How to get to Crete?

Crete Blog › How to get to Crete?

Crete is the largest Greek island and, for good reason, a very popular travel destination. Every year, this vacation island enchants visitors with its expansive sandy beaches, turquoise waters, and rich culture.

There are various ways to reach Crete, as the island has numerous passenger ports and 2 main airports that are connected to major Greek cities and many European destinations. Continue reading and discover which is the best way to get to Crete!

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What is the Best way to get to Crete? 2 Options

Getting to Crete, the largest Greek island, can be done by both air and sea. Here’s a quick guide on how to reach Crete by plane:

• International Flights:
  • Book a flight to either Heraklion or Chania airport from one of the major international airports.
  • Several airlines, including Aegean Airlines, Ryanair, easyJet, and TUI operate direct flights to Crete from various European cities.
• Domestic Flights:
  • If you are already in Greece, book a domestic flight to Crete from Athens International Airport or Thessaloniki International Airport.
  • Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air offer regular domestic flights to both Heraklion and Chania.

Crete is well connected to mainland Greece and other Greek islands through various ferry services.

Here’s how to reach Crete by ferry:

• Ferries from Mainland Greece:
  • Ferries operate from several ports in mainland Greece, including Piraeus (Athens), Rafina, and Gythio, to the ports of Heraklion and Chania in Crete.
  • Major ferry companies servicing these routes are Minoan Lines, ANEK Lines, Blue Star Ferries.
  • The ferry journey from Piraeus to Heraklion takes around 8 to 9 hours, while from Piraeus to Chania, it can take approximately 7 to 8 hours.
• Ferries from alternative Greek Islands:
  • Crete is also well connected to other Greek islandslike Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, and Kos.
  • Ferry companies include SeaJets, Golden Star Ferries, and Anek-Superfast Ferries.

Traveling to Crete by Plane

The most popular way to travel to Crete is by plane. The flight time from central Europe is approximately 3 to 4 hours on a direct flight. There are two important international airports on Crete:

• Heraklion Airport, which serves the island’s capital and is convenient to travel around eastern Crete.
• Chania Airport, located on the island’s northwest coast which is ideal for western Crete.

Flight prices are highly seasonal and are known to be more expensive during the holiday season in July and August. Outside of the holiday season, tickets are available for as little as 100 euros one way. On average, prices for direct flights to Crete are around 300 euros for a round-trip ticket.

Tip: The more flexible your travel dates are, the better your chances of finding a bargain. Sometimes it’s even worth booking two separate one-way tickets with different airlines.

Flight to Crete from the UK

As an indication, for a trip between London and Heraklion count from 120€ excluding luggage and in low season. Both Crete airports are served by charter flights from the UK & Ireland. Here are the most important connections:

• Easyjet (from Bristol, Glasgow, London Gatwick, London Luton and Manchester to Chania and Heraklion),
• BA (from LHR to Chania and from LGW to Heraklion)
• Ryanair (from Dublin, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, London Stansted, Manchester and Newcastle to Chania)
• Wizz Air (from London Gatwick to Heraklion)
• Aegean Airways (from London Gatwick and London Heathrow to Heraklion)

Flight to Crete from France

As an indication, for a trip between Paris and Heraklion count from 150€ excluding luggage and in low season. Here is the list of airlines which provide connections between France and Crete:

• Aegean Airlines – Offers direct flights to Athens all year round from Charles-de-Gaulle (around 200 euros) and Nice as well as, during the high season, direct flights to Heraklion from Charles-de-Gaulle, Marseille, Metz or Brest.
• Air France – On average 5 direct daily flights between Paris and Athens, from 200 euros and a few direct flights per week to Heraklion in high season (around 200 euros).
• Easyjet – The low-cost airline offers direct flights in season from Paris Orly to Athens (from 150 euros) and from Charles de-Gaulle to Heraklion (from 160 euros).

Flight to Crete from Greece

• Aegean Airlines – The largest Greek operator has flights all year round flights between Athens and Heraklion, Chania and Sitia.
• Ryanair – The low-cost airline operates 5 flights each week between Athens and Chania during the high season.

How to get to Crete by Ferry?

How to get to Crete from Athens by ferry

You can catch a ferry from the port of Piraeus to Heraklion, Chania and Sitia. Occasionally, there are also sailings to Rethymnon and Kissamos.

Ferry from Athens to Crete

Crete is served by ferry from Piraeus all year round. The most popular routes are to Heraklion and Chania, which are available several times per week.

• Piraeus – Heraklion: 2 direct ferry connections per day from the port of Piraeus to Heraklion (Minoan Lines, Anek Lines and Aegeon Pelagos, with large conventional vessels). The Piraeus – Heraklion ferry trip lasts 8.5-10 hours, with a standard ferry ticket ranging from €35 to €80.

• Piraeus – Chania: from Piraeus to Chania, there are up to 2 daily ferry routes (served by Anek Lines, Blue Star Ferries and Minoan Lines year-round). Crossings are mainly scheduled at night, with the duration of the ferry trip being 8-9 hours. A standard ferry ticket costs around €50.

• Piraeus – Sitia: Active once a week throughout the year by Aegeon Pelagos. The ferry trip from Piraeus to Sitia lasts between 12 and 20 hours and a standard ferry ticket costs around €45.

Getting to Crete via land

By Bus

Bus travel enthusiasts can take a long-distance bus to Athens, and from there, a ferry to Crete. It’s a long 42-hour bus journey and which often costs more than the plane. 

By train

The train journey to Athens induces a change for the bus in Vienna or Budapest. A night train is operated by ÖBB Nightjet connecting Vienna from Paris-Gare de l’Est. Visit the interrail website to check prices and timetables. Greece is also part of the Interrail network.

By car

Getting to Crete from Europe by car means several days of travel, which is only recommended for a long stay. The quickest way to reach Crete is to take a ferry in Italy from Venice or Bari to Patras, then reach the port of Piraeus 200 km south, from where you can take ferries to Heraklion or Chania. 

How to get around by car in Crete

Renting a car is the best way to explore Crete. Distances on the large island are considerably long and you really can’t drive fast on narrow and winding mountain roads: plan plenty of time for your route for the day. In the more remote regions and to access remote beaches (particularly in the South), certain unpaved roads are only accessible to 4x4s.

• The large international car rental companies are located in main cities and airports.
• It is often cheaper contact a local rental company directly and negotiate, especially out of season.
• Book in advance if you want a car with an automatic transmission : they are rare and generally more expensive.
• Always check what is covered by insurance; many roads, some are only accessible by 4×4.

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