The santorini to crete ferry takes about two hours on a high-speed catamaran to Heraklion, runs one to three times a day in summer and costs roughly 55 to 95 euros. This page covers the boats, the fares, both ports, the drive onward to Chania, and the wind that cancels it.
Discover the unique Santorini in October 2021
Santorini stands out from the rest of the Cyclades for its wild side. And precisely because Santoriniis filled with tourists during the summer months, we are here to suggest you to see it and enjoy Santorini in October 2021 with Santorini Tours. When tourists are less, prices are more affordable and generally the rates are more normal.
Santorini, therefore, is a favorite destination of both Greeks and foreigners who rush to visit it from every possible part of the Earth. The most famous and most photographed island of Greece, with a breathtaking view, is a diamond that stands in the middle of the endless blue and is worth a visit at least once in your life. Santorini in October 2021 is the perfect place to visit.
The sunset in Santorini in October 2021
Sunset in Santorini is famous all over the world. As the sun sets in the Aegean Sea, from the northern end of the island, in the castle of Oia, so many colors are created on the horizon that no one could have imagined that they could result from the “dip” of the sun in the sea.
Take a walk in Santorini in October 2021
Start your walk from the Caldera to the volcano which is only 10 minutes away from the bay of Fira. The ascent to the volcano to meet its active craters takes about 20 minutes by footpath. It is worth to reach the top, to carve the black stones and to see that the sulfur still smokes and smells strongly. In Fira, the capital of the island, you can visit the Archaeological Museum.
Ancient Thira is the city of the historical times of Santorini. It is located on Mesa Vouno in a fortified position that dominates the whole island, at an altitude of 385 m. In Oia, apart from the unique sunset, you can see the Castle, the scattered windmills and the Maritime Museum. The special Naval Museum, one of the few in the Aegean, with such a rich naval history, is housed in a traditional captain’s house of the 19th century.
Easy access to Santorini in October 2021
You can access Santorini in October 2021 easily. Numerous flights from all over the world arrive daily at Santorini International Airport, while you can book a direct flight from Athens and Thessaloniki with many airlines. Also, the port of Santorini has a regular, daily connection with Piraeus, Crete and most of the islands of the Cyclades and the Dodecanese, if you prefer to travel by boat.
Food
Santorini is not just the most emblematic island of Greece. It is also the “chair” of a gastronomic cosmopolitanism. Discover its local products: barley, fava, Santorini tomato, saffron, aubergines, brandada, meletinia and of course the famous Santorini wines.
Architecture of Santorini
The traditional architecture in Santorini is integrated in the Aegean. The settlements of the island are divided into three categories: Linear (Fira, Oia, Thirasia), Advanced forts (Pyrgos, Emporio, Akrotiri) and Caves (Vothonas, Finikia, Karterados). Today, the Caldera of Santorini is one of the most valuable places in Greece. At its edge are built the most luxurious hotels, most caves, respecting the traditional architecture.
Book a tour to Thirasia
In the shadow of Santorini, Thirasia can offer the alternative to those who want authenticity, tranquility and solitude. This part, like Santorini, on the island of Strongyli, was cut off during the great eruption of 1,600 BC. and is part of the perimeter of the large caldera formed in the years after the eruption. Its geomorphology is very similar to that of Santorini, but in contrast, its tourist development remained for most of its visitors as part of the day trip of the tourist boats that depart from the port of Fira to visit the volcano in Nea and the Old Kammeni.
But the reality for those who want to really get to know the island and love it is fortunately different. So we unreservedly recommend you to steal some of your time in Santorini and visit this beautiful island even for a while not as part of your visit to the volcano, but a day dedicated exclusively to it. You can take a tour of Santorini!
Visit Wine Museum
It is the only cave museum in Greece and is located 8 meters below the ground. It has the shape of a labyrinth and a length of 300 m. The museum presents the history of wine and the life of the Santorini viticulturist since 1660. It was created by the love and passion of the Koutsogiannopoulos family for tradition and wine, which tradition continues to this day , as 4th generation. All tools, utensils and machines are authentic and rare pieces. The stages of wine production as well as all the machines are exhibited in chronological order: pruning, plowing the land, harvesting, pressing and weighing the grapes.
