Ferries from
Crete to Athens
Ferries from
Crete to Athens
Ferries from Crete to Athens sail approximately 22 times per week and are available with Minoan Lines, Blue Star Ferries, Cyclades Fast Ferries & SeaJets.
The ferry from Crete to Athens takes between 5 hours 20 minutes and 34 hours 45 minutes depending on the ferry route, operator, and ship that you choose.
Yes, ferries from Crete to Athens operate all year-round, with more sailings during the summer and slightly reduced schedules in the winter.
The fastest ferry from Crete to Athens is on the Chania to Athens (Piraeus) ferry with SeaJets in 5 hours 20 minutes.
Yes, you can bring your car on the ferry from Crete to Athens with Minoan Lines, Blue Star Ferries, Cyclades Fast Ferries & SeaJets.
There are approximately 156 miles (250km) and 135 nautical miles between Crete and Athens.
The price of a ferry from Crete to Athens can differ by route, operator, season, vehicle type and whether you are sailing on a high-speed ferry or conventional ferry.
The Heraklion to Athens (Piraeus) ferry ferry sails approximately 11 times weekly with a crossing time of 9 hours 15 minutes.
The Chania to Athens (Piraeus) ferry sails around 6 times per week with an average crossing time of 9 hours 10 minutes.
We suggest that you book in advance to ensure that you get the cheapest ferry prices and availability. Please check out our special offers page to take advantage of all the latest ferry discounts available.
While technically possible, a day trip from Crete to Athens by ferry is not practical due to travel times. Most ferries between Heraklion or Chania and Piraeus (Athens) take 7 to 9 hours, with overnight crossings being the most common option. High-speed ferries are slightly faster but still take around 6 to 7 hours each way, leaving hardly any time for sightseeing in Athens. For travellers who want to experience both destinations in a single day, flying is a much more efficient choice, as flights take less than an hour.
Ferries from Crete to Athens provide comfortable amenities including restaurants, cafes, duty-free shops, lounges, children’s play areas, pet-friendly cabins, and Wi-Fi.
Travelling by ferry or plane from Crete to Athens is considered a domestic trip within Greece, so EU and Schengen citizens do not need a passport, just a valid national ID card. Non-EU visitors already in Greece with a valid visa or residence permit can also travel without additional border checks. Ferry companies and airlines may ask for official identification at boarding, so carrying either your passport or ID is always recommended.
Book and compare Crete Athens ferry tickets, operators, timetables and prices by using our Deal Finder.
| From | To | Average price | |
|---|---|---|---|
From HeraklionCrete |
To PiraeusAthens |
Average price$189.54 | |
From ChaniaCrete |
To PiraeusAthens |
Average price$193.95 | |
From SitiaCrete |
To PiraeusAthens |
Average price$303.29 |
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The beautiful island of Crete is the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and the largest of the Greek islands with a population of around half a million people. Despite its thousand miles of coastline, Crete is not just about sun, sea and sand. This distinct island is full of vitality, rich in culture and with warm, hospitable people. Though well known for its seas and beaches, Crete has a very contrasting landscape. The island goes from fertile coastal plains to rugged mountains and from busy metropolitan cities to very peaceful hillside homes. As a hugely popular holiday destination, Crete features numerous types of holiday accommodation ranging from luxury hotels to apartments and camp sites. Getting a ferry to Crete is quick and easy with numerous ports of departure and crossings run by many different ferry companies from the mainland as well as from the islands of the Dodecanese and the Cyclades. Ferries run from the mainland port of Piraeus (Athens) to the 3 ports at the north side of the island all year round. The shortest and most regular ferry crossing is to the port of Heraklion in the central part of Crete’s north coast. If you are travelling to Crete from the Cyclades region, north of Crete, you can travel from up to 6 islands including Mykonos and Santorini. From the Dodecanese group, north east of Crete, there are weekly ferry connections from up to 5 islands, including Rhodes.
