Athens (Rafina) - Naxos
Ferries to Cyclades Islands
Athens (Rafina) - Naxos
Ferries to Cyclades Islands
The Athens (Rafina) to Naxos ferry route is provided by 3 ferry companies. The ferry crossing from Athens (Rafina) to Naxos is approximately 5 hours 10 minutes on most ferries servicing this route. Ferries between Athens (Rafina) and Naxos cost from as little as $49 but vary based on season, availability and whether you’re going by foot or by car. Prices exclude any service fees. Ferry timetables change seasonally. Use our Deal Finder to get live pricing and availability for ferries from Athens (Rafina) to Naxos.
There's something special about arriving in the Cyclades by sea. Traveling by ferry from Athens (Rafina) to Naxos, you'll watch the islands rise out of the deep blue Aegean, their whitewashed villages catching the sun as you approach the shore.
The journey is part of the experience. Step out on deck to feel the sea breeze and take in the open horizon, letting the pace slow down before you even arrive. Ferries give you room to relax and enjoy the crossing, along with the freedom to bring your car or extra luggage for the trip.
Tip: The Cyclades are at their liveliest in summer, so booking your Athens (Rafina) to Naxos ferry ahead of time helps you lock in your preferred sailing and start your island getaway just as you planned.
Fares between Athens (Rafina) and Naxos vary with the season and the type of vessel — the high-speed catamarans that link the Cyclades are usually quicker but pricier than the conventional ferries, so it's worth comparing both.
Athens (Rafina) to Naxos ferry prices typically range from $49 to $407. The average ferry price from Athens (Rafina) to Naxos is around $197. The cheapest fares usually start from $49. The average foot passenger ticket costs $161. The average price when traveling with a car is $378.
Prices may vary depending on passenger numbers, vehicle type, route, and sailing time. Please be aware that pricing data excludes service fees and is based on searches from the last 30 days. This was last updated July 26.
The cheapest tickets on the Athens (Rafina) to Naxos ferry cost approximately $49. Traveling outside the July and August peak, when the islands are busiest, is one of the easiest ways to find a lower fare.
Direct Ferries makes it easy to compare ferry tickets and prices worldwide, so you can find the best deal for your journey. Please visit our Special Offers page to see current discounts on selected routes and operators. Booking early is typically the most reliable way to secure lower fares and better availability, especially for summer sailings to the Cyclades.
Yes, Direct Ferries offers a range of discounts throughout the year. Where available, senior discounts are applied automatically during the search process: simply select the relevant age range when entering passenger details.
Resident discounts are available on some routes. If they apply to the Athens (Rafina) to Naxos ferry, a residents checkbox will appear above the search button when you enter your travel details. You'll need to show valid proof of residency at check-in — if you can't, the ferry company may ask you to pay the difference for a non-discounted ticket. Everyone on the booking must qualify for the discount; if not, it's best to make separate bookings.
There are around 18 weekly sailings from Athens (Rafina) to Naxos. Frequencies are at their highest across the summer season, when the Cyclades are busiest, and ease off in winter.
Cyclades Fast Ferries provide 1 sailing daily, 5 sailings weekly. SeaJets provide 1 sailing daily, 5 sailings weekly. Golden Star Ferries provide 2 sailings daily, 9 sailings weekly. Please keep in mind that ferry timetables often increase during the high season.
The first ferry from Athens (Rafina) to Naxos usually departs at around 08:05, with the last sailing leaving Athens (Rafina) Port at approximately 15:25. The crossing covers roughly 95.8 nautical miles and takes around 5 hours 10 minutes on average, though the high-speed services can be quicker.
Due to the longer crossing time, ferries between Athens (Rafina) and Naxos are generally better suited to a longer island stay than a day trip. For ideas on the best things to do in Naxos, please visit our blog.
Many Cyclades routes are served by fast catamarans alongside the conventional ferries. The fastest ferry from Athens (Rafina) to Naxos is with Golden Star Ferries in 3 hours 40 minutes.
The fastest ferries from Athens (Rafina) to Naxos usually cost around $197. In peak season, the time saved can be well worth it, when demand for the islands is at its highest.
Yes. In the Cyclades, cars travel on the conventional car ferries rather than the high-speed passenger catamarans, so choose a standard sailing if you're bringing a vehicle. Cars are carried by Cyclades Fast Ferries, SeaJets & Golden Star Ferries on the Athens (Rafina) to Naxos route. Use our Deal Finder to compare live car-ferry prices.
Campervans and caravans aren't currently bookable on the Athens (Rafina) to Naxos ferry. Enter your travel details into our search bar to see the vehicle options available, or to find a nearby route that takes larger vehicles.
Bicycles aren't currently accepted on ferries sailing between Athens (Rafina) and Naxos.
Yes, foot passengers are welcome from Athens (Rafina) to Naxos with Cyclades Fast Ferries, SeaJets & Golden Star Ferries. Traveling on foot is the most common way to island-hop around the Cyclades, particularly on the fast catamarans.
Yes, cabins can be booked from Athens (Rafina) to Naxos with SeaJets & Golden Star Ferries, ranging from $49 to $919, with an average of $251. Cabins are most common on the longer overnight crossings to the more distant Cyclades; the shorter daytime hops are usually seat-only.
Some Cyclades routes, particularly to the more distant islands, include overnight or late-night sailings, while the shorter hops run through the day. Enter your travel details in our search bar to see whether an overnight option is available on the Athens (Rafina) to Naxos ferry, alongside daytime alternatives. Overnight crossings can take a little longer than the daytime services.
