Travelling by ferry to Crete

To reach Crete by boat, you can depart from 1 countries: Greece. The ferries of the 10 companies (ANEK Lines, Blue Star Ferries, Hellenic Seaways, Minoan Lines, Cyclades Fast Ferries, Sea Jets or Superfast Ferries) operating crossings to Crete call at 27 ports: Santorini, Heraklion, Athens, Paros, Chania, Mykonos, Rhodes and Ios.

With a network of 42 ferry lines, it is easy to reach Crete and find the perfect crossing. Ferry companies ANEK Lines, Blue Star Ferries, Hellenic Seaways and Minoan Lines offer up to 16 crossings a day. Find all prices and best deals for Crete on our Vivanoda search engine.

The fastest crossing takes 1 hours 50 min (Santorini - Heraklion) with a distance of 76 mi and the longest 20 hours 20 min (Athens - Sitia) with a distance of 232 mi.

Ferries to Crete in figures

Countries
Greece
Number of crossings
16 crossings a day
Number of ports
27
Number of ferry connections
42
Number of ferry companies
10
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Popular ferries to Crete

Search for the fastest, longest or most frequent ferries to Crete on Vivanoda. Compare offers from ANEK Lines, Blue Star Ferries, Hellenic Seaways, Minoan Lines, Cyclades Fast Ferries, Sea Jets and Superfast Ferries and book your ticket to Crete.

Most popular ferry routes to Crete

To travel to Crete by ferry, the ferry operators Lane Sea Lines, LANE Sea Line, Aigaion Pelagos and Superfast Ferries offer daily crossings from Antikythira, Donousa, Koufonissia, Amorgos, Tinos or Kalamata.

