How to Get to Mykonos from Athens

Athens is the ideal city to relax and unwind, and to learn about the history and culture of centuries ago. You'll have a huge variety of monuments and activities to see and do here, but it's also very well connected to other cities and islands and it's a great plan to take a day to visit some of the iconic ones, such as Mykonos. It's an average of 3 hours away from Athens and its festive and lively atmosphere can be felt in every corner.

Mykonos is paradise and a day is all you need to get to know its main attractions. Undoubtedly, the best option for getting to Mykonos are the guided excursions, which will make it easier for you to organise them. You won't have to worry about how to get there and you'll be accompanied by an expert guide who will show you the main sites on the island. However, you can also choose other means of transport such as ferry or plane. Take note, I 'll tell you how to get from Athens to Mykonos.

If you want to get to know Mykonos without having to worry about anything, I recommend that you book an organised day trip to Mykonos from Athens. This way you will have a comfortable and fast means of transport to reach your destination in just 2 hours and a half by ferry, enjoying the journey to one of the jewels of the Aegean Sea and, in addition, you will have a more personalised visit to get to know the island in depth, as all these tours have a specialised guide who will accompany you at all times.

With this alternative, everything related to the organisation 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 you will fall in love with, the mythical windmills that are so characteristic of the island, and Alefkándra, the neighbourhood known as Little Venice.

You will also walk along the white streets so typical of Mykonos, with picturesque balconies decorated with flowers. But it won't be all walking and sightseeing, as a day trip gives you 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 the Greek capital, 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 approximately 18 hours, including about 2.5 hours on the outward journey and a little more on the return.
• Advantages: you won't have to worry about anything, you' ll be picked up and dropped off at your hotel on the way back, and unlike other options, you'll 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 traveller 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 have 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 organise 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 and four and a half hours depending on the type of boat. Bear in mind that the smaller boats are the ones that reach their destination faster, but they move more with the swell, so don't choose it if you have seasickness.

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

You can compare prices and purchase your pass on the official website. In winter, I advise you to consider other options than the ferry, because depending on the state of the Aegean Sea, many companies may cancel their trips. If you are travelling to Athens at this time of year, you may 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 Europe, handling 20 million people a year. Piraeus is located about 11 kilometres from the centre of Athens and getting there is not difficult, here are some options.

• Bus: the X80 bus line is the best and most direct way to get from the centre of Athens to Piraeus, as it connects Syntagma Square and the Acropolis with the port in about half an hour. Please note that you can take this bus between 7am and 9:15pm, 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 need to buy the city's public transport pass for around 4.5 euros.
• Metro: This is the cheapest option for getting from Athens to the port of Piraeus. The line that will take you to Piraeus is the green line 1 and the most central stop is at Monastiraki. The metro pass is very affordable, costing around €1.40. You can take the metro between 5:19am and 12:49pm and the journey takes about 20 minutes. Just bear in mind that while the metro connects the city centre seamlessly to the port, the stop near Piraeus is a 15-minute walk away, so if you're carrying a lot of stuff, you may want to take the bus.
• Taxi: although it is the most expensive option, I must admit that it is the most comfortable, it will take you about half an hour to get to the port of Piraeus and will cost you about 25 euros. Remember to agree the price with the taxi driver before you get in.

How To Get To Mykonos Ferry Port

The new port of Mykonos is a bit far from the town centre, about 2 kilometres away. But this won't be a problem as the SeaBus boat will take you from the New Harbour to the Old Harbour which is located in the centre of town and will also make the reverse journey. It runs every half hour, takes about 10 minutes and costs about 2 euros.

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

Useful details

• Price: from 60 euros each way, although you will have to add transport to and from the ports.
• Duration: the journey takes between 2:30 and 4:30 hours.
• Advantages: It's a cheap and convenient way to get to Mykonos.
• Disadvantages: You will need to arrange transfers to the port and depending on weather conditions, the ferry may not depart.

The plane is the fastest and most comfortable way to get from Athens to Mykonos. The journey takes 30 minutes and you don't have to worry about the time of year you want to travel, as there are flights all year round. Please note that you will have to add transfer times to and from the airports and boarding times.

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

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

• Volotea: prices start 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 journey time is approximately 40 minutes.
• Olympic Air: this airline has prices from 30 euros each way and the journey time is approximately 45 minutes.

How to get to Athens Airport

There are several means of transport that connect the centre 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 colour, which connects the airport with several stations in the centre of Athens such as Syntagma or Monastiraki. It costs about 10 euros and the journey time is about 45 minutes. The timetable 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 you 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.
• Taxi: not the best option in terms of price, but in terms of comfort. The price is approximately 35 euros during the day and 53 euros at night, but remember to agree on a price with the taxi driver before taking the taxi to avoid surprises.

How to get to Mykonos Airport

Unlike Athens, Mykonos has shorter distances. The best way to get to the airport is to take a taxi to the centre of Mykonos for around 15 euros, although if you want to save money, you can choose a cheaper option such as the public bus which will take you to the centre of Mykonos for around 2 euros. Please note that they are infrequent and leave every hour and will drop you off at Fabrika station in the centre of Mykonos.

Useful details

• Price: from 20 euros each way, although you will have to add transport to and from the airports.
• Duration: The journey takes approximately 45 minutes, but you will need to add transfer and boarding times.
• Advantages: It is the fastest option and departs all year round.
• Disadvantages: You will need to arrange airport transfers.

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 all year round. That's why my first and most important advice is that, whatever transport you choose, book it in advance to get better prices and more availability. The same goes for accommodation, if you are staying for one or two nights on the island, don't leave it to the last minute.

On the other hand, if you choose a ferry, make sure you' re in Piraeus early enough to find your way to the boarding gate, as it's the largest port in Europe, you can imagine it's no easy task. If you're half an hour or forty minutes early, you'll be fine.

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

Now you know all about how to get to Mykonos from Athens, the first step is taken care of, you just need to choose the option that best suits your plans. Keep in mind that Mykonos will be the perfect plan for your summer holidays, here is an itinerary of the best things to see and do in Athens in summer, so that 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 other activities to do in the city, a gastronomic tour to taste the best local food and even visit one of its essential jewels in a visit to the Acropolis.