Getting Around AthensOct 30, 2026 · 5 min read

Athens Airport to Rafina and Lavrio Ports: Catching Your Ferry on Time

Landing at Athens and sailing the same day? Some ferries leave from Rafina or Lavrio and not from Piraeus. If no bus fits your ferry, a private airport to port transfer is another option.

This guide covers only these two ports. For Piraeus, read our guide to Piraeus port and Athens airport.

Rafina or Lavrio at a glance

	Rafina port	Lavrio port
Road distance from the airport (estimate)	About 16 km	About 39 km
Drive time with no traffic (estimate)	About 24 minutes	About 42 minutes
KTEL bus	Direct regional bus	To Markopoulo, then change
Bus frequency	Ask the Rafina bus station	Sparse, daytime only, the airport says
Taxi	On the meter	On the meter

Distances and times are estimates from OpenStreetMap routing on 30 October 2026, with no traffic included. Bus information from Athens International Airport, checked October 2026.

Your ticket decides the port. Lavrio Port Authority says ships of five ferry companies link Lavrio with Kea, Kythnos, Agios Efstratios, Psara, Lemnos, Andros, Tinos, Syros and Kavala (Lavrio Port Authority, checked October 2026). For Rafina, check the port printed on your ticket.

By KTEL bus to Rafina

Athens International Airport says to use the regional KTEL bus to Rafina. It leaves from the Arrivals Level, in the outer lane opposite the Sofitel hotel. The airport page gives the stop as between Exits 2 and 3 in one section and outside Exit 5 in another, so ask at the information desk when you land.

The airport gives no frequency for this line. For the current timetable, call the Rafina bus station on +30 22990 40738, the number the airport gives, or see the KTEL Attica website. Check the times before you book a ferry.

By KTEL bus to Lavrio

There is no direct bus listed. The airport tells you to take the regional bus to Markopoulo from the same area of Arrivals, then change to the Lavrio line at Markopoulo. That adds a change with your luggage, and the airport describes this connection as sparse and daytime only.

By taxi

The airport flat fares only cover the city center, so a taxi to Rafina or Lavrio runs on the meter (Athens International Airport). The official tariff from September 2026 has a €1.80 flag fall, a rate of €0.90 or €1.25 per kilometre and a €4 charge for trips to or from the airport (Government Gazette). Our guide to the Athens airport taxi explains the rank, the queue and how fares work.

By booked car, van or minibus

Two Unique Transfers & Tours chauffeurs standing beside a black Mercedes-Benz minibus — Our chauffeurs with a minibus, booked for your flight time.

A booked car is an option if no bus fits your flight or you carry a lot of luggage. In our booking form, choose Athens International Airport as your start and type Rafina or Lavrio port as your address. Add your passengers and bags, then pick the vehicle. You see the price before you pay.

Give us your flight number and your ferry time when you book, and contact us if your gap is tight. Unique Transfers & Tours uses Mercedes-Benz vehicles with English speaking chauffeurs, as our about page explains. If you are not sure which size you need, read our guide to choosing a vehicle in Athens.

How to plan a same day ferry

Add up the steps instead of trusting the drive time alone.

Start from your scheduled landing time, then add a margin in case the flight is late.
Allow time for passport control and bags.
Add the drive, about 24 minutes to Rafina and 42 to Lavrio by the OpenStreetMap estimates from 30 October 2026, plus time for traffic.
Check the ferry company’s check in time and work back from it, not from the sailing time.
If you need to collect paper tickets at the port, add time for that too.

If the sum looks tight, book a later sailing, or spend the first night near the port. Ask your ferry company about its rules for missed sailings.

Coming back from the islands

The same routes work in reverse, so check the bus times first. The airport asks passengers to arrive at least 2.5 hours before departure (Athens International Airport). Leave a good margin after your ferry docks. Book your car in advance, and your driver can meet you at the port.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a taxi cost from Athens Airport to Rafina Port?

It runs on the meter, because the airport flat fares only cover the city center. The tariff has a flag fall, a rate per kilometre and a €4 airport charge. The drive is about 16 km by an OpenStreetMap estimate from 30 October 2026.

What is the name of the main port in Athens?

Piraeus is the main port. Rafina and Lavrio are other ports in Attica with their own ferry routes.

Is there a KTEL bus from Athens Airport to Rafina Port?

Yes. The airport lists a KTEL regional bus from the Arrivals Level, in the outer lane opposite the Sofitel hotel. The airport gives no frequency, so call the Rafina bus station for times.

Is there a train from Athens airport to Rafina port?

No train route is listed. The airport names only the regional KTEL bus as the public link to Rafina, so take that, a taxi or a booked car.

Where can I find the Athens airport to Rafina port bus timetable?

Call the Rafina bus station on +30 22990 40738, the number given by the airport, or check the KTEL Attica website. Confirm the times close to your travel date.

How far is Lavrio Port from Athens Airport?

About 39 km by road, or about 42 minutes with no traffic included. Both are OpenStreetMap estimates from 30 October 2026.

Is there a bus from Athens to Lavrio Port?

From the airport, take the KTEL bus to Markopoulo and change to the Lavrio line. Departures are sparse and daytime only. Ask KTEL Attica about current times from central Athens.