Yes, pets are welcome on ferries from Athens (Rafina) to Naxos with Cyclades Fast Ferries, SeaJets & Golden Star Ferries. The average price for traveling with a pet is around $287. Greek island ferries are generally pet-friendly, though the rules vary by vessel.
When traveling with your pet, you'll usually need:
Where your pet stays depends on the operator and vessel — some ferries have dedicated pet areas or pet-friendly cabins, while on others pets stay with you in designated spots. Our Deal Finder shows the options for your crossing.
Greek island ferries are relaxed about luggage compared with airlines, and most fares let you bring what you can comfortably carry on board, with racks near the entrances. It's still worth checking your operator's policy for larger or extra items, particularly on the high-speed catamarans where space is tighter. Enter your travel details into our search bar to see the options on the Athens (Rafina) to Naxos ferry.
The Athens (Rafina) to Naxos ferry is a domestic crossing within Greece, so there's no immigration check for the sailing itself — one of the things that makes island-hopping around the Cyclades so easy. If you're traveling to Greece from abroad, you'll need a valid passport, and possibly a visa or national ID depending on your nationality and Greece's entry rules. As Greece is part of the EU and the Schengen Area, the exact requirements depend on where you're traveling from.
It's a good idea to keep photo ID handy for check-in, as you may be asked to show it when collecting tickets or boarding. To keep things quick, see our Check-in, Travel Documents & Tickets guide before you sail.
Booking your Athens (Rafina) to Naxos ferry is very simple. Enter your departure and arrival ports along with your preferred travel date to view all available sailings and prices. In the Cyclades, you'll often find both high-speed catamarans and conventional ferries on the same route, so you can weigh speed against price and pick what suits your trip.
Look out for early-booking deals and special ticket types such as upgrades or flexi fares that allow changes or cancellations. To keep booking smooth, always enter accurate passenger numbers and vehicle details.
The earlier you book ferries from Athens (Rafina) to Naxos, the better — especially for July and August, when the Cyclades are at their busiest and popular sailings fill up well in advance. Booking ahead secures lower prices and a wider choice of departure times, seating and cabins. Outside the summer peak there's more availability, though schedules thin out over winter.
If no sailings from Athens (Rafina) to Naxos appear on your chosen date, it may come down to the season — many Cyclades services run more often in summer and scale back in winter — or to a temporary timetable change. Occasionally, strong summer meltemi winds can disrupt the fast catamarans, which are more weather-sensitive than the larger conventional ferries. We recommend checking alternative dates, nearby routes, or a conventional sailing if a fast ferry isn't running.
After completing your booking, you'll receive a confirmation email with your travel details. How your boarding pass is issued depends on the ferry operator you have booked with.
Some operators provide boarding passes at the time of booking, while others require check-in at the port terminal. Where available, online check-in can be completed through the Direct Ferries app.
Ticket desks are generally located near the terminal entrance. To prevent delays, we recommend arriving early to allow enough time for ticket collection and check-in, particularly at the busy Athens ports in high season.
At check-in, you'll need to present your booking confirmation and a valid photo ID, such as a passport or identity card. If you're traveling with a pet, relevant documentation such as vaccination records may also be required.
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| Athens (Rafina) - Naxos Ferry Route Prices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Foot Passenger | $161 | |
| Average Price with Car | $378 | |
| Average Price with Motorcycle | $277 | |
| Average Cabin Price | $251 | |
| Athens (Rafina) - Naxos Ferry Route Summary | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Athens |
| Destination | Cyclades Islands |
| No. of Operators | 3 |
| Operators | Cyclades Fast Ferries, SeaJets & Golden Star Ferries |
| Average Price | $197 |
| Average Pet Price | $287 |
| Average Daily Sailings | 3 |
| Average Weekly Sailings | 18 |
| Average Sailing Duration | 5 h 10 m |
| Fastest Sailing Duration | 3 h 40 m |
| First Ferry | 08:05 |
| Last Ferry | 15:25 |
| Distance | 96 Nautical Miles |
* Prices subject to change, pricing is taken from last 30 days, last updated 1 July 2026.
The Greek town of Rafina lies on the east coast of the Attica region of Greece. The town, and its port, is on the Aegean Sea coast, to the east of the Penteli Mountains and to the north east of the Mesogaia Plain. The Greek capital, Athens, is 25 km to the west of Rafina which is close to the towns of Artemida and Nea Makri. It is a popular destination for Athenians, due to its proximity to Athens, who drive out of the city to Rafina to eat in one of the town's many fish restaurants that line the harbour. It is common to see the day's catch on display on beds of ice outside each restaurant.
Rafina's port is the second largest in the Attica region, after Piraeus, although this is likely to change by the port at Lavrio which is currently being expanded. ferries from Rafina's port depart to the southern part of Euboea and to most of the Cyclades Islands. Both conventional and high speed ferries operate to the islands with most departing Rafina in the morning.
Naxos is a Greek island that lies in the Aegean Sea and is part of the Cyclades group of islands. The island has a rich and interesting history and has been ruled by a number of different civilisations during its history, including the Byzantine, Frankish and Venetians, all of which have left their mark on the island. The island has a flourishing agricultural economy thanks to its fertile terrain and visitors will see both olives and grapes being grown.
Popular attractions on the island, aside from its lovely beaches, tend to focus around Hora and include the Venetian Castle. Also popular with visitors are the island's villages, with one of the largest being Filoti which is situated next to Mount Zeus and Apiranthos which is next to Mount Fanari. Another popular way to spend time on the island is to take to one of the many trails on the island and to go hiking into the mountains.
The island's port is also located in Chora. From the port ferries depart to Piraeus (Athens) and to the other islands in the Cyclades.
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