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Athens to Heraklion (Crete) Ferry

The Athens to Crete ferry route is provided by 4 operators and is available for booking all year round. The ferry crossing from Athens to Crete takes approximately 9 hours and 20 minutes on ferries servicing this route. Athens to Crete ferry duration can range between 8 hours 40 minutes and 17 hours 30 minutes depending on the operator that you decide to travel with.

Athens to Crete Ferry Schedule

There are around 25 ferry weekly sailings from Piraeus to Heraklion. Anek Superfast provide 7 weekly sailings, Minoan Lines provide up to 14 weekly sailings, Cyclades Fast Ferries provide 3 weekly sailings and Anek Lines provide 1 weekly sailing. Please be aware that ferry timetables often increase during the high season.

Athens to Crete Ferry Time

The first ferry leaves at approximately 09:00 and the last ferry leaves at approximately 21:00. Ferry schedules can vary by operator and season.

High Speed Ferry Athens to Crete

The fastest ferry from Athens to Heraklion is with Minoan Lines in 8 hours and 40 minutes.

What is the price of a fast ferry from Athens to Crete?

The fastest ferries from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion usually cost around $295.24.

Can I reserve a cabin on the ferry from Athens to Crete?

Yes, you can book cabins on ferries that sail from Athens to Crete with Anek Lines and Anek Superfast.

Can I bring pets on the Athens to Heraklion ferry?

Yes, Anek Lines welcome pets onboard their ferries travelling from Piraeus to Heraklion. There are a number of kennels available on board each ship as well as pet-friendly cabins. Please can owners ensure that they bring their pet's valid health documents for the journey.

Athens to Crete Ferry Price

The price of a ferry from Piraeus - Heraklion can vary between $23 and $558 depending on the operator, season and whether you are travelling with a vehicle. The average price of a foot passenger is $46, prices can range from $23 and $93. The average price with a car is $423. Car prices can range from $190 and $810. Prices may vary for other vehicle types. All ferry prices can change from season to season.

Prices subject to change, pricing representative of searches over last 30 days.

Athens Crete Ferry Tickets

Find cheap ferry tickets using our deal finder. It is highly recommended that you book in advance to ensure yourself the best possible prices and availability.

Ferry to Crete

With 2 sailings departing per day, you are bound to find a suitable ferry crossing to suit your needs. However, there is an alternative ferry to Crete if you require additional flexibility including the Athens to Chania ferry.

Can I travel in first class on ferries from Athens to Crete

First class is available on ferries from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion with Anek Lines, Anek Superfast, Blue Star Ferries, Cyclades Fast Ferries, Minoan Lines.

How to get from Athens to Crete?

You can get a ferry from Piraeus port, which is located 12km southwest of Athens city centre. This is easily accessible via car and public transport. The 040-bus departing from Syntagma Square in Athens city centre drops you within walking distance of the passenger terminals. Alternatively, follow Line 1 (Green Line) on the metro for 30 minutes until you reach Monastiraki station.

Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion Ferry Alternatives

For more information, please visit our Ferries from Athens to Crete page.

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Athens (Piraeus) - Crete (Heraklion) Route summary
Departure Country	Greece
Destination Country	Greece
No. of Operators	2
Operators	Blue Star Ferries & SeaJets
Average Price	$221*
Average Daily Sailings	1
Average Weekly Sailings	8
Average Sailing Duration	9h 37m
Fastest Sailing Duration	8h 5m
First Ferry	07:00
Last Ferry	21:00
Distance	168 nautical miles

* Prices subject to change, pricing is taken from last 30 days, last updated 2024-11-05.

How long is the ferry from Piraeus to Heraklion?

The typical crossing time for ferries from Piraeus to Heraklion is approximately 9h 21m. However, please keep in mind that sailing duration might change depending on what season you choose to travel.

How much is the ferry from Piraeus to Heraklion?

