Ferry to Heraklion

Below you can find all the needed information to organize your trip by ferry to Heraklion:
Popular RoutesBook your tickets onlineIsland-hoppingTravel tipsFrequently Asked Questions

In brief, although Heraklion boasts an international airport, many travelers prefer to get there by ferry from Athens. The ferry is the only option if you want to get to Heraklion from other islands of the Aegean Sea.

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Heraklion is the most popular region of Crete and lies between Rethymno and Lassithi. The port of Heraklion is located on the northern coast of Crete, right next to Heraklion Town, the capital of the prefecture. All passenger ferries arrive there and depart from there.


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POPULAR ROUTES TO HERAKLION

Heraklion is easily accessible by ferry and routes are available throughout the year. You can approach Heraklion by ferry from the port of Piraeus in Athens, as well as from other islands of the Cyclades and the Dodecanese, such as Mykonos, Santorini, Ios, Milos, Naxos, Paros, Syros, Tinos, Rhodes, Karpathos and Kasos. You can also take the ferry from Sitia, a coastal town in the Lassithi prefecture.

Important note: Ferry schedules may vary each year. The itineraries for the summer season are announced by the companies in March. As soon as the schedules are officially announced, they automatically appear on our booking engine, so you will be able to proceed to your booking or check departure times and rates.

• From Athens

Most of the travelers visiting Heraklion depart from Athens. Ferries leave from Piraeus, the main port of the Greek capital.

> Book your ferry tickets from Athens (Piraeus)

  • How long is the trip?

The duration varies from a minimum of 9 hours and 5 minutes to a maximum of 11 hours and 15 minutes, depending on the company and the type of vessel. The route is served by both conventional and high-speed ferries.

  • How much do the tickets cost?

A standard ticket from Piraeus costs between €37 and €90.

  • What ferries operate from Athens to Heraklion?

Both high-speed/catamaran vessels run by Fast Ferries and conventional ferries run by Blue Star and Minoan Lines operate this route.

> Conventional Ferries
Conventional ferries are large vessels with deck seats and indoor lounges. Moreover, they have spacious garages, capable of carrying a great number of vehicles, so that you can take your car or motorbike with you. There are also snack bars, where you can get coffee, refreshments and snacks. They constitute the best option if you are traveling with a pet, as there are designated areas for pets. They are more budget-friendly, which makes them very popular, while their size usually prevents them from being affected by bad weather conditions. Thus, they usually run on time though they are slower than high-speed ferries.

Types of seats: Economy Lounge/Deck, Air Seats (Economy), Cabins without view, Cabins with view
Price range: €37.00 - €220.00
Vehicle: €26 (Moto), €71.00 - €79.00 (Car), €56.00 - €134.00 (Trailer/Truck)
Timetable: During the high season (May to September), there are 2-4 daily connections from Piraeus for this type of vessel.

> High-speed Ferries
High-speed ferries are smaller in size, as well as faster than conventional ferries. There are no deck seats, so they only have numbered airplane-type seats. A snack bar is also available. Many high-speed vessels do not dispose of a garage and those that do only have a limited vehicle capacity. Due to their smaller size, high-speed vessels are more easily affected by bad weather conditions, so there may be delays.

Types of seats: Air Seats (Economy), Air Seats (VIP)
Price range: €90.00 - €112.00
Vehicle: €40.00 - €68.00 (Moto), €105.00 - €122.00 (Car)
Timetable: During the high season (May to September), there is 1 connection on several days of the week for this type of vessel.

  • Indicative timetables

Check our booking engine for precise timetables.

  • From Piraeus
  • • 09:00 Fast Ferries (9h5min)
  • • 09:30 Minoan Lines (9h15min)
  • • 18:00 Blue Star (11h14min)
  • • 21:00 Blue Star (9h15min)
  • • 21:00 Minoan Lines (9h30min)
  • To Piraeus
  • • 09:00 Blue Star (8h45min)
  • • 09:30 Minoan Lines (9h15min)
  • • 21:00 Blue Star (9h15min)
  • • 21:00 Minoan Lines (9h30min)
  • • 23:00 Blue Star (11h)

• From Santorini

Santorini is one of the closest Cycladic islands to Crete. Santorini also has an international airport, so visitors can fly to this renowned island and then take the ferry there.

> Book your ferry tickets from Santorini

  • How long is the trip?

The duration ranges from 1 hour and 45 minutes to 3 hours and 10 minutes, depending on the type of vessel.