The rare exhibits, machines and winemaking tools, will transport the visitor to another era. At the end the visitor has the opportunity to taste four of the best wines produced today by the winery in the specially designed tasting area. In conclusion, the visitor keeps in his memory all the knowledge from his trip to the past.
Read more about Santorini Tours:
- Santorini Sightseeing Private Tour
- Exclusive Shore Santorini Private Tour
- Impressive Caldera Santorini Private Tour
- South Part Santorini Private Tour
- North Part Santorini Private Tour
- Santorini Historical Private Tour
- Santorini Sunset Private Tour
Santorini to Crete Ferry: The Short Answer
The santorini to crete ferry is a short, reliable, heavily used crossing that almost everybody gets slightly wrong, because there is one fast route and several slow ones and the fast one only goes to a single port. Heraklion is the practical answer, and every other Cretan destination means Heraklion plus a drive.
Crossing time. The santorini to crete ferry takes roughly 1 hour 45 to 2 hours 15 on a high-speed catamaran to Heraklion. Conventional and indirect sailings run from around four hours upwards.
Which port. Heraklion, in the centre of Crete’s north coast. There is no direct santorini to crete ferry to Chania, and the eastern Cretan ports are served only by a slow, infrequent line.
Santorini to crete ferry fares. Roughly 55 to 95 euros a person one way on the fast boats. Less on the slower services when they run.
Frequency. The santorini to crete ferry runs one to three sailings a day through high summer, usually fewer in the shoulder months, and a thin and weather-dependent service in winter.
Santorini to crete ferry operators. Seajets and Minoan Lines carry most of the traffic on the Heraklion route, with availability shifting between seasons.
Santorini to crete ferry ports. Athinios on Santorini, at the bottom of a hairpin road below the caldera, and the commercial port of Heraklion, two kilometres from the city centre.
Distance. About 70 nautical miles due south across open water.
The wind. The meltemi blows June to September and the high-speed craft are restricted first. The santorini to crete ferry is cancelled several times each summer.
Flying instead. There are seasonal direct flights between Santorini and Heraklion taking about forty minutes. Genuinely competitive on a tight schedule and not on price.
Booking the santorini to crete ferry. Ahead for July and August, and particularly for the morning departure, which is the one everybody wants.
The honest summary. Two hours, one port, and a crossing that works well provided you accept Heraklion as the arrival point and plan the drive onwards from there.
Which Cretan Port, and Why It Matters
Crete is two hundred and sixty kilometres long, which means the port you land at decides a substantial part of your first day.
Heraklion. The main santorini to crete ferry port, and effectively the only direct destination on the route. Central on the north coast, with the airport, the Archaeological Museum and Knossos all within twenty minutes, and car hire desks at the quay.
Chania. The most attractive city in Crete and a hundred and forty kilometres west of Heraklion. There is no direct ferry from Santorini. You land at Heraklion and drive two to two and a half hours on the national road, or fly via Athens.
Rethymno. Between the two, about eighty kilometres and an hour from Heraklion. No direct sailing from Santorini.
Agios Nikolaos and Sitia. In the east, served by a separate and much slower line that runs infrequently and calls at other islands on the way. Not a practical santorini to crete ferry for most itineraries.
Which to aim for. Heraklion, without much debate, and then decide whether you are staying on the north coast, heading west to Chania, or going south to the Libyan Sea.
What is near Heraklion. Knossos, the Archaeological Museum, Matala and the south coast at two hours, Agios Nikolaos at an hour, the Lasithi plateau, and the start of the road to the Samaria Gorge.
Car hire. Available at the port and far cheaper than in Santorini. Crete genuinely needs a car in a way Santorini does not.
The onward bus. KTEL Crete runs frequent coaches from Heraklion to Chania, Rethymno and Agios Nikolaos from a station near the port. Cheap, comfortable and a realistic alternative to driving.
The planning rule. Do not book accommodation in Chania for the night you take the santorini to crete ferry unless you have allowed for the drive. Two hours after a two-hour crossing after a transfer makes for a long day.
