There are 6 ways to get from Istanbul (State) to Crete by plane, bus, ferry, car ferry, or busferry
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 Istanbul (IST) to Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis” (HER)IST - HER
4h 36m€74–216Bus, ferry
- Take the bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Marmaris bus station
- Take the ferry from Port of Marmaris to Port of Rhodes
- Take the ferry from Rhodes to HeraklionBsf
26h 41m€94–122Fly to Sitia Airport
- Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Sitia Airport (JSH)IST - JSH
6h 50m€113–405Fly to Chania International Airport
- Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Chania International Airport (CHQ)IST - CHQ
6h 55m€125–305Bus, car ferry
- Take the bus from Istanbul to Athens
- Take the car ferry from Port of Piraeus to Heraklion Port
26h 54m€117–268Bus, bus and ferry
- Take the bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Thessaloniki stationArda-Tur
- Take the busferry from Thessaloniki to Heraklion
28h 5m€78–131
Istanbul (IST) to Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis” (HER) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Istanbul (State) to Crete is to bus and ferry which costs €90 - €130 and takes 26h 41m.
The fastest way to get from Istanbul (State) to Crete is to fly which takes 4h 36m and costs €70 - €220.
No, there is no direct bus from Istanbul (State) to Crete. However, there are services departing from İskenderpaşa and arriving at Heraklion via Istanbul Esenler Otogari and Thessaloniki. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 28h 5m.
The distance between Istanbul (State) and Crete is 770 km.
The best way to get from Istanbul (State) to Crete without a car is to bus and ferry which takes 26h 41m and costs €90 - €130.
It takes approximately 4h 36m to get from Istanbul (State) to Crete, including transfers.
Istanbul (State) to Crete bus services, operated by Arda-Tur, depart from Istanbul Esenler Otogari station.
Istanbul (State) to Crete bus services, operated by Arda-Tur, arrive at Thessaloniki station.
Crete is 1h behind Istanbul (State). It is currently 1:31 AM in Istanbul (State) and 12:31 AM in Crete.
There are 2524+ hotels available in Crete.
What companies run services between Istanbul (State), Turkey and Crete, Greece?
Aegean Airlines and Turkish Airlines fly from Istanbul (IST) to Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis” (HER) every 4 hours.
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Istanbul to Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis”
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Monday and Thursday
- Estimated price
- €65–190
Flights from Istanbul to Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis” via Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €65–350
Flights from Istanbul to Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis” via Thessaloniki
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €65–190
Flights from Istanbul to Sitia Airport via Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- €80–550
Flights from Istanbul to Sitia Airport via Thessaloniki, Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 20m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- €180–550
Flights from Istanbul to Chania International Airport via Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €65–290
- Website
- olympicair.com
Flights from Istanbul to Sitia Airport via Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 10m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- €80–270
- Website
- airserbia.com
Flights from Istanbul to Chania International Airport via Belgrade
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 5m
- When
- Monday and Thursday
- Estimated price
- €95–280
- Phone
- 444 0 562
- kamilkoc@kamilkoc.com.tr
- Website
- flixbus.com.tr
Bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Marmaris bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 50m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- €20–29
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com.tr
- Phone
- 0 850 333 35 35
- info@pamukkale.com.tr
- Website
- pamukkale.com.tr
Bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Marmaris bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 55m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- €27–40
- Schedules at
- pamukkale.com.tr
- Phone
- 0(850) 309 22 16
- bilgi@istanbulkalesi.com.tr
- Website
- istanbulkalesi.com.tr
Bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Marmaris bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 45m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- €26
- Schedules at
- istanbulkalesi.com.tr
- Phone
- 0850 577 99 99
- info@varan.com.tr
- Website
- varan.com.tr
Bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Marmaris bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €28–45
- Schedules at
- varan.com.tr
- Phone
- 0850 811 5959
- website@kaleseyahat.com.tr
- Website
- kaleseyahat.com.tr
Bus from İstanbul Esenler bus station to Marmaris bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 37m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €49
- Schedules at
- kaleseyahat.com.tr
- Phone
- +30 2310241545
- crazy.holidays.tours@gmail.com
- Website
- crazyholidays.gr
Bus from Istanbul to Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 16h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- €80–120
- Website
- https://www.crazyholidays.gr/root.en.aspx
- Phone
- +30 2810 24 50 20
- info@ktelherlas.gr
- Website
- ktelherlas.gr
Busferry from Thessaloniki to Heraklion
- Ave. Duration
- 16h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €60–85
- Schedules at
- ktelherlas.gr
- Phone
- +30 22410 74 235
- info@seadreams.gr
- Website
- seadreams.gr
Ferry from Port of Marmaris to Port of Rhodes
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- €47
- Website
- https://seadreams.gr/
Ferry from Rhodes to Heraklion
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 29m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- €26
- Website
- https://www.bluestarferries.com/en-gb/
- Phone
- +30 21 0419 7400
- info@anek.gr
- Website
- anek.gr
Car ferry from Port of Piraeus to Heraklion Port
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €35–150
- Website
- ANEK Lines
- Economy
- €35–60
- Airplane-type seats
- €40–60
- 2 beds - outside cabin
- €100–150
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