Rhodes to Santorini Ferry
🚢 Rhodes → Santorini — this week
3 sailings over the next 7 days · usually 1/day
Rhodes to Santorini Ferry
Rhodes to Santorini -- At a Glance
- Season: Timetables are currently published through 29 October 2026.
- Frequency: Typically 1 ferry per day.
- Sailing days: Ferries sail several days per week.
- Journey time: 11 hours 40 minutes to 17 hours 5 minutes.
- Operators: Blue Star Ferries.
- Book tickets: Check prices at Ferryscanner
- Santorini tours: Best Santorini tours on Viator
The Rhodes to Santorini ferry is one of the great Aegean crossings, linking two of the most visited islands in Greece. Rhodes, with its medieval old town and long sandy beaches on the eastern edge of the Dodecanese, sits a world apart from Santorini’s dramatic caldera cliffs and whitewashed villages — yet the ferry makes connecting them straightforward. Whether you’re island-hopping through the Cyclades or heading directly between the two, this route gives you a genuine taste of the open Aegean.
Service runs year-round, which is unusual for a route of this distance and makes it a reliable option even outside the summer season. On average, you can expect around one sailing per day across most of the year.
Monthly Schedule Overview
Here is a month-by-month overview of ferry service from Rhodes to Santorini:
| Month | Available | Avg. Ferries/Day |
|---|---|---|
| January | Not yet published | – |
| February | Yes | 1.0 |
| March | Yes | 1.0 |
| April | Yes | 1.0 |
| May | Yes | 1.0 |
| June | Yes | 1.0 |
| July | Yes | 1.0 |
| August | Yes | 1.0 |
| September | Yes | 1.0 |
| October | Yes | 1.0 |
| November | Not yet published | – |
| December | Not yet published | – |
Book ferry port and airport transfers here: Welcome Pickups →
Rhodes to Santorini — next 14 days
Actual sailing dates and departure times for the next two weeks (last updated 2026-08-06):
| Date | Sailings | Departure times |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 6 Aug | 1 | 17:00 |
| Sun 9 Aug | 1 | 11:00 |
| Tue 11 Aug | 1 | 15:00 |
| Thu 13 Aug | 1 | 17:00 |
| Sun 16 Aug | 1 | 11:00 |
| Tue 18 Aug | 1 | 15:00 |
Check availability & book on Ferryscanner →
Tips for the Rhodes–Santorini Ferry
- Rhodes has two separate ferry ports: large car ferries such as Blue Star Ferries use Akandia, while Dodekanisos Seaways catamarans and small boats to Symi depart from Kolona, just outside the Old Town walls – check your ticket for the correct one.
- Akandia port is roughly a 20-minute walk from the Old Town and has no shelter, seating or toilets while you wait, so it is more comfortable to wait in town and take a taxi straight to your ferry.
- Arrive at least one hour before departure to allow time to check in, since boarding for ferries from Rhodes typically closes around 20 minutes before the scheduled sailing time.
- If you want to avoid the worst of the meltemi, book morning departures from exposed Aegean ports in July and August – conditions are typically calmer before midday.
- In Santorini, the clifftop villages of Oia and Fira offer the famous caldera views over the submerged volcanic crater, best seen at sunset from Oia's castle. The 214 steps down to Amoudi Bay lead to some of the best seafood tavernas on the island, and local wine tours offer a taste of Assyrtiko, the volcanic-soil white grape unique to the island.
Useful Resources for Your Greek Island Trip
- Find accommodation in Greece – hotels, apartments and villas on Booking.com
- Book tours and activities in Greece via Viator
- Find guided experiences and day trips via GetYourGuide
- Compare car hire prices in Greece via DiscoverCars
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do ferries run from Rhodes to Santorini?
Typically 1 ferry per day. Timetables are currently published through 29 October 2026.
Are there ferries from Rhodes to Santorini today?
Yes – 1 sailing today. See the 14-day timetable above for departure times.
How many ferries run from Rhodes to Santorini this week?
Around 3 sailings over the next 7 days (typically 1 per day).
What time is the first ferry from Rhodes to Santorini?
The first departure is usually 17:00.
How long is the ferry from Rhodes to Santorini?
The fastest crossing takes approximately 11 hours 40 minutes, while the slowest takes around 17 hours 5 minutes. Journey times depend on the ferry type and company.
Which ferry companies operate the Rhodes–Santorini route?
The route is served by Blue Star Ferries.
Is it worth hiring a car on Santorini?
Yes. The ferry port at Athinios sits about 7.5km below Fira up a steep, winding road; the bus takes about 25 minutes and a taxi costs many times the fare. A car lets you reach Oia, Akrotiri and the red and black beaches at your own pace without waiting for infrequent buses; rental desks operate near the port, and you can compare prices across local suppliers at Discover Cars.
Is it worth hiring a car in Rhodes?
Worth it if you're staying more than a couple of days, since the island is large and its two bus companies (Roda in the west, KTEL in the east) don't make it easy to combine both coasts in a day. The port is a 10-minute walk from Rhodes Old Town, with paid parking nearby. Compare local suppliers at Discover Cars.