How to Get to Mykonos from Athens

Athens is the ideal city to relax and rest, and also to get to know all the history and culture of centuries ago. That's why you will have a huge variety of monuments and activities to see and do in it, but it is also very well connected with other cities and islands and it is a great plan to take a day to visit some of the emblematic ones, such as Mykonos. It is located an average of 3 hours away from Athens and its festive and cheerful atmosphere is breathed in each of its corners.

Mykonos is paradise and one day is enough to visit its main attractions. Undoubtedly, the best option to get to Mykonos are guided tours, which will facilitate the organization. You will not have to worry about how to get there and you will be accompanied by an expert guide who will show you the main sites of the island. Although you can also choose other means such as ferry or plane. Take note, I tell you how to get from Athens to Mykonos.

If you want to get to know Mykonos without having to worry about anything and if you allow me to give you some advice, I recommend you to book an organized day trip to Mykonos from Athens. This way you will have a comfortable and fast means of transportation to reach your destination in just 2 hours and a half by ferry, enjoying the trip to one of the jewels of the Aegean Sea and, in addition, you will have a more personalized visit to know the island in depth, since all these tours have a specialized guide who will accompany you at all times.

With this alternative, everything related to the organization of the trip will be in the best hands and you will only have to worry about getting to know everything that the beautiful island of Mykonos has to offer, which is no small thing. Once on the island, you will be able to visit the most emblematic sites, such as the Paraportiani church, which has a simplicity that will make you fall in love with it, the mythical windmills so characteristic of the island or visit Alefkándra, the neighborhood known as Little Venice.

You will also walk the white streets so typical of Mykonos, with picturesque balconies decorated with flowers. But it won't be all walking and sightseeing, as with a day trip you will have free time to explore the island at your own pace for a few hours.

In the evening you will return to Athens, first taking the ferry to Rafina, where you will board a bus to reach the capital of Greece, which will drop you off directly at the door of your hotel.

Details of interest

• Price: from 185 €
• Duration: this type of excursion usually lasts about 18 hours, including about 2 hours and a half on the outward journey and a little more on the return.
• Advantages: you won't have to worry about anything, you will be picked up and dropped off at your hotel on the way back, and unlike other options, you will have a guided tour of the island and the company of an expert guide included.
• Disadvantages: this option is definitely not for you if you are the type of traveler who enjoys doing things at your own pace and managing your own time. Another disadvantage is that it is a bit more expensive in relation to other alternatives that take you to Mykonos from Athens, but I can assure you that for its advantages, it is worth it.

If you decided that you prefer to visit Mykonos on your own, I can tell you that arriving by water is a good option and you will have some alternatives to organize your trip in the best way.

As for the duration of the trip, it is a bit longer, as it can take between two and a half hours or four and a half hours depending on the type of boat. Keep in mind that the smaller boats are the ones that arrive faster to the destination, but it moves more with the swell, so do not choose it if you have seasickness.

There are several companies offering this Athens-Mykonos route, so prices may vary, but they start at about 60 euros per leg, always depending on which company you choose and how far in advance you book. This is essential.

You will be able to compare prices and purchase your pass on the official website. In winter, I advise you to consider another option than the ferry, because depending on how the Aegean Sea is, many companies may cancel their trips. If you are traveling to Athens at this time of year, you will be interested in these guides to things to see and do in December and things to see and do in January.

How to get to Athens Ferry Port

Any ship you choose to sail from Athens to Mykonos will depart from the port of Piraeus, which is the largest seaport in Greece and the largest passenger port in all of Europe, handling 20 million people a year. Piraeus is located about 11 kilometers from the center of Athens and getting there is not a difficult task, here are some options.

• Bus: the bus line X80 is the best and most direct option to get from the center of Athens to Piraeus, as it connects Syntagma Square and the Acropolis with the port in a trip of about half an hour. Please note that you can take this bus between 7 am and 9:15 pm, with a frequency of 30 minutes and the port stop is the last one. This option is only available in summer, between May and September. To take this bus you will have to buy the city's public transport pass for about 4.5 euros.
• Metro: this is the cheapest option to get from Athens to the port of Piraeus. The line that will take you to Piraeus is line 1 identified with the green color and the most central stop is in Monastiraki. The pass to take the metro is very affordable, as it costs about 1,40 €. You can take the metro between 5:19 am and 12:49 pm and the trip will take about 20 minutes. Just keep in mind that although the metro connects perfectly the center with the port, the stop near the Piraeus is about 15 minutes walk, so if you are very loaded with things, you may want to choose the bus.
• Cab: although it is the most expensive option, I must admit that it is the most comfortable, you will arrive in about half an hour to the port of Piraeus and it will cost you about 25 euros. Remember to agree the price with the cab driver before getting in.

