Rafina, Greece: The Port Town and Ferry Gateway to the Cyclades
Rafina is a port town in East Attica on the east coast of the Greek mainland, about 30 km from central Athens, and it is the second passenger port of Athens after Piraeus. Conventional ferries and high-speed boats sail from Rafina to the Cyclades - Andros, Tinos, Mykonos and Paros - and to the island of Evia, and the port sits roughly 30 to 45 minutes from Athens International Airport. Behind the quay the town keeps a fishing harbour, fish tavernas on the waterfront, a large square and a beach, so it works well as the first or last night of an island-hopping trip.
- Region
- East Attica
- Role
- 2nd port of Athens
- From airport
- ~30-45 min
- Ferries to
- Cyclades & Evia
The town and port of Rafina
Rafina is a harbour town on the east coast of Attica, about half an hour from Athens Airport and roughly 30 km from central Athens. The town stretches along the coast, and a large square lined with restaurants, cafes and small shops sits just behind the harbour, with more shopping streets running back from the waterfront. Next to the berths where the ferries dock lies a working fishing harbour, and fish tavernas face the water. Behind the square, a flight of steps climbs to the large church of Panagia, which carries a bell tower and a frescoed interior; on the north side of the harbour the smaller Agios Nikolaos church gives views over Rafina, the port and the sea. Away from the main road the town turns quiet, and a walk along the coast looks across to the island of Evia.
Beaches near Rafina
Several beaches lie within walking distance of Rafina, both north and south of the harbour. The central Rafina beach sits next to the port; coarse sand covers most of it, and a river splits it in two on its way to the sea; one stretch of the seafront carries a blue flag. About a 20 to 30 minute walk south is Marikes, a quiet sandy beach backed by dunes and forest, with a taverna that rents sunbeds and beach chairs, and below it lies the smaller Filippa beach. North of Rafina beach are Prasino and Kokkino Limanaki. The Rafina beaches guide sets out the full run of beaches.
Where to stay in Rafina
Most people who stay in Rafina do so to catch an early ferry or a flight from nearby Athens Airport, and the handiest hotels stand within walking distance of the ferry quay, the town square and the airport-bus stop. The harbourside Hotel Avra runs a free day-and-night airport shuttle, keeps rooms that look over the bay and stands about 200 metres from Rafina's blue-flag beach; its restaurant gives guests a discount, though the fish tavernas in the harbour are an easy alternative. Book ahead in high season, because Rafina keeps only a handful of places to stay. Compare the hotels and rooms in the Rafina hotels guide.
Ferries from Rafina
Rafina connects by ferry to Andros, Tinos, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos and Santorini in the Cyclades, and to the port of Marmari on the island of Evia. Both conventional ferries and high-speed boats run the routes, and from Tinos and Mykonos you can change onto other Cyclades islands. Most boats leave in the morning or in the late afternoon and early evening, a few sail as late as about 11 in the evening, and Fridays and weekends add extra departures as Athenians head for the islands. From Athens International Airport the port is about 30 to 45 minutes by bus or taxi; the airport bus, timed to meet the ferries, stops opposite the Sofitel hotel, and there are no night buses. Buy island ferry tickets at the offices opposite the berths, which open shortly before each departure.
Golden Star Ferries, Fast Ferries and SeaJets run most of the sailings from Rafina, and Hellenic Seaways and Blue Star Ferries add seasonal departures. Golden Star Ferries and Fast Ferries cover the conventional and high-speed lines to the northern Cyclades, and SeaJets works the high-speed routes across the season. A separate regional line links Rafina with the port of Marmari on the island of Evia. The table below pairs each destination with the companies that serve it, though schedules and operator line-ups shift every season. Check the operator or a ferry-booking site for current timetables and fares.
| Destination | Operator(s) |
|---|---|
| Andros | Golden Star Ferries, Fast Ferries |
| Tinos | Golden Star Ferries, Fast Ferries, SeaJets |
| Mykonos | Golden Star Ferries, Fast Ferries, SeaJets |
| Paros | Golden Star Ferries, SeaJets |
| Naxos | Golden Star Ferries, SeaJets |
| Other Cyclades (seasonal) | SeaJets, Golden Star Ferries, Hellenic Seaways, Blue Star Ferries |
| Marmari (Evia) | Regional Evia ferry line |
Check the operator or a ferry-booking site for current timetables and fares.
Rafina vs Piraeus: which port should you use?
Choose Rafina if you are flying into or out of Athens International Airport or heading for the northern and eastern Cyclades. Rafina sits closer to the airport than Piraeus and points straight at Andros, Tinos and Mykonos. Choose Piraeus if you are travelling from the Athens city centre or sailing to Crete, the Dodecanese, the north-eastern Aegean or the western and southern Cyclades. Piraeus is the largest passenger port of Athens and runs more direct lines to those islands. For the airport-to-island trip that most island-hoppers make, Rafina is usually the shorter transfer.