The average price of a ferry from Piraeus to Heraklion is approximately $261. However, please remember that the price of a ferry from Piraeus to Heraklion can differ depending on the season. Price exclusive of booking fees.

Which ferry companies operate between Piraeus to Heraklion?

There are currently 5 popular ferry operators travelling from Piraeus to Heraklion. The following operators that provide this service are

Minoan Lines
Anek Superfast
Anek Superfast
Cyclades Fast Ferries
SeaJets

How can I book ferry tickets from Piraeus to Heraklion?

Ferries from Piraeus to Heraklion are available for booking through our deal finder. Please also visit our offers page to stay updated with all the latest ferry offers on this route.

How far is Heraklion from Piraeus?

Piraeus to Heraklion is approximately 168 nautical miles distance apart.

Athens to Crete Ferry Guide

Piraeus Port Guide

The port city of Piraeus in Greece lies on the Saronic Gulf in the Attica region of the country and forms part of the Athens urban area, with the centre of Athens located some 12 km from the port. The centre of Piraeus is generally congested with traffic and tends not to be place where tourists would go. The area has many of the facilities you would expect of a non-tourist town: banks, public buildings, pedestrian areas, shopping streets and the like. The area around Zea Marina and Mikrolimano Harbour are perhaps the most attractive part of Piraeus and have a good selection of restaurants, cafes and bars.

Piraeus is Greece's main port and the largest in Europe and the third largest in the world. Unsurprisingly, it is the hub of Greece's maritime industries and the base for its merchant navy. Having recently undergone a refurbishment, facilities at the port have improved and include ATM's, bureau de change, restaurants, cafes, bars and a number of travel agencies selling ferry tickets. destinations served by the port include the island of Crete, the Cyclades Islands, the Dodecanese Islands, the eastern parts of Greece and parts of the northern and eastern Aegean Sea.

How to get to the port of Piraeus

As the port of Athens is so vast, please be mindful of the gate from which your ferry departs. There is a free shuttle bus service departing every 20 minutes and transports passengers from E7 to gates E1, E2, E3. Passengers can easily reach Piraeus port from Athens city centre by taking Line 1 (Green Line) from Monastiraki station. This journey takes approximately 30 minutes and drops passengers between gates E5 and E6 at the terminal. Metro tickets are available for purchase at any metro station or transport ticket office. Please be mindful that the metro only operates between 06:30 to 23:30 on weekdays and finishes at 01:00 on weekends.

Heraklion Guide

Located on the Greek island of Crete, Heraklion is the island's largest city and is one of the main urban centres in Greece. The city can trace its history back to at least the 9th century AD when its development began and then later came under the influence of the Arabs, the Venetians and the Ottomans. Popular sites in the city with tourists include the fortification walls that are essentially the boundary of the old city. These were first built by the Arabs and then reinforced by the Venetians. From the seven bastions, only the Martinengo bastion survives to this day and is where visitors will find the tomb of the renowned writer N. Kazantzakis, overlooking the city. The city was also a venue during the 2004 Olympic Games, and hosted games of the football tournament.

Located in the city's old port, visitors can still see the vaulted tarsanades where ships used to be built and also the 16th century Koule Fortress. From the port, ferries depart to destinations including Santorini, Ios, Paros, Mykonos and Rhodes. There are also ferry services to the Greek mainland port of Piraeus.

Piraeus to Heraklion Ferry Timetables

Timetables between 12/16/2024 and 12/22/2024

Operator	Departure Time	Arrival Time	Duration	Sailing Days
Blue Star Ferries	09:00	17:45	8 hours 45 minutes	Mon
Blue Star Ferries	17:00	03:00	10 hours	Thu
Blue Star Ferries	17:00	04:20	11 hours 20 minutes	Sat
Blue Star Ferries	21:00	06:15	9 hours 15 minutes	Everyday
Minoan Lines	21:00	06:30	9 hours 30 minutes	Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat