Ferry from Crete to Dodecanese Islands

About Crete

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.

About Dodecanese Islands

The Greek Dodecanese Islands are situated in the South-Eastern Aegean Sea, between the Cyclades and the coast of Turkey. Comprising of twelve large islands and numerous smaller ones, the island complex is renowned for its beautiful beaches, crystal-clear sea, stunning architecture and a relaxed ambience that is steeped in history. Each island has an individual spirit of its own. Tourists who are seeking tranquillity and relaxation will find an island to suit, whilst those preferring a more vibrant and cosmopolitan atmosphere will also discover a perfect holiday destination. Getting to the islands from the mainland, other island groups and travelling between the islands themselves is inevitably by ferry and with a huge selection of ports, routes and ferry companies on offer, the journey is all but guaranteed to be a stress free experience. The Dodecanese islands can be reached from the Greek mainland port of Piraeus, Turkey, the island of Crete and the Cyclades Islands. Approaching a Greek island from a ferry, witnessing the houses tucked into the coastline amid a shimmering turquoise sea, is a wonderful and memorable experience. Rhodes is the largest and most populated of the Dodecanese. With a main road that runs around the outskirts of the island the pinnacle is at Rhodes Town, the capital. Here, the architecture is predominantly medieval, and the spectacular Old Town is home to the Palace of the Grand Master. Boasting sandy beaches and lush vegetation, Kos also has a heritage of mythology and history. Hippocrates, the father of medicine was born on the island around 460 BC, and founded the Great School of Medicine of Kos. Kalymnos has a global reputation for its sponge fishing divers. This activity has a long tradition on the island and makes a significant impact on the local economy. Many other islands in the Dodecanese exhibit unique charms and whatever your expectations of a Greek Island vacation they will be met and exceeded in the Dodecanese Islands.