Athens to Crete Ferry

Three overnight ferries leave Piraeus for Crete every night of the year, and in summer a fourth, faster boat sails by day. The quickest option in 2026 was the Seajets high-speed ferry from Piraeus at 09:30, reaching Heraklion at 17:20 (7 h 50 min) for €89.70 in economy. The cheapest is a deck ticket on the overnight ANEK or Minoan Lines ship to Heraklion, from €37–42. The one thing first-timers should know: Crete has several ports, so choose Heraklion for central and eastern Crete or Chania (Souda) for the west before you book.

Heraklion is about 173 nautical miles from the port of Piraeus, and the island of Crete lies at the southern edge of the Aegean Sea. That makes Athens to Crete one of the longest domestic ferry routes in Greece, and it is why most travelers sail overnight: a ferry ride of around 9 hours fits neatly between dinner and breakfast.

Ferry options compared

Overnight conventional ferries

The classic overnight ferry to Crete is a large ship with cabins, restaurants, cafés, lounges, outdoor decks and a garage for cars. Three sailings run every night:

• Minoan Lines leaves Piraeus at 21:00 on the Knossos Palace, calls at Milos at 01:00 and reaches Heraklion at 06:30.
• ANEK Lines / Blue Star Ferries leave Piraeus at 21:00 for Heraklion via Serifos on the Kissamos or Asterion II, arriving at 06:50.
• ANEK Lines / Blue Star Ferries also leave at 22:00 for Chania (Souda) via Milos, on the Ariadne, Blue Star 1 or Kissamos, arriving at 07:00.

ANEK and Blue Star Ferries now sell the same Crete sailings, so you may see either brand on your ticket.

On board you can choose from deck class (a seat anywhere in the public lounges), reserved air seats, shared 4-berth cabins, private 2-berth cabins and luxury cabins. The ships are big and stable, so seasickness is rarely a problem, and the crossing counts as a night's accommodation.

Daytime high speed ferry

Seajets runs the only high speed ferry from Athens to Crete and the fastest ferry on the route, using the Worldchampion Jet or Champions League Jet 1. It is not a direct sailing: in summer 2026 it left Piraeus at 09:30 and called at Syros, Tinos, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos and Santorini before reaching Heraklion at 17:20. It runs from April to early November, with the full timetable from 2 May to 6 October.

It suits travelers who want to see the Cyclades from the water, or who want to stop off on Santorini or Naxos on the way. It is not the cheapest way to travel: economy costs €89.70 and you sit indoors for nearly eight hours.

Other Crete ports

Booking sites also show sailings to Kissamos in western Crete (Seajets via Kythira, 1 to 5 days per week, about 10 h 15 min) and Sitia in the east (Blue Star Ferries, 2 to 5 days per week, about 12 h 25 min). These are slow island-hopping lines. Rethymno had no direct service from Piraeus in the 2026 listings we checked.

Heraklion or Chania

Heraklion is the capital and largest city on the island of Crete, and the Heraklion port gets the most ferries from Athens: two overnight ships plus the Seajets boat in summer. Visit Heraklion for the Archaeological Museum, Knossos and easy bus links to the east of the island. The Piraeus to Chania ferry suits you if you plan to visit Chania's Venetian harbour, the beaches of western Crete or the Samaria Gorge. The two cities are a long drive apart along the north coast road, so the right arrival port can save you half a day.

Which ferry for which traveller

• Best value: deck or air seat on the overnight ferry to Heraklion.
• Best sleep: a 2-berth cabin on Minoan Lines or ANEK/Blue Star.
• Western Crete, Chania, Samaria Gorge: the 22:00 sailing to Souda.
• Island hopping on the way: Seajets by day, with a stopover.
• With a car or campervan: any overnight ship.

Timetable and season

The Athens to Crete ferry is one of the few Greek routes that runs every day throughout the year, so you can take the ferry to Crete year round, even in January. According to the published 2026 timetables:

• Year-round: Minoan Lines (21:00) and ANEK/Blue Star to Heraklion (21:00) and to Chania (22:00) sail every night.
• Summer extras: Seajets adds a daily high-speed ferry, and ANEK added a 09:00 daytime sailing to Heraklion on selected dates between 28 June and 3 September 2026, arriving at 17:45.
• Return trips: the overnight boats leave Heraklion at 21:00 and Chania at 21:00, reaching Piraeus between 06:10 and 06:55. The Seajets boat leaves Heraklion at 08:00 and reaches Piraeus at 15:30.

In peak season (July and August) there are up to five daily crossings to Heraklion. Heraklion Crete also gets the most onward connections, which makes it the easiest arrival port for island hopping. Summer ferry schedules are usually confirmed in spring, and ships are occasionally swapped for maintenance in winter, so check your departure time before you travel.

