There are 7 ways to get from Athens to Crete by plane, helicopter, car ferry, busferry, bus, or ferry
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly to Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis”
best- Fly from Athens International Airport (ATH) to Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis” (HER)plane ATH - HER
1h 29m€65–122Car ferry
cheapest- Take the car ferry from Port of Piraeus to Heraklion Portcarferry
9h 50m€45–170Helicopter, car ferry
- Take the helicopter from Athens Heliport to Mykonos Heliporthelicopter
- Take the helicopter from Mykonos Heliport to Santorini Heliporthelicopter
- Take the car ferry from Thira Santorini Port to Heraklion Portcarferry
7h 15m€689–1,109Bus and ferry, bus
- Take the busferry from Port of Piraeus to Chaniabusferry
- Take the bus from Chania to Heraklionbus
12h 12mFly to Chania International Airport
- Fly from Athens International Airport (ATH) to Chania International Airport (CHQ)plane ATH - CHQ
2h 2m€96–240Fly to Sitia Airport
- Fly from Athens International Airport (ATH) to Sitia Airport (JSH)plane ATH - JSH
1h 22m€69–230Ferry
- Take the ferry from Port of Piraeus to Heraklionferry Hsw
9h 50m€50–150
Athens to Crete by ferry
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Athens to Crete is to car ferry which costs €45 - €170 and takes 9h 50m.
The fastest way to get from Athens to Crete is to fly which takes 1h 22m and costs €65 - €230.
No, there is no direct bus from Athens to Crete. However, there are services departing from ΣΤ. Υπεραστικων and arriving at Heraklion via Port of Piraeus and Chania. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 12h 12m.
Yes, there is a direct ferry departing from Port of Piraeus and arriving at Heraklion Port. Services depart once daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 9h 50m.
The distance between Athens and Crete is 343 km.
Book your Athens to Crete ferry tickets online with Omio.
The best way to get from Athens to Crete without a car is to helicopter and car ferry which takes 7h 15m and costs €650 - €1200.
It takes approximately 1h 29m to get from Athens to Crete, including transfers.
Athens to Crete bus services, operated by KTEL Chanion-Rethymnou S.A, depart from Port of Piraeus station.
Athens to Crete bus services, operated by KTEL Chanion-Rethymnou S.A, arrive at Chania station.
What companies run services between Athens, Greece and Crete, Greece?
Sky Express, Aegean Airlines, and Olympic Air fly from Athens International Airport (ATH) to Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis” (HER) hourly. Alternatively, ANEK Lines operates a car ferry from Port of Piraeus to Heraklion Port once daily. Tickets cost €45–170 and the journey takes 9h 50m.
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Athens International Airport to Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis”
- Ave. Duration
- 53 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €35–85
Flights from Athens International Airport to Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis” via New Paros
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- When
- Monday and Thursday
- Estimated price
- €35–85
Flights from Athens International Airport to Chania International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €45–95
Flights from Athens International Airport to Sitia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €30–170
- Website
- skyexpress.gr
Flights from Athens International Airport to Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis”
- Ave. Duration
- 52 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €30–75
Flights from Athens International Airport to Chania International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €40–120
- Website
- ryanair.com
Flights from Athens International Airport to Chania International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €30–100
- Website
- olympicair.com
Flights from Athens International Airport to Sitia Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €30–170
- Phone
- +302821093052
- info@e-ktel.gr
- Website
- e-ktel.com
Busferry from Port of Piraeus to Chania
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 28m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Website
- https://www.e-ktel.com/en/
Bus from Chania to Heraklion
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €18
- Website
- https://www.e-ktel.com/en/
- Phone
- +30 210 710 7 710
- info@seajets.gr
- Website
- seajets.com
Car ferry from Thira Santorini Port to Heraklion Port
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- €45–120
- Website
- https://www.seajets.com/
- Phone
- +30 210 89 19 800
- anek@anek.gr
- Website
- anek.gr
Car ferry from Port of Piraeus to Heraklion Port
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €45–170
- Website
- https://www.anek.gr/en-gb
- Economy
- €45–65
- Airplane-type seats
- €45–70
- 2 beds - outside cabin
- €120–170
Ferry from Port of Piraeus to Heraklion
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 50m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €50–75
- Website
- https://www.hellenicseaways.gr/en-gb
- Airplane Type Seats
- €50–75
- Phone
- +30 2810 399800
- info@minoan.gr
- Website
- minoan.gr
Ferry from Port of Piraeus to Heraklion
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €55–100
- Website
- https://www.minoan.gr/en
Ferry from Port of Piraeus to Heraklion
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- €65–150
- Website
- https://www.bluestarferries.com/en-gb/
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