If you're staying in Athens prior to heading out to the islands, it's worth going to the tourist office at Amerikís 2 to pick up a
schedule of departures from Pireás. These can't be relied upon implicitly, but they do give a reasonable indication of what boats are leaving when and for where; note that the Argo-Saronic sailings and ships based on Syros or Páros are omitted.
The majority of the boats - for the Argo-Saronic, Ikaría or Sámos, and the popular Cyclades - leave between 8 and 9am. There is then another burst of activity between noon and 3pm towards the Cyclades and Dodecanese, and a final battery of sailings from 4 to 10pm (sometimes later), bound for a wide variety of ports, but especially Crete, the northeast Aegean and the western Cyclades. The frequency of sailings is such that, in high season at least, you need never spend the night in Athens or Pireás.
There's no need to buy tickets for conventional ferries before you get here, unless you want a cabin berth or are taking a car on board (in which case, consult agents in Athens or Pireás); Flying Dolphin reservations are a good idea during July and August. In general, the best plan is to get to Pireás early, say at 7am, and check with the various shipping agents around the metro station and along the quayside Platía Karaďskáki. Keep in mind that many of these act only for particular lines, so for a full picture of the various boats sailing you will need to ask at three or four outlets. This can also be done at the agencies in Syndagma square a day or two in advance. Prices for all domestic boat journeys are standard, but the quality of the craft and circuitousness of routes vary greatly. If you are heading for Thíra (Santoríni) or Rhodes, for example, try to get a boat that stops at only three or four islands en route; for Crete settle for direct ferries only.
Boats for different destinations leave from a variety of points along the main harbour, though it's wise to leave time for wayward ships and look for the signs (indicating name of boat and a clockface with departure time) hung in front of the relevant boats on the waterside railings or on the stern of the boats themselves. The ticket agent should know the whereabouts of the boat on the particular day
Ferry departure points
Aegean islands (Cyclades/Dodecanese)
These leave from either Aktí Kalimasióti, the quay right in front of the metro station, from just the other side of Platía Karaďskáki (#4) or from the points listed for specific islands below. The big boats going to the major Dodecanese usually share point #8 with some of the Cretan ferries.
Crete
Those going via the Cyclades or on to the Dodecanese use the dock on Aktí Miaoúli (#8), while direct services leave from #2 on Aktí Kondhíli.
Syros, Tínos, Mykonos
The morning departures tend to go from #5, next to the Égina hydrofoils.
Western Cyclades
The ferries for these islands usually depart from Aktí Kalimasióti (#3), right in front of the metro station.
Sámos/Ikaría
Boats ending up at these islands, whether morning or evening services, use the Aktí Kalimasióti (#3) dock as well.
Híos/Lésvos
Most Híos and Mytilíni (Lésvos) boats leave from the newly opened quay (#1) round the harbour past the train station for northern Greece.
Argo-Saronic
Ordinary ferries leave from Aktí Possidhónios (#6) and also just round the corner with Aktí Miaoúli (#7), a ten-minute walk from the metro.
International destinations (Limassol, Haifa, Izmir, etc)
These leave from further around the main harbour (#9), towards the customs house (where you should check passports before boarding).
Hydrofoils
Departures direct to Égina leave from Aktí Tselépi (#5). Aee Hellas flying Dolphin services for Argo-Saronic and Peloponnesian destinations leave from the Zéa marina (#10), a twenty-minute overhill walk from the metro.
Tickets are on sale from the Flying Dolphins office at the quay from about an hour before departure. To be sure of a particular sailing in high season, it is wise to book ahead in Athens. Equally, if your schedule is tight, book your seat back to Pireás when you arrive
