How to get to Crete from Athens by ferry?

Are you going to visit Greece and the Greek islands of the Mediterranean Sea? Follow the guide to get from Athens to Crete by ferry!

After a road trip through Balkans and continental Greece, would you like to continue to Crete, or did you plan to go from Athens to Crete by ferry? Excellent idea! The Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of 8,336 km2. Peated by 632 674 inhabitants, it is a major tourist destination of the Mediterranean basin, where it attracts 16 million visitors per year.

It must be said that the Crete — the cradle of the Minoan civilization and the theatre of many myths dating from Antiquity — has a history and a multi-millenary heritage, a florilège of unique culinary flavours to taste, beaches and seaside resorts surrounded by warm and turquoise waters, as well as the must-see cities to visit, just like H La Canée , Rethymnon, Ierapatra or Agios Nikolaos.

Are you planning to go from Athens to Crete by ferry? You are told everything to discover the archaeological, architectural, historical and cultural heritage of this splendid island south of the Mediterranean basin.

Ferry companies linking Crete to Athens

Unlike crossings to go Corse , in Sardinia or Sicily from Toulon or Nice, there are many private shipping companies operating between Athens and Crete. It must be said that the latter drains an important tourist population, equivalent to the tourist attendance of Corsica and Sicily combined. The reason for the existence of a large number of shipping companies is also geographical: more than 9,000 islands, of which only 200 are inhabited, belong to the Greek territory. Between Cyclades , the Dodecanese or Crete, a fifth of the Greek territory consists of islands, and are archipelagos that must logically be collected in the territory of continental Greece.

At the start of the Greek capital, there are no less than four different companies to go from Athens to Crete by ferry: Anek Superfast , Anek Lines , Minoan Lines and Golden Star Ferries . The ecological impact of maritime transport — which does not bear any oil tax — is responsible for a large part of the pollution generated worldwide. But here, the beauty of Crete prevails on ecology! Ships operate at 4 ports in Crete from the ports of Piraeus and Rafina in Athens, due to 51 liaisons per week and through 5 regular lines. It will not be difficult to find a way to go to Crete by ferry from Athens!

Plan a ferry ride in Crete with Direct Ferries

Direct Ferries is one of the most common shipping comparisons and shipping companies in shipping. The platform makes it easy to book a route from Athens to Crete by ferry, and compare the best rates according to several time ranges.

The choice of destination port — Heraklion, Chania (La Canée), Sitia or Rethymnon — will be based on the dates and times available, but also according to your choice of routes in Crete. Arriving in Sitia will explore the eastern part of Crete. Disembarking at the port of Heraklion will be an interesting point of fall to visit the center (including the ruins of Knossos), while the ports of Réthymnon and La Canée will offer a path to the beaches of the west coast (Falasarna, Balos Beach, Elafonisi, Gramvoussa) or the White Mountains. Are the routes to La Canée incompatible with your dates? Poll the crossings for the other three ports!

How to book your ferry trip to Crete from Athens?

Instead of comparing prices with the four shipping companies, the Direct Ferries search engine compiles your information to propose the crossings at the times and dates mentioned: you have access to the cheapest rates according to the crossing times ( 7:30 , 9h , 13h ).

To make the reservation, we recommend you first of all, to take you in advance to avoid too much price fluctuation. Then, as soon as you found the crossing that you sat, you choose the desired cabin (optional, but you might sleep on the deck), with 1, 2, 3 or 4 bunks, you then fill out your civil status information, your contact details and you go to the payment.

A booking confirmation will be sent to you by email. For 1,99 € , the site proposes the sending of the details of the reservation as well as the sending of an SMS on the eve of departure to specify the recommended time limit for registration. It may be advisable to subscribe to the free cancellation insurance in order to be able to cancel without charge until 48 hours before departure.

At the time of writing this article, we find routes to go from Athens to Crete by ferry from € 108 for one person without a vehicle, 9 a.m. crossing, with a departure 21 heures . If you travel to several, in order to avoid spending the night outside, it can be good to opt for the cabin with bunks!