Crossing Times, Boats and Operators
The high-speed catamaran. One hour forty-five to two hours fifteen to Heraklion, air-conditioned, with assigned aircraft-style seating and limited or no open deck. Operated on this route by Seajets and Minoan Lines at various points in the season.
The conventional ferry. Slower, heavier, with open decks, cafeterias and far more space. Service on the direct santorini to crete ferry route is less consistent than on the Cyclades lines, so check the specific date.
The long eastern line. A separate, infrequent route linking Santorini with Anafi and the eastern islands and, on some schedules, eastern Crete. Slow, atmospheric and not a way to get anywhere on a timetable.
Motion. This is an open-water crossing with no islands in between to provide shelter. The catamarans slam in a north wind, and this stretch is noticeably livelier than the run north to Ios and Naxos.
Santorini to crete ferry seating classes. Economy, business and occasionally VIP. On a two-hour santorini to crete ferry economy is fine.
Facilities. A bar and a small shop on the fast boats, a proper cafeteria on the conventional ones. Bring water either way.
Luggage. Free, on racks near the doors, handled by you. There are no porters at either end.
Pets. Carried on most services with restrictions and a separate fee. Confirm with the operator rather than assuming.
Wi-fi. Advertised and unreliable. Download what you want to watch.
Which to take. Whatever sails on your date. Unlike the Mykonos route, the santorini to crete ferry rarely offers a real choice of vessel on a given day, so the decision is usually about time rather than type.
Fares, Tickets and Booking
What a santorini to crete ferry costs. Roughly 55 to 95 euros a person one way on a high-speed catamaran to Heraklion. Conventional services, where they run, are cheaper.
Children and infants. Reduced fares for children, and infants usually free without a seat.
Vehicles. Only on the conventional ferries. Budget roughly the cost of two further passenger fares for a car, and book well ahead in August.
Where to book the santorini to crete ferry. Direct with Seajets or Minoan Lines, or through an aggregator that lists every operator in one search. Aggregators are easier for comparing the limited sailings on this route and charge a small fee.
How far ahead. Four to eight weeks for July and August, and two to four weeks in the shoulder months. The santorini to crete ferry has fewer daily departures than the Mykonos route, so a sold-out boat means a lost day rather than a two-hour wait.
Paper tickets. Some operators still require collection from a port kiosk or an agency in Fira. Check when you book, because finding out at Athinios forty minutes before departure is a genuine problem.
Changes and cancellations. Changeable for a fee up to a cut-off, then non-refundable. Weather cancellations are handled separately and operators will rebook or refund.
Santorini to crete ferry boarding. Thirty to sixty minutes before departure. The fast boats turn around quickly and leave on time.
Seat reservations. Assigned on the catamarans, which means there is no advantage to queueing early other than luggage space.
One-way or return. No meaningful saving on a return. Book the legs separately and keep the flexibility, which on a weather-exposed santorini to crete ferry is worth having.
Timetables and Frequency Through the Year
Schedules are published a few months ahead and revised, so treat this as the pattern and verify your own date.
July and August. The santorini to crete ferry runs one to three sailings a day, usually with a morning departure and sometimes an afternoon one. Full boats and the highest fares of the year.
June and September. One to two a day, lower fares, and a good chance of a calm crossing in September.
May and October. Typically one a day or fewer, with the santorini to crete ferry timetable changing week by week as vessels are added or withdrawn.
April. Sparse and building. Worth checking rather than assuming.
November to March. A thin, weather-dependent service, sometimes only via Piraeus, and not something to build an itinerary around.
The morning santorini to crete ferry. Usually the first and usually the best: the sea is calmer, nothing has run late yet, and you arrive in Heraklion with the day still ahead of you.
The afternoon departure. Convenient for a last morning on Santorini, and the most likely to be affected by the afternoon wind.
Delays. Knock-on rather than original, and more likely later in the day.
What the frequency means in practice. With one or two santorini to crete ferry sailings a day rather than six, a cancellation costs you a day. Build slack in.
