Rafina is the quieter of Athens' two ferry ports, and for anyone heading to Paros it is usually the more convenient one. It sits on the eastern side of Attica, roughly forty minutes from the airport and under an hour from the centre of Athens by bus, and the terminal itself is compact enough that you can find your gate without much fuss even in the crush of a July morning. From there the ferry cuts out into open water before threading into the Cyclades proper, so there is a stretch of the crossing with no land in sight -- something to bear in mind if you are prone to seasickness, though conditions are generally manageable outside a strong meltemi. Paros itself lies close to the middle of the group, which is part of why so many boats call here: check the schedule box above for the latest confirmed dates rather than assuming a fixed timetable, since operators file their routes in stages through the year.
The spread between the fastest and slowest crossing times on this route is wide, and that gap tells you something useful. The quicker sailings are high-speed catamarans that run more or less direct; the longer ones are conventional ferries that may call at other islands on the way, which suits travellers who are not in a hurry and would rather sit out on deck than pay extra for speed. Either way, expect several crossings a day at the height of summer, thinning out as the season winds down.
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
More to do near Athens
If you have time before your ferry, there is plenty to see near the capital. Browse our complete guide to the best day trips from Athens – from ancient ruins and mountain villages to coastal escapes and island hops.