Santorini Greece
Heraklion Greece
From £14
  • ANEK Lines Santorini Heraklion
    ANEK Lines
    1 crossings a week
    6 hours
    76 mi
  • Blue Star Ferries Santorini Heraklion
    Blue Star Ferries
    76 mi
  • Hellenic Seaways Santorini Heraklion
    Hellenic Seaways
    76 mi
  • Minoan Lines Santorini Heraklion
    Minoan Lines
    7 crossings a week
    1 hours 50 min
    76 mi
  • Cyclades Fast Ferries Santorini Heraklion
    Cyclades Fast Ferries
    76 mi
  • Sea Jets Santorini Heraklion
    Sea Jets
    12 crossings a week
    1 hours 50 min
    76 mi
Athens Greece
Heraklion Greece
From £26
  • ANEK Lines Athens Heraklion
    ANEK Lines
    199 mi
  • Blue Star Ferries Athens Heraklion
    Blue Star Ferries
    199 mi
  • Superfast Ferries Athens Heraklion
    Superfast Ferries
    199 mi
  • Minoan Lines Athens Heraklion
    Minoan Lines
    11 crossings a week
    7 hours
    199 mi
  • Aigaion Pelagos Athens Heraklion
    Aigaion Pelagos
    199 mi
  • Cyclades Fast Ferries Athens Heraklion
    Cyclades Fast Ferries
    199 mi
Paros Greece
Heraklion Greece
From £68
  • ANEK Lines Paros Heraklion
    ANEK Lines
    121 mi
  • Blue Star Ferries Paros Heraklion
    Blue Star Ferries
    121 mi
  • Hellenic Seaways Paros Heraklion
    Hellenic Seaways
    121 mi
  • Minoan Lines Paros Heraklion
    Minoan Lines
    6 crossings a week
    3 hours 50 min
    121 mi
  • Cyclades Fast Ferries Paros Heraklion
    Cyclades Fast Ferries
    121 mi
  • Sea Jets Paros Heraklion
    Sea Jets
    5 crossings a week
    4 hours 30 min
    121 mi
Athens Greece
Chania Greece
From £43
  • ANEK Lines Athens Chania
    ANEK Lines
    171 mi
  • Blue Star Ferries Athens Chania
    Blue Star Ferries
    171 mi
  • Superfast Ferries Athens Chania
    Superfast Ferries
    171 mi
  • Minoan Lines Athens Chania
    Minoan Lines
    7 crossings a week
    6 hours 30 min
    171 mi
Mykonos Greece
Heraklion Greece
From £69
  • Hellenic Seaways Mykonos Heraklion
    Hellenic Seaways
    147 mi
  • Minoan Lines Mykonos Heraklion
    Minoan Lines
    6 crossings a week
    4 hours 50 min
    147 mi
  • Cyclades Fast Ferries Mykonos Heraklion
    Cyclades Fast Ferries
    147 mi
  • Sea Jets Mykonos Heraklion
    Sea Jets
    10 crossings a week
    4 hours 40 min
    147 mi
Rhodes Greece
Heraklion Greece
From £23
  • ANEK Lines Rhodes Heraklion
    ANEK Lines
    2 crossings a week
    14 hours
    189 mi
  • Blue Star Ferries Rhodes Heraklion
    Blue Star Ferries
    189 mi
  • Aigaion Pelagos Rhodes Heraklion
    Aigaion Pelagos
    189 mi
Ios Greece
Heraklion Greece
From £69
  • Hellenic Seaways Ios Heraklion
    Hellenic Seaways
    97 mi
  • Cyclades Fast Ferries Ios Heraklion
    Cyclades Fast Ferries
    97 mi
  • Sea Jets Ios Heraklion
    Sea Jets
    5 crossings a week
    3 hours
    97 mi
Sitia Greece
Heraklion Greece
From £13
  • ANEK Lines Sitia Heraklion
    ANEK Lines
    2 crossings a week
    3 hours
    55 mi
  • Blue Star Ferries Sitia Heraklion
    Blue Star Ferries
    55 mi
  • Aigaion Pelagos Sitia Heraklion
    Aigaion Pelagos
    55 mi
Naxos Greece
Heraklion Greece
From £68
  • ANEK Lines Naxos Heraklion
    ANEK Lines
    124 mi
  • Blue Star Ferries Naxos Heraklion
    Blue Star Ferries
    124 mi
  • Minoan Lines Naxos Heraklion
    Minoan Lines
    124 mi
  • Sea Jets Naxos Heraklion
    Sea Jets
    5 crossings a week
    3 hours 50 min
    124 mi
Syros Greece
Heraklion Greece
  • ANEK Lines Syros Heraklion
    ANEK Lines
    155 mi
  • Minoan Lines Syros Heraklion
    Minoan Lines
    155 mi
  • Cyclades Fast Ferries Syros Heraklion
    Cyclades Fast Ferries
    155 mi
Anafi Greece
Heraklion Greece
  • ANEK Lines Anafi Heraklion
    ANEK Lines
    1 crossings a week
    4 hours
    80 mi
  • Blue Star Ferries Anafi Heraklion
    Blue Star Ferries
    80 mi
  • Aigaion Pelagos Anafi Heraklion
    Aigaion Pelagos
    80 mi
Fri Greece
Heraklion Greece
From £16
  • ANEK Lines Fri Heraklion
    ANEK Lines
    2 crossings a week
    6 hours
    101 mi
  • Blue Star Ferries Fri Heraklion
    Blue Star Ferries
    101 mi
  • Aigaion Pelagos Fri Heraklion
    Aigaion Pelagos
    101 mi
Athens Greece
Sitia Greece
From £40
  • ANEK Lines Athens Sitia
    ANEK Lines
    1 crossings a week
    20 hours 20 min
    232 mi
  • Blue Star Ferries Athens Sitia
    Blue Star Ferries
    232 mi
  • Aigaion Pelagos Athens Sitia
    Aigaion Pelagos
    232 mi
Rhodes Greece
Sitia Greece
From £23
  • ANEK Lines Rhodes Sitia
    ANEK Lines
    2 crossings a week
    10 hours 50 min
    146 mi
  • Blue Star Ferries Rhodes Sitia
    Blue Star Ferries
    146 mi
  • Sea Jets Rhodes Sitia
    Sea Jets
    146 mi
Heraklion Greece
Sitia Greece
From £13
  • ANEK Lines Heraklion Sitia
    ANEK Lines
    2 crossings a week
    3 hours
    55 mi
  • Blue Star Ferries Heraklion Sitia
    Blue Star Ferries
    55 mi
  • Aigaion Pelagos Heraklion Sitia