Athinios: Leaving Santorini
Where it is. Athinios, on the caldera side about ten kilometres south of Fira, reached down a road of hairpin bends cut into the cliff.
Journey times to the port. Twenty minutes from Fira, twenty-two from Firostefani, twenty-five from Imerovigli, twelve from Megalochori, twenty-five from Kamari or Perissa, thirty-five from Oia. Add half again in August.
What the port is like. A narrow quay, a handful of agencies and cafes, coaches, hire-car desks, and no shade. Chaotic when two or three boats are in at once.
When to arrive. Forty-five minutes to an hour for a high-speed santorini to crete ferry in peak season, thirty otherwise.
By bus. 2.30 euros and twenty-five minutes, with departures timed against the ferry schedule rather than a clock. It fills quickly.
By taxi. There are around thirty taxis on the whole island. Not a plan for a boat with a fixed departure time.
To the santorini to crete ferry by private transfer. Booked, door to quay, priced per vehicle. For anybody with cases or a group this is the sensible answer and it removes the only genuinely stressful hour of the trip.
Luggage. Uneven quay, steep gangways, no trolleys.
Finding the boat. Vessels are identified by name and berth wherever there is room. Ask staff and watch the hull.
Early departures. A morning santorini to crete ferry can mean leaving Fira at half past six, before the buses run. Arrange the vehicle the night before.
Heraklion: Arriving
The port. A large commercial harbour on the edge of the city, about two kilometres from the centre and walkable in twenty-five minutes with light bags.
Taxis at the santorini to crete ferry terminal. Plentiful, unlike Santorini, with a rank at the terminal. Ten minutes and a few euros into town.
Buses. The city service runs from the port area, and the long-distance KTEL station for Chania, Rethymno and Agios Nikolaos is a short walk away.
Car hire. Desks at the port and in the city, at a fraction of Santorini prices. Crete is big and a car transforms it.
The airport. Fifteen minutes east of the port, which makes a santorini to crete ferry into Heraklion and a flight home from Crete a workable combination.
What is in walking distance. The Venetian harbour and the Koules fortress, the Archaeological Museum with the Minoan collection, the market street, and a good number of places to eat.
Knossos. Twenty minutes by city bus from the centre. If you arrive on a morning boat you can see it the same afternoon.
Onward driving times. Rethymno an hour, Chania two to two and a half, Agios Nikolaos an hour, Matala an hour and a half, Elafonissi four.
The contrast with Athinios. Flat, organised, with taxis and trolleys and a road that does not climb a cliff. The santorini to crete ferry is harder at the Santorini end in every respect.
Ferry or Fly
Unusually for a Greek island pair, there is a real choice here, because seasonal direct flights link Santorini with Heraklion in about forty minutes.
The flight. Around forty minutes in the air, seasonal, with a limited number of rotations a week and a small aircraft. Convenient and frequently expensive.
The santorini to crete ferry. One hour forty-five to two hours fifteen on the water, one to three sailings a day in summer, 55 to 95 euros.
Door to door. The flight is not much faster once you add two transfers and the airport margin. Santorini’s airport is fifteen minutes from Fira and Heraklion’s is fifteen from the city, but the check-in, security and baggage add an hour and a half.
Cost. The santorini to crete ferry is usually cheaper, sometimes substantially. Flights on this route price like a short-haul monopoly.
Luggage. The santorini to crete ferry takes whatever you can carry, free. The aircraft has a hold allowance and charges beyond it.
Reliability. The flight is less affected by the meltemi than the fast catamaran, which is the strongest argument for it in July and August.
Comfort. The santorini to crete ferry, clearly. Two hours with a seat, a bar and space beats forty minutes in a small cabin plus two hours of airport.
Via Athens. The fallback, and a bad one: two flights and a connection to cover seventy nautical miles.
Which we would book. The ferry, on a morning departure, unless the flight happens to be cheap or the forecast is bad.
Taking a Car, and Whether You Should
Cars on the santorini to crete ferry. High-speed catamarans do not carry vehicles, which rules out most departures on the route.
Cost. Roughly the price of two extra passenger fares for a small car, more for anything larger.
Booking. Vehicle space sells out well before passenger space in August. Six to eight weeks.
