Ferries Crete

Aside from special offers, ferry companies generally offer regular ticket discounts to various groups of passengers. Indicative discounts:

• Infants and children up to 4 travel for free.
• Children aged 5 to 10 receive a 50% discount.
• Greek university students and ISIC card holders are entitled to 50% off.

Depending on the ferry company, discounts may also be available for teenagers, seniors, travelers with disabilities, residents of Greek islands, and members of loyalty programs, among others. The discount rates vary between companies, but you can see them when booking your ferry tickets on Ferryhopper.

The best time to book ferry tickets to Crete is 1 to 3 months ahead of your departure. This will generally offer you the widest range of options and travel dates. This is particularly important if you intend to travel during the summer when Crete is in high season.

If, on the other hand, you opt to visit Crete the rest of the year, then you can comfortably book your ferry tickets up to 1 month in advance. If you think that you will miss out on all the sunshine, keep in mind that September is the best month to visit Crete.

Good to know: you can check the Ferryhopper guide on how to get to Crete for more details on planning your trip.

Getting to Crete by ferry is very straightforward, with multiple options available from Athens, the Peloponnese, the Cyclades and the Dodecanese.

Athens to Crete

From the port of Piraeus near Athens, you can travel all year round to 5 major ports in Crete, namely Chania, Heraklion, Rethymno, Sitia and Kissamos.

• Piraeus - Heraklion: the most popular connection to Crete is served with both high-speed and conventional ferries, with a travel time of about 7.5 hr.
• Piraeus - Chania: you can travel by ferry to Chania on the western side of Crete on conventional ferries, in about 8 hr.
• Piraeus - Rethymno: the seasonal ferry route (usually June to September) is served by high-speed catamarans and takes about 5.5 hr.
• Piraeus - Sitia: the ferry trip from Athens to Sitia on the far eastern side of Crete takes about 12.5 hr.
• Piraeus - Kissamos: you can get to Kissamos from Piraeus in Athens in about 10 hr.

Peloponnese to Crete

It is possible to reach Crete from the Peloponnese. Specifically, you can travel all year round to Kissamos, on the northwestern shores of Crete, from the port of Gythio as well as the islands of Kythira and Antikythera off the southern coast of the Peloponnese:

• Gythio - Kissamos: you can catch a high-speed ferry to Kissamos from the port in the southern side of the Peloponnese, which takes about 5 hr 45 min.
• Kythira - Kissamos: you can travel to the western side of Crete in just under 3.5 hr on high-speed catamarans.
• Antikythera - Kissamos: it takes just over 1.5 hr to reach Crete on the ferry connection served by high-speed catamarans.

Cyclades to Crete

Many of the Cycladic islands have year-round and seasonal (usually April to October) connections to Heraklion, Rethymno, Chania and Sitia in Crete:

• Santorini - Heraklion: the journey with high-speed catamarans and conventional ferries takes 1.5 hr.
• Naxos - Heraklion: the seasonal ferry route takes just under 3 hr and is served with high-speed and conventional ferries.
• Paros - Heraklion: you can travel by ferry to Crete seasonally in just over 3 hr on high-speed and conventional ferries.
• Milos - Heraklion: the conventional ferries from Adamantas to Crete take about 5 hr.
• Mykonos - Heraklion: you can reach Crete from Mykonos in around 4.5 hr on high-speed ferries that operate seasonally.
• Syros - Heraklion: the seasonal high-speed ferries need just over 5 hr to reach Crete.
• Santorini - Rethymno: you can travel seasonally (May-October) on high-speed ferries that need about 2.5 hr to get to Rethymno.
• Ios - Heraklion: it takes just under 3 hr to get to the main port in Crete on the seasonal ferry connection served with high-speed catamarans.
• Tinos - Heraklion: the seasonal ferry connection, usually May-October, is served with high-speed ferries that have a travel time of just under 5 hr.
• Anafi - Heraklion: the ferries to the main port in Crete take around 3 hr.
• Milos - Rethymno: the summer ferry connection (June to September) takes just over 2.5 hr and is served with high-speed catamarans.
• Santorini - Sitia: the ferry connection is served with conventional ferries, with the trip taking around 6 hr.
• Anafi - Sitia: you can travel to the eastern port in Crete in about 6 hr.

