Travelling in Greece was certainly a bucket list item for me, and I was thrilled at the chance to explore what Naxos Island had to offer! I took the Blue Star Ferry from Athens to Naxos in October of 2025. The booking process and boarding procedures were simple, making it a seamless way to travel to Naxos Island.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Blue Star Ferries Timetable
I first discovered this ferry after using the Rome2Rio website to see the different options I had to travel from Athens to Naxos. You can also look at the Blue Star Ferries Timetable directly on their website.
I found Ferry Hopper to be an excellent website to view not only the Blue Star Ferries operator, but also to see the schedules of other ferry companies quite easily.
I ended up booking on Ferry Hopper, which was really convenient as I booked my return ferry with a different company for my journey back to Athens. I had to “check in” within 48 hours before my ferry departure and was provided an e-ticket after doing so. Simply have the QR code ready when you board the ferry, and you’ll be all set!
How Long is the Ferry from Athens to Naxos?
The ferry I took departed from Piraeus Port at 7:25 am and arrived in Naxos around 12:45 pm, making it a 5h 20m travel time.
Athens to Naxos Island Ferry Cost
I paid 57.50 Euro for my Lounge 5 Airline Seat Type.
Blue Star Ferries Seating Types
When booking a ferry, you’ll notice that you can choose between the different seating types. I’ll break them down below with seat options to help give you a better idea as to which seating type might be best for you.
Ecomony
This is a standard seating option that does not provide you with a specific seat. Instead, you can roam around the ferry with the flexibility of finding a seating area that best suits your needs. There are plenty of seats on the deck, as well as around the cafe and lounge areas. Although I personally did not stay in this area myself, the seating area looked quite comfortable and not too busy (although this could be because I travelled in October).
Airline Type Seat (Lounge 1-5)
The Airline Type Seats are just exactly that. I chose to sit in Lounge 5, which provided me with a great seat to have a snooze on for a few hours. These seats were quite large and relaxing. You’ll also have the ability to recline, similar to an actual airline seat.
In Lounge 5, there were 3 seats in each row, and you will also be assigned a seat. Each lounge from 1-5 also had the same seats. Lounge 4 and 5 are located on Level 7, providing it to be a bit more of a quieter atmosphere.
Business Class
The business class area looked quite comfortable, and it was not busy at all. I can imagine that it would be a relaxing journey here; however, I do not think that it would necessarily be worth the extra money unless it were the busy season and you are looking for a quieter environment.
Cabins
There are two wings of cabins that are also available to book for your ferry journey. This could be an option if you needed to get some good rest; otherwise, there are plenty of options for comfortable seating around the ferry.
Departing from Piraeus Port
I arrived at Piraeus Port using the metro. It was super convenient as the Piraeus Station is the last one on the line. As soon as you exit the metro station, you’ll see the ferries right away and know that you arrived at the right place!
When I arrived at 6:30 am, there were a few places open for coffee and pastries, so I was all set! My ferry was located by E7, which you will see on top of a hotel. It was the closest ferry next to the big sign on the right. You can always ask a staff member around to double-check which ferry is yours, as there were two ferries docked next to each other.
My Experience on the Ferry: An Honest Review
I had a great time on the ferry and was actually asleep for most of it haha. During the trip, I actually did not sit in my assigned seat, as there was plenty of space in my Lounge 5 area. I opted to have a row to myself towards the back of the lounge area. I wonder if the assigned seating starts towards the front, as it seemed that more people were sitting towards the front of the lounge as opposed to the back, but that’s just my guess.
I walked around the ferry near the end of my journey to explore what it all had to offer. You’ll have plenty of seating, both inside and outside. There was a kennel area for pets and even a gift shop on board. There are also a couple of cafes on board as well, so no worries if you missed getting your coffee before boarding!
I found the ferry to be quite comfortable, and I was quite relaxed in my Airplane Style seat. Since I spent most of my journey asleep, I think it was worth it to purchase this ticket type instead of buying the Economy ticket.
If you are trying to get some work done, I would recommend considering the business class seats. I found that this section was fairly empty, so it would be a much nicer work environment to meet those deadlines!
Arriving at the Naxos Island Ferry Port!
The arrival in Naxos was pretty seamless. The ferry port is located here. There is an announcement on board when you arrive, so you’ll know when you head down. You’ll essentially just follow the crowd and depart with everyone as a large group.
Final Thoughts on the Athens to Naxos Blue Star Ferry Experience
Overall, I think that Blue Star Ferries is a great way to travel from Athens to Naxos. It was a longer ferry ride of 5h 20m; however, I had a comfortable seat in Lounge 5 and found it to be a relaxing journey. Since my ferry was in the early morning, I mainly slept for most of my trip. It wasn’t too busy on board; however, this could be because I travelled in October, after the peak summer season.
I would recommend checking out Ferry Hopper to find the best ferry schedule for your travel plans!
I hope this article was helpful while planning your next trip to Greece!
