.70 euros), depending on the company and the type of vessel, while the price of a business class/VIP ticket ranges between '76.00' 'EUR' (76.00 euros) and '102.00' 'EUR' (102.00 euros).

Some categories of passengers, including students, ISIC card holders, children under the age of 10, disabled passengers and families with more than 3 children may be eligible for ticket discounts of up to 50%. Also, most companies allow babies and toddlers to travel for free.

On FerriesinGreece, you can search for all available ferry schedules and timetables, compare ferry boats, companies and prices, create your itinerary, and book your ferry tickets in 4 easy steps on our secure server.
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Standard/economy seats are the most popular and affordable option. In conventional ferries, these seats are situated on deck or in internal lounges and they are not numbered, so your ticket does not correspond to a specific seat. Therefore, in order to get a comfortable one, you need to board the ferry as soon as possible. Bear in mind, in this case, you will have to keep an eye on your seat for the entire duration of the journey.
Another option is the airplane seats, which are located in separate lounges. They are more comfortable than economy seats, and they are the most affordable option among the numbered types of seats. For luxury travel, there are also Business/VIP seats, which are situated in a separate lounge and are more expensive.
There are only numbered seats in high-speed ferries, so a standard ticket corresponds to an airplane seat.

The port of Rafina at sunrise

Athens has three ports serving Ios. Piraeus is the biggest and busiest port of Athens, and it is located just 12 kilometers from the city center, while Rafina is the closest port to the Athens airport. Lavrio is located in southeastern Attica, 36 km from the International Airport of Athens and 60 km from the city center.
In Piraeus Port, ferries departing for Ios and the other Cycladic islands leave from gates E6, E7, E9 and E10. The departure gate will be written on your ferry ticket. Due to the size of the port, the distance between the gates is long, so it is better to check in advance which gate your vessel departs from.
Rafina and Lavrio ports are smaller. There are no gates, so finding your vessel will be fairly easy.

Don't get lost! Get our Piraeus Port Map, Rafina Port Map, and Lavrio Port Map.

Ferries bound for Ios arrive at the Gialos, the port of Ios, which is located 2 km from Ios Town.

Do you need a transfer in Athens? We've got you covered! Check out our Transfer service!

Luggage policies in Greek ferries are quite flexible.
Most companies allow 40 kg or 0.5 cubic meters of luggage per passenger and provide a luggage storage area on each ferry.
If you wish, you can take your luggage with you to the lounges or the deck (if available), but it is recommended that you leave bulky suitcases in the designated area and take only your personal belongings (wallet, keys, mobile phone, etc.) with you upstairs.

You need to purchase a vehicle ticket to take your car or motorbike with you to Ios.
Drivers should be at the port 1 hour to 1.5 hours before the official departure time.
For safety reasons, entering the garage while the ferry is sailing is not possible.
Note: Many car rental companies do not allow customers to ferry their vehicles. We recommend avoiding purchasing a vehicle ticket before contacting your car rental company.

There is no airport in Ios, so the only way to get there is by taking the ferry. The closest airport is the International Airport of Santorini, which receives direct flights from several European countries. Check out the ferry route from Santorini to Ios.
Another choice would be to fly to Mykonos, which also boasts an international airport, and take the ferry from Mykonos to Ios.
To include more destinations in your itinerary, you can also reach Ios from a number of other Cycladic islands, including Paros, Naxos, Milos and Syros.

Maganari Beach in Ios

Ios is famous for its gorgeous beaches and vibrant party scene, which make it a popular Cycladic destination among the youth. In addition, it has picturesque cliff-top villages, stunning sights and much more to offer.

Check out the best things to see and do there in our mini-guide for Ios.