Hire cars. Almost every Santorini rental agreement prohibits taking the vehicle off the island. Assume you cannot.
The better plan. Drop the car in Santorini, cross as a foot passenger, and hire again in Heraklion, where rental is markedly cheaper and the choice is wider.
Do you need a car in Crete. Yes, in a way you do not in Santorini. The island is two hundred and sixty kilometres long, the best beaches and gorges are remote, and the bus network is good on the north coast and thin everywhere else.
Motorbikes and quads. Carried on the conventional boats and rarely worth the trouble for a short trip.
Boarding with a vehicle. You queue on the Athinios quay, which is narrow and busy, and load via the stern ramp. Arrive an hour ahead.
The practical conclusion. For almost every itinerary the santorini to crete ferry is a foot-passenger crossing with a fresh hire car at the other end.
The Wind, and What Happens When It Blows
The meltemi. A dry northerly that blows for two to four days at a stretch from June to September, strongest in July and August.
Why this route feels it. There are no islands between Santorini and Crete, so the crossing is open water with nothing to shelter behind.
What gets cancelled. High-speed craft first, at a lower wind threshold than conventional ferries. A hard meltemi takes out the fast santorini to crete ferry while larger vessels sail.
Santorini to crete ferry cancellation notice. Often the same morning, occasionally the evening before.
What the operator does. Rebooks you onto the next available sailing or refunds. With only one or two departures a day on this route, “the next available sailing” can be tomorrow.
The defence. Do not schedule the crossing on the day you fly home from Crete, and do not make it the last day of the trip. Leave a night of slack.
The other defence. In a windy forecast, look at the flight. It is the one situation where paying more for air travel on this route is obviously correct.
Seasickness. Real on this crossing. Tablets an hour before boarding, a seat amidships, eyes on the horizon.
Winter. Frequent weather cancellations on a service that is already thin.
Insurance. Cover for missed connections is worth more on the santorini to crete ferry than on most Greek routes, because the fallback is a day rather than an hour.
Crossing Day, Hour by Hour
The santorini to crete ferry eats a day if you let it and about five hours if you plan it. This is the morning boat done properly, with the figures we use when arranging it for guests.
The night before. Confirm the sailing on the operator’s site, because the santorini to crete ferry timetable is revised without notice. Collect any paper ticket from an agency in Fira rather than hoping the port kiosk is open. Pack so that one bag is enough for the boat.
06:15, if the boat is at 07:30. Leave the hotel. There are no buses at that hour and around thirty taxis on the island, so this is a booked vehicle or a hire car. From Oia allow an hour; from Fira or Megalochori allow thirty-five minutes including the descent.
06:50. At Athinios. The quay is narrow, badly lit early in the morning and already busy if two boats are loading. Find the vessel by name rather than by berth number.
07:10. Boarding. Luggage goes on racks by the doors and you carry it yourself. Seats on a high-speed santorini to crete ferry are assigned, so there is nothing to gain from queueing.
07:30. Departure. The boat clears the caldera in fifteen minutes with the cliff and the villages above you, which is the best view of Santorini available and the reason to be on deck if there is one.
08:00 to 09:20. Open water. No islands, which is why this crossing feels livelier than the run north. If you are prone to seasickness, this is the hour that matters and the tablets needed taking before boarding.
09:30. Crete appears: the Psiloritis massif first, then the coast, then the cranes of Heraklion port.
09:45. Arrival. Flat quay, taxis at the rank, trolleys, and a car hire desk. Everything the Santorini end of the santorini to crete ferry does not have.
10:15. Car collected or a taxi into the city. Heraklion centre is ten minutes, the airport fifteen, Rethymno an hour, Chania two to two and a half.
11:00. The Archaeological Museum, which holds the Minoan collection and is the best two hours in Crete, or straight on to Knossos twenty minutes out of town.
The afternoon. Entirely yours. Taking the first santorini to crete ferry of the day rather than the last turns a travel day into a half-day of travel and a half-day of Crete, and it costs nothing but an early alarm.
