Gay island hopping in Greece: how to book the ferries properly

Island hopping is the part of a Greek holiday people most look forward to and most often get wrong. Here is what we do for our own trips.

Book earlier than you think

For high season, June to September, book two to three months ahead. Deck seats on the big conventional ferries rarely sell out, so if you are relaxed you will get somewhere. What does sell out is the high speed catamarans, cabins and vehicle spaces, and the early bird fares typically vanish by the end of February. If your trip depends on a specific fast crossing on a specific day, do not leave it.

Use the right port

Everyone assumes Piraeus. For Mykonos, Tinos and Andros, check Rafina first. It is closer to Athens airport, fares are often slightly cheaper, and it is a small manageable port rather than the sprawl of Piraeus, which matters enormously when you are dragging luggage at seven in the morning.

Fast or slow

High speed catamarans cost roughly one and a half to two times the conventional fare. On short hops they are worth it. On longer crossings think twice, because you cannot go outside on the fast boats, the ride is rougher in wind, and the slow ferry with a coffee on the deck is genuinely one of the nicer hours of a Greek holiday. As a rough guide, foot passenger fares on most routes sit somewhere between €20 and €55.

One thing that matters for gay couples

Nothing about buying a ferry ticket in Greece treats you differently, and cabins are booked by name with no questions asked. The real planning question is which islands you connect. Mykonos to Santorini is the classic gay route and is well served all summer. Mykonos to the quieter islands, Serifos or Folegandros, is where the timetable starts making the decisions for you.

The thing that ruins itineraries

Weather. High speed services are cancelled in strong wind far more readily than the big ferries, and the meltemi blows hardest in July and August. Never plan a fast ferry on the same day as an international flight home. Fly out of an island airport, or come back to Athens the day before. We build every itinerary that way, and it is the single reason our clients do not spend a night in Piraeus rebooking flights.