  • How much do the tickets cost?

A standard ticket from Santorini costs between €16 and €92.70.

  • What ferries operate between Santorini and Heraklion?

Both conventional ferries run by Blue Star and high-speed ferries run by Seajets and Fast Ferries operate this route.

Types of seats: Economy Lounge/Deck, Air Seats (Economy), Air Seats (Business), Air Seats (VIP), Cabins without view, Cabins with view*
*depending on the type of vessel
Price range: €16.00 - €129.70
Vehicle: €13.00 - €44.50 (Moto), €60.00 - €189.70 (Car), €84.00 (Small truck)
Timetable: During the high season, there are 2-3 daily connections between Santorini and Heraklion.

  • Indicative timetables

Check our booking engine for precise timetables.

  • From Santorini
  • • 00:50 Blue Star (3h10min)
  • • 15:00 Sea Jets (1h50min)
  • • 16:15 Fast Ferries (1h50min)
  • To Santorini
  • • 05:15 Blue Star (2h55min)
  • • 07:30 Fast Ferries (1h50min)
  • • 08:45 Sea Jets (1h50min)

• From Mykonos

Mykonos is one of the most popular Cycladic islands. It boasts an international airport receiving direct flights from various European countries, so holidaymakers can fly to Mykonos and take the ferry from there.

> Book your ferry tickets from Mykonos

  • How long is the trip?

The trip from Mykonos lasts around 5 hours and 10 minutes.

  • How much do the tickets cost?

A standard ticket from Mykonos costs between €86.70 and €91.00, depending on the company.

  • What ferries operate from Mykonos to Heraklion?

Only high-speed ferries run by Seajets and Fast Ferries operate this route.

Types of seats: Air Seats (Economy), Air Seats (Business), Air Seats (VIP)
Price range: €86.70 - €149.70
Vehicle: €35.00 - €55.00 (Moto), €90.00 - €189.70 (Car)
Timetable: During the high season, there are 1-2 daily connections between Mykonos and Heraklion.

  • Indicative timetables

Check our booking engine for precise timetables.

  • From Mykonos
  • • 12:45 Sea Jets (5h)
  • • 12:45 Fast Ferries (5h20min)
  • To Mykonos
  • • 07:30 Fast Ferries (5h25min)
  • • 08:00 Sea Jets (4h35min)

• From Rhodes

Rhodes, the largest island of the Dodecanese, is also connected by ferry to Heraklion.

> Book your ferry tickets from Rhodes

  • How long is the trip?

The trip from Rhodes lasts around 10 hours and 40 minutes.

  • How much do the tickets cost?

A standard ticket from Rhodes costs €26.50.

  • What ferries operate between Rhodes and Heraklion?

Only conventional ferries run by Blue Star operate this route.

Types of seats: Economy Lounge/Deck, Air Seats (Economy), Cabins without view, Cabins with view
Price range: €26.50 - €106.00
Vehicle: €23.50 - €43.50 (Moto), €116.50 (Car), €163.00 (Small truck)
Timetable: During the high season, there are two weekly connections between Rhodes and Heraklion.

  • Indicative timetables

Check our booking engine for precise timetables.

  • From Rhodes
  • • 18:00 Blue Star (10h30min)
  • To Rhodes
  • • 05:00 Blue Star (11h)

• From Naxos

The beautiful island of Naxos, in the heart of the Aegean Sea, is well-connected by ferry to Heraklion.

> Book your ferry tickets from Naxos

  • How long is the trip?

The trip from Naxos lasts 3 hours and 30 minutes.

  • How much do the tickets cost?

A standard ticket from Naxos costs 99.70 EUR.

  • What ferries operate from Naxos to Heraklion?

This route is operated exclusively by high-speed ferries run by Sea Jets.

Types of seats: Air Seats (Economy), Air Seats (Business), Air Seats (VIP)
Price range: €99.70 - €139.70
Vehicle: €35.00 - €44.70 (Moto), €99.70 - €179.70 (Car)
Timetable: During the summer season, there is one connection per day between Naxos and Heraklion.

  • Indicative timetables

Check our booking engine for precise timetables.

  • From Naxos
  • • 14:15 Sea Jets (3h30min)
  • To Naxos
  • • 08:00 Sea Jets (3h45min)

• From other islands

Heraklion is the biggest port on the island of Crete and one of the busiest in the whole country. Therefore, it is well-connected to a number of islands of the Cyclades and the Dodecanese

  • How do you get from Paros to Heraklion?