    Aigaion Pelagos
    55 mi
Diafani Greece
Sitia Greece
From £15
  • ANEK Lines Diafani Sitia
    ANEK Lines
    2 crossings a week
    5 hours 50 min
    73 mi
  • Blue Star Ferries Diafani Sitia
    Blue Star Ferries
    73 mi
  • Aigaion Pelagos Diafani Sitia
    Aigaion Pelagos
    73 mi
  • Sea Jets Diafani Sitia
    Sea Jets
    73 mi
Pigadia Greece
Sitia Greece
From £16
  • ANEK Lines Pigadia Sitia
    ANEK Lines
    2 crossings a week
    4 hours 20 min
    66 mi
  • Blue Star Ferries Pigadia Sitia
    Blue Star Ferries
    66 mi
  • Aigaion Pelagos Pigadia Sitia
    Aigaion Pelagos
    66 mi
  • Sea Jets Pigadia Sitia
    Sea Jets
    66 mi
Anafi Greece
Sitia Greece
From £16
  • ANEK Lines Anafi Sitia
    ANEK Lines
    1 crossings a week
    8 hours
    81 mi
  • Blue Star Ferries Anafi Sitia
    Blue Star Ferries
    81 mi
  • Aigaion Pelagos Anafi Sitia
    Aigaion Pelagos
    81 mi
Chalki Greece
Sitia Greece
From £16
  • ANEK Lines Chalki Sitia
    ANEK Lines
    2 crossings a week
    8 hours 20 min
    110 mi
  • Blue Star Ferries Chalki Sitia
    Blue Star Ferries
    110 mi
  • Sea Jets Chalki Sitia
    Sea Jets
    110 mi
Fri Greece
Sitia Greece
From £10
  • ANEK Lines Fri Sitia
    ANEK Lines
    2 crossings a week
    2 hours 50 min
    48 mi
  • Blue Star Ferries Fri Sitia
    Blue Star Ferries
    48 mi
  • Aigaion Pelagos Fri Sitia
    Aigaion Pelagos
    48 mi
  • Sea Jets Fri Sitia
    Sea Jets
    48 mi
Athens Greece
Kissamos Greece
From £20
  • LANE Sea Line Athens Kissamos
    LANE Sea Line
    172 mi
  • Sea Jets Athens Kissamos
    Sea Jets
    172 mi
  • Lane Sea Lines Athens Kissamos
    Lane Sea Lines
    172 mi
Gytheio Greece
Kissamos Greece
  • LANE Sea Line Gytheio Kissamos
    LANE Sea Line
    106 mi
  • Sea Jets Gytheio Kissamos
    Sea Jets
    106 mi
  • Lane Sea Lines Gytheio Kissamos
    Lane Sea Lines
    106 mi
Kythira Greece
Kissamos Greece
From £12
  • LANE Sea Line Kythira Kissamos
    LANE Sea Line
    59 mi
  • Sea Jets Kythira Kissamos
    Sea Jets
    59 mi
  • Lane Sea Lines Kythira Kissamos
    Lane Sea Lines
    59 mi
Milos Greece
Chania Greece
  • Minoan Lines Milos Chania
    Minoan Lines
    88 mi
Santorini Greece
Rethymno Greece
From £91
  • Sea Jets Santorini Rethymno
    Sea Jets
    2 crossings a week
    2 hours 20 min
    90 mi
Athens Greece
Rethymno Greece
  • LANE Sea Line Athens Rethymno
    LANE Sea Line
    185 mi
Mykonos Greece
Rethymno Greece
  • Sea Jets Mykonos Rethymno
    Sea Jets
    151 mi
Kalamata Greece
Rethymno Greece
  • LANE Sea Line Kalamata Rethymno
    LANE Sea Line
    175 mi
Naxos Greece
Rethymno Greece
  • Sea Jets Naxos Rethymno
    Sea Jets
    130 mi
Kythira Greece
Rethymno Greece
  • LANE Sea Line Kythira Rethymno
    LANE Sea Line
    99 mi
Milos Greece
Heraklion Greece
  • ANEK Lines Milos Heraklion
    ANEK Lines
    1 crossings a week
    10 hours 50 min
    106 mi
  • Minoan Lines Milos Heraklion
    Minoan Lines
    2 crossings a week
    4 hours
    106 mi
Tinos Greece
Heraklion Greece
  • Minoan Lines Tinos Heraklion
    Minoan Lines
    153 mi
  • Sea Jets Tinos Heraklion
    Sea Jets
    153 mi
Amorgos Greece
Heraklion Greece
  • ANEK Lines Amorgos Heraklion
    ANEK Lines
    112 mi
  • Blue Star Ferries Amorgos Heraklion
    Blue Star Ferries
    112 mi
Koufonissia Greece
Heraklion Greece
  • Blue Star Ferries Koufonissia Heraklion
    Blue Star Ferries
    114 mi
Diafani Greece
Heraklion Greece
  • ANEK Lines Diafani Heraklion
    ANEK Lines
    2 crossings a week
    9 hours
    120 mi
  • Blue Star Ferries Diafani Heraklion
    Blue Star Ferries
    120 mi
Pigadia Greece
Heraklion Greece
From £16
  • ANEK Lines Pigadia Heraklion
    ANEK Lines
    2 crossings a week
    7 hours 30 min
    117 mi
  • Blue Star Ferries Pigadia Heraklion
    Blue Star Ferries
    117 mi
Donousa Greece
Heraklion Greece
  • ANEK Lines Donousa Heraklion
    ANEK Lines
    128 mi
Chalki Greece
Heraklion Greece
  • ANEK Lines Chalki Heraklion
    ANEK Lines
    2 crossings a week
    11 hours 30 min
    152 mi
  • Blue Star Ferries Chalki Heraklion
    Blue Star Ferries
    152 mi
Santorini Greece
Sitia Greece
From £19
  • ANEK Lines Santorini Sitia
    ANEK Lines
    1 crossings a week
    10 hours
    89 mi
  • Blue Star Ferries Santorini Sitia
    Blue Star Ferries
    89 mi
Milos Greece
Sitia Greece
  • ANEK Lines Milos Sitia
    ANEK Lines
    1 crossings a week
    14 hours 50 min
    141 mi
  • Aigaion Pelagos Milos Sitia
    Aigaion Pelagos
    141 mi
Kalamata Greece
Kissamos Greece
  • Lane Sea Lines Kalamata Kissamos
    Lane Sea Lines
    137 mi
Antikythira Greece
Kissamos Greece
  • Sea Jets Antikythira Kissamos
    Sea Jets
    34 mi
  • Lane Sea Lines Antikythira Kissamos
    Lane Sea Lines
    34 mi
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Ferry to Crete - Compare prices and book cheap tickets

