Ios - Santorini (Thira)
Ferries to Cyclades Islands
Ios - Santorini (Thira)
Ferries to Cyclades Islands
The Ios to Santorini (Thira) ferry route is provided by 5 ferry companies. The ferry crossing from Ios to Santorini (Thira) is approximately 40 minutes on most ferries servicing this route. Ferries between Ios and Santorini (Thira) cost from as little as $7 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 Ios to Santorini (Thira).
Hopping from Ios to Santorini (Thira) is classic island-hopping through the whitewashed Cyclades — a short crossing over the deep blue Aegean, reaching Santorini (Thira) in around 40 minutes — or as little as 35 minutes on the quicker sailings.
The crossing is part of the fun — step out on deck for the sea air and the views as you leave Ios behind and Santorini (Thira) comes into sight. Bring your car and extra luggage, or travel light as a foot passenger — it's easy to combine Santorini (Thira) with more of the Cyclades on the same trip.
Tip: Inter-island sailings from Ios to Santorini (Thira) are busiest in summer, so booking ahead helps keep your island-hopping plans on track.
Ios to Santorini (Thira) ferry prices typically range from $7 to $224. The average ferry price from Ios to Santorini (Thira) is around $74. The cheapest fares usually start from $7. The average foot passenger ticket costs $74. The average price when traveling with a car is $214.
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 August 26.
The cheapest tickets on the Ios to Santorini (Thira) ferry cost approximately $7. Traveling outside the busy July and August peak 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.
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.
Students and graduates can get a 5% discount on ferry tickets. To take advantage of the discount, register with our partner Student Beans to confirm your student or graduate status. You'll then receive a discount code to enter during payment.
Resident discounts are available on some routes. If they apply to the Ios to Santorini (Thira) 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 book separately.
There are around 24 weekly sailings from Ios to Santorini (Thira). Frequencies are usually at their highest across the summer season and ease off in winter.
Blue Star Ferries provide 1 sailing daily, 4 sailings weekly. Cyclades Fast Ferries provide 1 sailing daily, 2 sailings weekly. SeaJets provide 3 sailings daily, 12 sailings weekly. Golden Star Ferries provide 1 sailing daily, 4 sailings weekly. Maistros Santorini provide 1 sailing daily, 2 sailings weekly. Please keep in mind that ferry timetables often increase during the high season.
The first ferry from Ios to Santorini (Thira) usually departs at around 00:05, with the last sailing leaving Ios Port at approximately 23:30. The crossing covers roughly 20.6 nautical miles and takes around 40 minutes on average.
With a short crossing time, a day trip between Ios and Santorini (Thira) may be possible — check the return sailings in our Deal Finder to see if the timings work for you. For ideas on things to do in Santorini (Thira), visit our blog.
Fast passenger services such as hydrofoils and catamarans run alongside the conventional ferries on many Greek routes. The fastest ferry from Ios to Santorini (Thira) is with SeaJets in 35 minutes.
The fastest ferries from Ios to Santorini (Thira) usually cost around $74.
Yes, cars are carried on ferries from Ios to Santorini (Thira) with Blue Star Ferries, Cyclades Fast Ferries, SeaJets & Golden Star Ferries. On many Greek island routes, cars travel on the conventional ferries rather than the fast catamarans, so choose a standard sailing if you're bringing a vehicle. Use our Deal Finder to compare live car-ferry prices.
Campervans and caravans aren't currently bookable on the Ios to Santorini (Thira) ferry. Enter your travel details into our Deal Finder 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 Ios and Santorini (Thira).
Yes, foot passengers are welcome from Ios to Santorini (Thira) with Blue Star Ferries, Cyclades Fast Ferries, SeaJets, Golden Star Ferries & Maistros Santorini. Traveling on foot is the most common way to island-hop around the Greek islands, particularly on the fast catamarans.
Yes, cabins can be booked from Ios to Santorini (Thira) with Blue Star Ferries, SeaJets & Golden Star Ferries, ranging from $8 to $905, with an average of $133. Cabins are most common on the longer overnight crossings; the shorter daytime hops are usually seat-only.