Getting to Piraeus

Crete ferries leave from the far southern end of Piraeus port, the main ferry port of Athens. Public transport gets you there, but the last stretch to the Crete gates is long.

• Gates: Crete ferries normally use gates E2 and E3. These are much further from Piraeus metro station than the Cyclades gates. Use the free shuttle bus inside the port, or take a taxi straight to the ship.
• From Athens city center: metro Line 1 (green) from Monastiraki or Omonia to Piraeus, then the port shuttle. A taxi takes about 25 to 40 minutes.
• From Athens International Airport: metro Line 3 (blue) to Piraeus takes about 60 minutes; the X96 express bus runs 24 hours and takes around 90 minutes. A taxi costs roughly €60–75 in daytime and takes 45–60 minutes.
• Arrive early: be at the gate at least an hour before departure, and earlier with a car. You can board the overnight ships well before sailing time and settle into your cabin.

Flying in and taking the ferry the same evening works well: a daytime flight gives you plenty of time to reach the 21:00 boat. See our Piraeus port guide.

Arriving in Crete

Heraklion

Ferries dock at Heraklion port, about 2 km from the city center.

• On foot: the old town and Lions Square are 15 to 20 minutes' walk along the waterfront, though the final part is uphill.
• Bus: the main intercity KTEL bus station for eastern Crete is about an 8-minute walk from the piers. City buses 1 and 78 run to Heraklion airport, which is about 4 km away.
• Taxi: the stand is outside the passenger terminal. It is the easiest option with heavy luggage.

The Archaeological Museum and Knossos are both easy to reach from Heraklion, making it a good base for your first day. See our Crete ferry port guide.

Chania (Souda)

Chania ferries dock at Souda, a separate port on Souda Bay east of Chania town. City bus 13 runs from the port to Chania roughly every 20 to 60 minutes depending on time of day, taking about 20 minutes; buy your ticket at the kiosk near the bus stop. A taxi takes about 10 minutes and is the better choice for the early-morning arrival.

Tickets and prices

You can book ferry tickets on the ferry companies' websites or on comparison sites such as Ferryhopper and Direct Ferries, which list every sailing between Athens and Crete for your travel dates. Most bookings give you e-tickets that you show on your mobile phone at boarding.

What drives the price:

• Seat or bed: deck and air seats are cheapest; a bed in a 4-berth cabin costs from about €59.50; a private 2-berth cabin costs €89–116.50 per person.
• Port: Chania fares are higher than Heraklion fares on the published 2026 lists.
• Vehicles: a car costs €117.50–122.50 one way, a motorcycle about €28–29, and campers are priced per metre.
• Discounts: ANEK offers a 20% return discount on evening departures when you book both ways together. Minoan Lines offers 25% off for passengers over 60, plus family packages.

Ferry ticket prices are fixed by class rather than by demand, so cheap ferry tickets are about booking early, not hunting for deals. Book cabins well ahead for July and August and for Greek holidays such as Easter and mid-August. Deck tickets rarely sell out, but cabins and car spaces do.

Ferry or flight

Choosing between the ferry and a flight comes down to time, luggage and budget.

• Travel times: a flight from Athens International Airport to Heraklion or Chania is short, but you still need to get to the airport and check in. The overnight ferry takes about 9 hours, yet you spend them asleep.
• Cost: a deck ticket from €37 is usually cheaper than a flight in summer, and a cabin replaces a hotel night.
• Luggage and vehicles: ferries let you carry much more luggage and take a vehicle onboard. Airlines charge for checked bags.
• Flexibility: there are three ferries every night, so a missed connection rarely means a lost day.

For most visitors arriving in Athens in the afternoon, the best way to get from Athens to Crete is the 21:00 or 22:00 overnight ferry. If you land late in the evening, fly or spend a night in Athens first.

Tips

• Sleep: bring earplugs and an eye mask if you sleep in an air seat. Lounges stay lit and busy.
• Food on board: ships have self-service restaurants, cafés and bars, with prices above what you pay on land.
• Weather: the big overnight ships rarely cancel, but strong winds can delay them. The high-speed boat is more likely to be cancelled in bad weather.
• Pets: pets travel on all the overnight ships, but space in kennels and pet-friendly cabins is limited. Declare your pet when you book.
• Flying instead: Crete has three airports with flights from Athens: Heraklion, Chania and Sitia airport. Direct flights are the quickest way to get from Athens to Crete, but they usually cost more once you add luggage, and you lose the night's accommodation saving. With a car, the ferry is the only practical option.
• Onward travel: from Heraklion, Seajets and Blue Star sail to Santorini. See Crete to Santorini and our Greek island hopping guide.

More on the operators: Minoan Lines, ANEK Lines, Blue Star Ferries and Seajets.