Dodecanese to Crete

You can travel all year round from many islands in the Dodecanese to Heraklion and Sitia in Crete, typically with conventional ferries:

• Rhodes - Heraklion: the journey to Crete takes just under 10 hr.
• Karpathos - Heraklion: you can travel to Heraklion from the main port in Karpathos in about 5.5 hr and 7.5 hr from Diafani.
• Karpathos - Sitia: it takes just over 3 hr to reach Sitia from the main port of Karpathos and about 4.5 hr from the port of Diafani.
• Rhodes - Sitia: the ferry trip takes about 7.5 hr.
• Kasos - Heraklion: it takes just over 4 hr to reach Heraklion.
• Kasos - Sitia: you can travel to Crete in about 2 hr.
• Halki - Heraklion: it takes roughly 9 hr to reach the main port in Crete.
• Halki - Sitia: you can reach the easternmost Cretan port in around 6 hr.

Crete, located in the South Aegean Sea, is the largest island in Greece. With a history spanning thousands of years, an impressively diverse landscape, unique local cuisine and warm hospitality, Crete stands out as a top holiday destination in the country.

If you are keen on history or nature, you should take note. The island boasts the Palace of Knossos, home of the legendary Minoan civilization and the mythical Minotaur. For something a bit more active, you can hike through the Samaria Gorge, one of Europe’s longest canyons. As for beaches, Crete has all bases covered! You won’t want to miss the secluded Seitan Limania or the pink sands and turquoise waters of Elafonisi Beach for a tropical escape.

Here’s a list of travel tips and advice to help you plan your trip to Crete:

• As one of the most popular tourist destinations in Greece, Crete can get very busy during the summer and major holidays. For the greatest range of options, book your ferry tickets as soon as possible.
• Not everyone was born to brave the sea, so if you are prone to seasickness, speak to your pharmacist or doctor about seasickness medication, such as Dramamine. 
• Due to the great distances between the major cities in Crete, it is highly recommended that you bring your car or motorcycle. If that is not feasible, there is a KTEL bus service that can get you around.
• Ferries in Greece have a reputation for being chilly indoors, so it’s a good idea to pack a sweater or light jacket for the trip, even during the summer months.
• Many ferries sail to Crete in the evening, so we recommend you book a cabin for greater comfort—especially if you are traveling with children.

The ferries traveling to Crete are typically conventional and offer a range of amenities to make your trip a comfortable and relaxed experience. In general, you can expect:

• Wi-Fi onboard
• Air conditioning
• Deck/lounge seating
• “VIP” Numbered airplane-type seats
• Cabins (1 to 4 beds)
• Canteens for coffee, snacks, and beverages 
• Restaurants
• Shops
• Car deck

Some ferries may also feature additional facilities, such as swimming pools, bars, playrooms, and a kennel area.

There are 6 ports on Crete: Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos, Kissamos and Sitia.

Chania, on the eastern side of the island, has regular ferry routes to Athens (Piraeus) and Milos, while Rethymno is connected to Santorini. Further to the east is Kissamos, which is connected year-round to Athens, as well as Gythio, Kythira and Antikythera.

Near the center of Crete’s northern shores is Heraklion, which has regular ferry routes to Athens (Piraeus), Milos, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, Syros, Tinos, Ios, Santorini, and Anafi in the Cyclades, as well as Kasos, Karpathos, Diafani, Halki and Rhodes in the Dodecanese Islands.

Sitia, on the eastern end of Crete, is connected to Athens (Piraeus), Santori and Anafi from the Cyclades, and Kasos, Karpathos, Halki and Rhodes in the Dodecanese. Agios Nikolaos does not currently have a direct connection to Athens (Piraeus), however you can occasionally travel there from Heraklion or Sitia.

It is also possible to hop on a ferry and travel between the major cities of Crete.

Ferry route map

Below, you can see all active ferry connections to Crete, as well as starting prices for each route. Use our interactive Map of ferries to visualize your trip and easily plan an island-hopping adventure.