Ferry Crete: Travel Guide

Ferry Crete: What to see and do?

Crete is a beautiful and popular Greek island that can be visited by plane or by ferry. If you choose the second option, you will have a unique and enjoyable experience, with a breathtaking view of the Aegean Sea. Here is everything you need to know about travelling to Crete by ferry.

Crete has several ports, including Heraklion, Rethymno, Chania and Agios Nikolaos. Most international ferries arrive and depart from Heraklion, which is the most important port on the island. This is also where you will find most connections to the other Greek islands. The port of Rethymnon is smaller but also popular with travellers. Chania is another important port on the west coast of Crete.

Several ferry companies operate to and from Crete. The most popular are ANEK Lines, Minoan Lines and Blue Star Ferries. These companies offer regular and modern ferries that provide comfortable services for all types of travellers. It is advisable to book your ticket in advance, especially during the summer season.

Timetables and journey times depend on the ferry company you choose and the port of departure. International ferries usually take 8-12 hours and depart at night so you can arrive in Crete early in the morning. During the summer season there may be more ferries and journey times may be shorter.

Modern ferries offer many services to make your journey comfortable and enjoyable. You will find restaurants, cafeterias, souvenir shops, children's play areas, lounges and comfortable cabins for sleeping overnight. You can also enjoy the view from the outside deck and take great photos.

Crete is an island rich in history and culture, with beautiful beaches and breathtaking scenery. Heraklion, the largest city on the island, has historical sites such as the Palace of Knossos, an important archaeological site dating back to the Bronze Age. The city of Rethymnon also has a special charm, with its old Venetian port and fortress. The island's beaches, such as Elafonisi, Balos and Vai, are popular destinations for swimmers and water sports enthusiasts.

Travelling by ferry to Crete is a unique and enjoyable experience. You can choose from several ports and ferry companies to arrive on the island. Once there, you can enjoy the history, culture and natural beauty of this beautiful Greek island. Don't forget to book your ticket in advance and take advantage of all the services on board the ferry to make your trip even more enjoyable.

Crete: When to visit?

In summer, average temperatures vary between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius, with possible heat peaks in July and August. The days are long and sunny, perfect for a beach holiday or exploring the country's archaeological sites. However, bear in mind that this is also Greece's peak tourist season, which means that places of interest can be busier and prices can be higher.

If you prefer to avoid the crowds of tourists, spring and autumn are also good seasons to travel in Greece. In April, May, September and October, temperatures are mild, fluctuating between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. Beaches are less crowded and accommodation prices can be lower. This is also an ideal time to explore the Greek islands and avoid the summer heatwave.

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Main ports of call for a ferry crossing to Crete

Other ferry destinations from Crete

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