How to Get From Athens to Rhodes
Flight · Ferry
%2Cpin-s-b%2B8B4513(28.232153%2C36.445409)%2F25.935462670792%2C37.1954374610695%2C5%2F560x280%402x%3Faccess_token%3Dpk.eyJ1IjoiZ2Vja29yb3V0ZXMiLCJhIjoiY2plc2p0NmQ4MHh1cDJ4bXI3aWlraGh3YyJ9.ftb9bE1kUJiddMRbmZblQQ&w=3840&q=75)
In this in-depth route guide, you'll find the best ways to travel the 610 kilometre (379 miles) distance from Athens to Rhodes. By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly how to get there — whether you want to travel on a budget, reach Rhodes as fast as possible, or enjoy the ride in comfort. We base our information on verified schedules, ticket prices, and on-the-ground insights from recent travellers.
Written by Ela
Senior Travel Writer
Last updated 1 year ago
What are the 2 ways to travel from Athens to Rhodes?
There are two ways to travel the 610 km distance from Athens to Rhodes. You can choose between the flight and ferry.
The journey takes between 2h 20m–16h and the quickest way is by flight (2h 20m). If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by flight with tickets starting at €40 ($47).
2h 20m
€56 ($47)
16h - 22h 30m
€60 ($51)
Athens to Rhodes by Flight
When travelling from Athens to Rhodes, there’s really no better option than flying. It’s fast, cheap, and convenient, a much better choice than taking a 16-hour ferry.
We highly recommend that you book a flight as early as you can to secure the cheapest rates possible!
Step 1: Athens City Centre to Athens Airport by Train
Athens Airport is located 35 km southeast of Athens city centre.
There are 3 possible ways you can complete this leg of the journey: a 40-minute train for €10 ($12), a 1-hour bus for €6.50 ($7.60), or a 35-minute taxi with rates from €66 ($78).
We recommend taking the train for the shortest travel time. Head to the nearest Metro Line 3 Station so that you can skip the usual traffic going to the airport. Trains run from 05:40-23:30 with a 30-minute interval.
Step 2: Athens to Rhodes by Flight
Olympic, Sky Express, Volotea, and Hahn Air fly from Athens to Rhodes daily.
Travel time takes just 1 hour, and ticket prices start from €43 ($51).
Again, it’s best to book your flight months in advance to score the lowest airfares.
Flights arrive at Rhodes – Diagoras International Airport.
Step 3: Rhodes Airport to Rhodes City Centre
To get to Rhodes city centre, you’ll have to travel 20 km northeast from Rhodes Airport. You can take either a taxi (25 minutes) or a bus (40 minutes).
The taxi is a quick and easy way to reach your hotel. You’ll have to pay around €25 ($30) for the ride, but we think you’ll be grateful for the time and stress you get to save with this option!
A bus ride only costs €2.50 ($2.90). However, the travel time is double than that of a taxi ride because the bus makes too many stops along the way. If you don’t mind all these stops, then you can find the buses near door 1 of the airport terminal. Just turn left and walk around 300m.
Buses park at Averof Street in Rhodes city centre.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Athens to Rhodes by Ferry
An alternative to taking the flight is a ferry ride from Athens to Rhodes.
We honestly don’t think the ferry offers any advantage when it comes to speed and value. However, if you’re looking for 15h 30m - 22h of quiet time on the sea, then this is the best choice for you!
Step 1: Athens City Centre to Piraeus Port by Train
To travel by ferry from Athens to Rhodes, you’ll first have to travel 15 km southwest to Piraeus Port. We recommend taking the train because it is cheap and convenient.
From Athens city centre, take a Metro green line (Line 1) train from either Monastiraki or Omonia station. Get off at Piraeus Station, and walk a few minutes across the street to the port.
Travel time is around 30 minutes, and the train ticket costs €1.50 ($1.80).
Step 2: Piraeus to Rhodes by Ferry
There is always at least one ferry sailing from Piraeus to Rhodes whatever season it is.
Keep in mind, however, that the travel time takes 15h 30m - 22h. The ferry makes a stop on some islands along the way to pick up and drop off passengers. Whether this travel time is worth it or not depends on how you plan to spend your time on the ferry.
If you’re planning to get away from the world for a while and be lulled to sleep by the waves, then this option is definitely worth considering!
Ferry rates start from €58 ($68). Although it’s more expensive than a flight, all ferries are overnight, so you can also think of it as saving a night on accommodation.
Below are the ferry schedules from May to October. If you’re travelling outside those months, it’s best to check with your hotel for the latest departure times.
Booking Tip
Tickets are available for online booking on BookAway.
Ferries arrive at Rhodes Port in the city centre, which is just 500m north of the Medieval City.
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Athens to Rhodes. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance from Athens to Rhodes is 610 km.
ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION
Why Visit Rhodes?
Rhodes is a Greek fairytale island off the southern coast of Anatolia, Turkey. As the capital of the Dodecanese group of islands, Rhodes boasts of such a colourful history. War-torn walls and towers, stone-paved roads, a beautifully preserved medieval castle — everywhere you look will take you back in time!
Summer can be very busy on this so-called Knights' Island surrounded by pristine waters and charming beaches. We recommend exploring the Old Town early in the morning to skip the crowd of tourists visiting Rhodes.
How We Research
Every route on Gecko Routes is independently researched and regularly verified.
500+
ROUTES RESEARCHED
Every route is personally travelled and documented by our team, covering Southeast Asia's most popular and off-the-beaten-path connections.
Monthly
UPDATES
Routes are reviewed on a regular cycle to catch schedule changes, new operators, and price updates. Every guide shows when it was last verified.
Verified
BY TRAVELLERS
Tips and corrections from our community of travellers help keep routes accurate between team visits. Your experience makes this guide better for everyone.
About the Author
Senior Travel Writer
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she's not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines. Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she'll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Affiliate Disclosure
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep Gecko Routes free and up to date.
Ferry Schedule Notice
Ferry schedules can change due to weather, sea conditions, or seasonal adjustments. We recommend confirming departure times directly with the operator, especially during monsoon season.
Reader Comments
1 comment