Paros is also connected by ferry to Heraklion. There are 1-2 daily connections operated by Sea Jets and Fast Ferries. The trip lasts around 4 hours and 10 minutes and tickets cost between €83.70 and €88.00, depending on the company. For further information on the available timetables, please check our up-to-date booking engine.
> Book your ferry tickets from Paros

  • How do you get from Ios to Heraklion?

Ios is also connected by ferry to Heraklion. There are 2 ferry connections approximately every second day. The route is operated by high-speed ferries run by Fast Ferries and Sea Jets, and the trip lasts around 2 hours and 50 minutes. Standard tickets cost between €83.70 and €87.00, depending on the company. For further information on the itineraries, please check our up-to-date booking engine.
> Book your ferry tickets from Ios

Ferry routes from other islands

Except for the itineraries above, Heraklion is also connected with Milos, Syros, Karpathos, Kasos, and Sitia (Crete).

 

BOOK YOUR TICKETS

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Important note: Schedules for summer routes of most ferry companies are officially announced in March.

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ISLAND HOPPING OPTIONS

Being the biggest port on the island of Crete, Heraklion is a great starting point for island-hopping. From there, it is possible to reach both some of the most popular and some other, more remote destinations in the Cyclades and the Dodecanese. Bear in mind that itineraries may change from year to year, though.

Mykonos: Mykonos is a great destination when starting from Heraklion. This vibrant island is 5 hours and 10 minutes away from Heraklion and there are daily ferries connecting Mykonos and Crete in summer. The companies that operate this route are Sea Jets and Fast Ferries. Ticket prices start at €86.70.
>Book your ferry tickets from Heraklion to Mykonos

Santorini: Thanks to its world-renowned volcano and its romantic sunsets, Santorini is the most popular Greek island. It is 1h20min-3h10min away from Heraklion and ticket prices start at €13.00.
>Book your ferry tickets from Heraklion to Santorini

Naxos: Being in the heart of the Cyclades, the multi-faceted island of Naxos is another great destination. It is also well-connected to other, more remote islands which are not directly accessible from Crete. The ferry crossing lasts 3 hours and 30 minutes and tickets cost €99.70.
>Book your ferry tickets from Heraklion to Naxos

Rhodes: Rhodes, often called the ‘emerald island’ of the Mediterranean Sea, is another great destination you can reach from Heraklion. The trip lasts around 10 hours and 40 minutes and ticket prices start at €26.50.
>Book your ferry tickets from Heraklion to Rhodes

 

TRAVEL TIPS

Here are some travel tips for organizing your trip to Heraklion:

  • • Conventional ferries are the best option if you’re traveling on a budget.
  • • If you’re traveling to and from Heraklion during the high season (May to mid-September), it is strongly recommended that you book your tickets in advance as soon as possible, since the route may get fully booked.
  • • Heraklion is the biggest port on the island of Crete, which allows you to seize the chance to island-hop to other islands of the Cyclades and the Dodecanese.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

We have gathered the most common questions regarding the ferry trip to Heraklion and answered them for you.
Do you have another question? Are you looking for additional information to organize your trip? Let us know! You can send us your questions or post them in our community section.
Our informative team and community members will be more than happy to serve you!

  • Where is the ferry port in Heraklion?

The port that all passenger ferries arrive at and depart from is located in Heraklion Town, the capital city of the Heraklion prefecture. It is within walking distance from the city center and its trademark is the Venetian Koules Fortress which can be found on its western side.

  • How can I get from the port to the beaches?

From Heraklion Port, you can get the public bus (KTEL) to some of the most renowned beaches, such as Matala, which became famous for its international hippie community in the 1960s, Malia, and Tymbaki. Alternatively, you can rent a car or a moto and explore the gorgeous beaches of Heraklion with greater freedom.

  • How do I get from the airport to the port?

Heraklion International Airport Nikos Kazantzakis is located around 4 kilometers from the port of Heraklion. The most economical option is to take the bus (line 1), but it is also possible to get a taxi

  • What is better: flying or taking the ferry to Heraklion?

Heraklion has an international airport receiving flights from various European countries. Though direct flights are a timesaver, traveling by ferry is still the most common way to get to Heraklion, as airplane tickets may be quite pricey. Ferry tickets have a fixed fare and are available online. The whole experience of traveling by ferry across the Aegean Sea is exhilarating and it is an excellent beginning for your summer holidays.

MORE TRAVEL INFO ABOUT HERAKLION