Santorini Heraklion Port Guide
Santorini Port Guide
More commonly known as Athinios, the Thira ferry port is situated 8km from Santorini’s capital town of Fira and is easily accessible by car and public transport. There is a regular bus service departing from Fira and Oia, which run in conjunction with the ferry timetable. If you want a faster alternative, we suggest booking a private transfer service like Welcome Pickups. In the meantime, please visit our accommodation page for all the cheapest prices on hotels near Athinios.
How to get from Santorini to Crete
The most convenient way of travelling from Santorini to Crete is by ferry. There are 2 ferry routes which operate between these two popular holiday destinations including the Santorini to Heraklion ferry and the Santorini to Sitia ferry. Both are available for booking throughout the year and are operated by 5 ferry companies.
Heraklion Port Guide
The Greek city of Heraklion is the capital and largest city on the island of Crete. A popular visitor attraction near the city is Knossos, which is around 5 km from Heraklion. This significant archaeological site was the Palace of King Minos and home to the Minotaur, if legend is to be believed.
Visitors to Heraklion can take a ferry from the port to a number of destinations across Greece including Santorini, Ios, Paros, Mykonos and Rhodes. There are also daily sailings to the mainland port of Athens.
The ferry terminal building a range of modern facilities including a payphone, an air-conditioned lounge, hot and cold vending machines and public toilets. There is also wheelchair access throughout the terminal as well as parking spaces available on site.
How to get to Heraklion port
As Heraklion is a rather small city, walking is the easiest way to get around if you do not have a lot of luggage. However, passengers can get a KTEL bus from most places in Crete to Heraklion port including Chania and Rethymnon, which arrive at Heraklion Bus Station A, located only 6 minutes from the port.
Santorini to Crete Day Trip
You can take a day trip from Santorini to Crete by ferry. Ferries operate from as early as 01:00 on this route. Simply take an early ferry and arrive at Heraklion in 1 hour and 40 minutes. You can even bring their cars on this ferry service, making it easier to explore the whole island at your leisure. However, please note that only 1 vehicle is allowed per booking.