Whether an overnight ferry runs between Ios and Santorini (Thira) depends on the operator and the length of the crossing. Enter your travel details in our Deal Finder to see whether an overnight option is available, alongside daytime alternatives. Overnight crossings can take a little longer than the daytime services.
Yes, pets are welcome on ferries from Ios to Santorini (Thira) with Blue Star Ferries, SeaJets & Golden Star Ferries. The average price for traveling with a pet is around $104. Greek 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 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 fast passenger services where space is tighter. Enter your travel details into our Deal Finder to see the options on the Ios to Santorini (Thira) ferry. Our ferry facilities guide explains what's typically on board.
The Ios to Santorini (Thira) 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 Greek islands so easy. If you're traveling in 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 Ios to Santorini (Thira) ferry is very simple. Enter your departure and arrival ports along with your preferred travel date to view all available sailings and prices. You can also compare alternative routes and departure times to find the option that best suits your schedule and budget.
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 Ios to Santorini (Thira), the better — especially for July and August, when the Greek islands 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 Ios to Santorini (Thira) appear on your chosen date, it may come down to the season — many Greek routes run more often in summer and scale back in winter — or to a temporary timetable change. Occasionally, rough weather can disrupt the faster passenger services, 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, and our port facilities guide covers what to expect at the port. To prevent delays, we recommend arriving early to allow enough time for ticket collection and check-in, particularly during the busy summer 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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| Ios - Santorini (Thira) Ferry Route Prices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Foot Passenger | $74 | |
| Average Price with Car | $214 | |
| Average Cabin Price | $133 | |
| Ios - Santorini (Thira) Ferry Route Summary | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Cyclades Islands |
| Destination | Cyclades Islands |
| No. of Operators | 5 |
| Operators | Blue Star Ferries, Cyclades Fast Ferries, SeaJets, Golden Star Ferries & Maistros Santorini |
| Average Price | $74 |
| Average Pet Price | $104 |
| Average Daily Sailings | 4 |
| Average Weekly Sailings | 24 |
| Average Sailing Duration | 40 m |
| Fastest Sailing Duration | 35 m |
| First Ferry | 00:05 |
| Last Ferry | 23:30 |
| Distance | 21 Nautical Miles |
* Prices subject to change, pricing is taken from last 30 days, last updated 1 August 2026.
Forming one of the Cyclades group of islands, the Greek island of Ios is located in the Aegean Sea and lies around mid way between the island of Naxos and the island of Santorini. The island's terrain is characterised by hills and cliffs that lead down to the sea on most sides of the island. Located on the north west coast is the island's port which is only a short distance from the village of Chora. The trip between Chora and the port can be made on foot which will take you along a steep donkey path, and takes around 15 minutes. The village is characterised by narrow paths and streets most of which have now been taken over by bars, restaurants, shops and night clubs to cater for tourists.
There are ferries from the island's port to Piraeus and Rafina with a crossing time of between 4 1/2 hours and 8 hours, depending on ferry type, route and destination. During the summer months Ios is also connected by ferry to the other islands of the Cyclades.
Thira is the official name of the island of Santorini, Greece and is located in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km southeast of mainland Greece.
Thira is essentially what remained after an enormous volcanic explosion that destroyed the earliest settlements on a formerly single island, and created the current geological caldera.
Santorini ferry port, otherwise known as Athinios ferry port, is situated on the west coast of the island in the region of Ormos Athinios. Passengers can enjoy a wide range of facilities at the port including cafes, restaurants, vending machines, air-conditioned lounge, toilets and ATMs. There is also 2 car parks in Santorini port: one opposite the main passenger terminal and the other close to the pedestrian check-in. These are both free of charge.
Th best way of travelling from Ios to Santorini is by ferry. You will have a far more pleasant journey on a ferry as you won't have to worry about legroom and can instead roam freely around the wide range of facilities available onboard. You can also bring your car on the Ios to Santorini ferry, allowing you to explore the whole island at your own leisure without having to rent a hire car.
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