Getting to Poros

Athens to Poros via Piraeus

If you are coming straight to Poros after arriving you will need to get from the aiport to the port of Piraeus where you will catch a boat to Poros.

To get from the airport (aside from renting a car and driving - info below) to Piraeus there are three choices;

• Bus, this is the cheapest and probably the easiest depending on your party size, age and amount of luggage. Bus X96 leaves every 20 minutes during the day and every 40 minutes at night from the arrivals level between doors 4 and 5. A single journey fare per person is 5 Euro. This trip can take between 50 minutes and up to an hour and half depending on traffic. Ask the bus driver to get off at Agia Triada (near the port). The boats depart opposite the bus stop inside the fenced port area (Gate E8/9). Don’t worry if you miss the stop, the next stop is the terminus and you will just need to backtrack a couple of hundred metres.

• Metro, this route will take approximately the same time as the bus with one line change (at Monastiraki). Tickets are 8 Euro single. Trains are every half hour (00 & 30) starting from 05:30 and running to 23:30. You take the metro to the end of the line (Piraeus) and when you get out of the station you will turn left to the Port.

• Taxi, is by far and away the easiest route to Piraeus however predictably more costly. The rates for taxis to and from the airport have been standardized and are reliable. The journey to Piraeus will cost 47 Euro (day 05:00 - 24:00) and 65 Euro (night 24:00 - 05:00) with a small tip (2-4 Euro) expected. Taxis can be caught outside the arrivals hall at the cab stand and should be able to carry up to 4 passengers depending on luggage size. Ask the driver to drop you off at Gate E8/9 at the Port

To get from Piraeus to Poros there are two choices;

• Car ferry boat aka the slowboat and tickets/timetable can be found here
• Length of journey: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Cost: 12.80 Euro (single journey)
• Possible vessel names: Apollon Hellas or Nefeli
• In summer 2015 there is also a new daily service with a ferry called Ionis. It departs Piraeus at 9:30am and makes ther return journey from Poros at 13:00. There is a service on Sundays at 15:30 from Poros. Detaisl can be found here
• Notes: This is a pleasant and leisurely way to get to the island, and affords great views of your arrival to Poros. This big boat houses vehicles below and two air conditioned decks and an open air top deck above. These boats will have minimal catering facilities with only limited snacks and drinks available.

• Hydrofoil aka the fastboat. Tickets and timetables can be found here
• Length of journey: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Cost: 22.50 Euro (single journey)
• Possible vessel names: Flying Dolphin or Flying Cat
• Notes: The fastest way to the island. This is a no frills service with limited catering and offers reasonable comfort. Your luggage is stashed in compartments near the front of the boat spilling through to the front of the main cabin. Technically seats are assigned however unless it is packed and seating a premium we suggest sitting anywhere until told otherwise. Should the weather be rough (ie wind/rain/storm) it is not uncommon to stop and wait for it to pass. Should the seas be rough and if you are easily seasick it is thought that sitting at the back of these vessel is best for combating motion sickness.

This leg of your journey can not be booked until closer to the day. Hellenic Seaways tends to only release availability about 30 days prior to travel.

PS. Remember you are going to Poros and not Paros! Don’t get on the wrong boat!

Poros is situated in the Argosaronicos / Saronic Islands

Both sets of boats depart between gates E8 (ferry)  and E9 (hydrofoil)

A map of the Port of Piraeus with gates numbers can be found here

Athens Airport to Poros by Car

Pop’s Rent A Car says you can hire a car from the airport and drive to Galatas (town opposite Poros) and leave it there. Poros is next to the mainland. The journey will take about 3 hours from the airport. You drive to Galatas, which is the town on the mainland Peloponnese opposite Poros. You can either return the car at the rental place on Galatas, or choose to have the car for the duration and return it at the airport. There are ferry boats that go from Poros to Galatas and vice versa every 20 minutes, and take 10 minutes to cross. If you are planning to return the vehicle at the airport then there are a lot more car hire places to choose from. Driving could be an option to get to Poros as it could be cheaper for a larger group.

You can also bring your car to the island on the ferryboat from Piraeus or from the local ferry that does the Galatas-Poros route (leaves every 20-30 mins).