Planning
Getting to Santorini or Mykonos from Athens: Flight vs. Ferry
Both islands are a genuinely different trip from the Saronic day-trip islands — here's how to actually get there, and how long to budget.
Santorini and Mykonos come up constantly in Athens trip planning, but they're a fundamentally different proposition from the Saronic islands covered elsewhere on this site. Those are close enough for a single day; Santorini and Mykonos are far enough into the Aegean that treating them as a day trip means burning most of the day in transit for a couple of rushed hours on arrival. Budget at least two nights if you can.
Flying
Both islands have airports with frequent connections to Athens, especially April through October — flight time is around 45 minutes to either. This is the fastest option by far and, in peak season, often not much pricier than a high-speed ferry once you account for the time saved. Book ahead in July–August, when seats sell out on the popular midday and evening slots.
Taking the ferry
High-speed ferries from Piraeus (see our Piraeus guide for navigating the port) run 5–8 hours to Santorini or Mykonos depending on the route and stops, considerably longer on conventional (non-high-speed) ferries. The appeal is the journey itself — genuinely scenic once you clear the mainland — and avoiding a second airport transfer. It suits travelers who enjoy the crossing as part of the trip rather than an obstacle to it.
Santorini or Mykonos?
- Santorini — dramatic caldera views, sunset-watching towns (Oia especially), a quieter, more scenery-driven pace.
- Mykonos — beach clubs, nightlife, and the postcard windmills-and-whitewash town of Chora — a livelier, more social pace.
- Both, if you have the time — some travelers link them with a short inter-island ferry rather than routing back through Athens each time; check current ferry schedules, as inter-island frequency varies by season.
Booking tip
Whichever you choose, book accommodation early for July–August — both islands sell out well ahead of peak season, in a way central Athens generally doesn't.