How to get to Mykonos Ferry Port

The new port of Mykonos is a bit far from the city center, about 2 kilometers. But this will not be a problem because you will have the SeaBus boat that will take you from the new port to the old port which is located in the center of the city and will also make the trip in reverse. It has a frequency of half an hour, takes about 10 minutes to arrive and costs about 2 euros.

You will also have the option of taking a cab, of course. But keep in mind the price difference, as the cab will cost you about 10 to 15 euros.

Details of interest

• Price: from 60 euros for each outward and return leg, although you will have to add transportation to and from the ports.
• Duration: the trip lasts between 2:30 and 4:30 hours.
• Advantages: it is an economical and practical option to get to Mykonos.
• Disadvantages: you will have to coordinate transfers to the port and depending on weather conditions, the ferry may not depart.

The plane is the fastest and most comfortable option to get from Athens to Mykonos. The trip lasts 30 minutes and you don't have to worry about the time of the year you want to travel, as there are flights all year round. Keep in mind that you will have to add transfer times to and from the airports and boarding.

Another point in favor of this option are the prices of flights that are quite cheap, and even more if you book in advance, in this case you can get flights from 20 €.

Keep in mind that companies that only include carry-on baggage are usually much cheaper than those that include checked baggage. Even if you plan to take a cheaper one and include luggage, compare prices well because many times it ends up being more expensive. I tell you which airlines include the route between Athens and Mykonos so you can take them into account and plan your trip.

• Volotea: you will have prices from 20 euros each way and the duration is approximately 45 minutes.
• Sky Express: you will find prices from 60 euros each way and the approximate travel time is 40 minutes.
• Olympic Air: this airline has prices from 30 euros each way and the duration of the trip is approximately 45 minutes.

How to get to Athens airport

There are several means of transport that connect the center of Athens with the airport and in this article you will find a lot of information about transfers between the airport and Athens. Here are the best options.

• Metro: this is the best option. You will have line 3 identified with the blue color, which connects the airport with several stations in the center of Athens such as Syntagma or Monastiraki. It costs about 10 euros and the travel time is about 45 minutes. The schedule is from 6:35 am to 11:35 pm with a frequency of 30 minutes.
• Bus: With this option you will have more travel time, as it will take between 40 and 90 minutes depending on the route. It costs approximately 6 euros and you will have 4 lines to choose the one that best suits your location: X93, with a route between the airport and Kifisos and Liosion bus station, X95 from the airport to Syntagma square, X96 between the airport and Piraeus and X97 between the airport and the final stop at Dafni metro station.
• Cab: not the best option in terms of price, but in terms of comfort. The price is about €35 during the day and €53 at night, but remember to fix a price with the cab driver before taking it to avoid surprises.

How to get to Mykonos airport

Unlike Athens, in Mykonos the distances are shorter. So the best thing to do when you arrive at the airport is to take a cab to the center of Mykonos for about 15 euros, although if you want to save money, you can choose a cheaper option such as the public bus that will take you to the center of Mykonos for about 2 euros. Keep in mind that they do not usually have good frequency and leave every one hour, they will drop you off at Fabrika station in the center of Mykonos.

Details of interest

• Price: from 20 euros each way, although you will have to add transportation to and from the airports.
• Duration: the trip takes approximately 45 minutes, but you will have to add transfer and boarding times.
• Advantages: it is the fastest option and departs all year round.
• Disadvantages: you will have to coordinate transfers to the airport.

Mykonos is the ideal destination to enjoy in one or two days, and also one of the most popular destinations that receives thousands of tourists at any time of the year. That is why my first and most important advice is that, whatever transportation you choose, book it in advance to get better prices and more availability. The same with accommodation, if you are going to stay one or two nights on the island, do not leave it to the last minute.

On the other hand, in case you choose ferry, keep in mind to be in Piraeus early enough to look for the boarding gate with peace of mind, since it is the largest port in Europe, you can imagine that it is not an easy task. If you are half an hour or forty minutes early, you will be fine.

If you plan to travel in winter, keep in mind that the ferry is sometimes cancelled, depending on the weather, so my advice is to book directly by plane and in advance. Here I leave you a guide of the best things to see and do in Athens in winter so you can complement your getaway to Mykonos with many more activities.

Now you know everything about how to get to Mykonos from Athens, the first step is solved, you just have to choose the option that best suits your plans. Keep in mind that Mykonos will be the perfect plan for your summer vacations, here I leave you an itinerary of the best things to see and do in summer in Athens, so you can combine it with your getaway to Mykonos.

Finally, I want to tell you that to get the most out of Athens, you can combine your visit to Mykonos with many more activities to do in the city, some gastronomic tour to taste the best local food and even meet one of its essential jewels in a visit to the Acropolis.