If the boat is cancelled. You will usually know by about seven in the morning. The operator rebooks you, and with one or two sailings a day that may mean tomorrow. This is the argument for not putting the crossing on a day that has to work.
Where the Ferry Puts You: Crete Region by Region
Because the santorini to crete ferry lands at one port in the middle of a very long island, it is worth knowing what each region costs you in driving time from Heraklion before you book a hotel.
Heraklion and the centre. Zero driving. Knossos, the Archaeological Museum, the Venetian harbour, the market, and Arhanes and the wine villages twenty minutes inland. The obvious base for a two or three night stop.
Agios Nikolaos and the east coast. An hour. Elounda, Spinalonga, the Lasithi plateau above it, and a gentler, greener landscape than the centre.
Sitia and the far east. Three hours. Vai’s palm beach, Zakros, and almost no visitors. A long way for a short trip and wonderful for a long one.
Rethymno. An hour west. A Venetian old town that is smaller and quieter than Chania’s, a long sandy beach, and the gateway to the Amari valley and Preveli.
Chania. Two to two and a half hours west, and the reason many people regret not checking where the santorini to crete ferry actually lands. The best old town in Crete, the White Mountains behind it, Balos and Elafonissi a further two hours on.
The Samaria Gorge. Three hours from Heraklion to the Omalos trailhead, which makes it a day trip from Chania or Rethymno rather than from the port.
Matala and the south-central coast. An hour and a half. Caves, a good beach, Phaistos and Gortyna on the way, and the Libyan Sea, which is warmer than the north coast.
Plakias and Preveli. Two hours, on the south coast below Rethymno, with the palm gorge and a string of quiet beaches.
Loutro and Sfakia. Three hours and then a boat, because there is no road. The most remote part of Crete that you can still sleep in comfortably.
Ierapetra and the south-east. Two hours, with Chrissi island offshore and the longest season on the island.
What this means for planning. If you have three nights in Crete, stay within an hour of Heraklion. If you have a week, the santorini to crete ferry is the first leg and the drive west or south is the second. If you intend to be in Chania, consider flying into Chania separately and taking the boat in the other direction.
The car question, again. Every region above except Heraklion itself assumes a vehicle. Hire it at the port, not in Santorini.
One last practical note. Whichever region you choose, check whether your Cretan hotel includes a port transfer before you book a taxi. Many do, and after a santorini to crete ferry crossing and a morning that started at six the difference between a name board at the terminal and a queue in the sun is larger than it sounds. If you are hiring a car, the same logic applies in reverse: collect it at the port rather than in the city, because the walk in with luggage is twenty-five minutes and the bus is not designed for suitcases.
And one about the return. If you are coming back the other way later in the trip, book that leg at the same time. Northbound sailings out of Heraklion are the same one to three a day, they sell out in the same weeks, and arriving at Athinios at nine in the evening without a vehicle waiting is the single most common way a good trip ends badly on this island.
Which Direction, and How Long on Each Island
Most people on this crossing are combining the two, and the order makes more difference than the boat does.
Santorini first. The usual santorini to crete ferry direction and the better choice. Santorini is a three to five day island and Crete is a one to three week one, so you do the short intense part while you are fresh and then spread out.
Crete first. Works if you are flying into Heraklion or Chania and want the spectacular finish. The santorini to crete ferry runs in both directions at similar times and prices.
Three nights and seven. The best split for ten days. Santorini’s villages, a boat and Akrotiri, then Crete’s north coast, a gorge and the south.
Four and four. Comfortable for eight nights, with Crete limited to one region rather than the whole island.
Two and two. Too tight. A santorini to crete ferry day plus two transfers eats most of twenty-four hours.
Two weeks. Four Santorini, ten Crete, which is roughly the proportion the two islands deserve.
Flights. Into Santorini and home from Heraklion or Chania, which saves a crossing and is usually priced the same as a return.
Adding Ios or Naxos. Both are north of Santorini, so they do not combine naturally with a southbound santorini to crete ferry. Do them before Santorini instead.
Day trips. A day trip to Crete is technically possible and pointless: four hours of boat for a few hours in Heraklion. Knossos and the museum deserve better.
The one genuinely good short version. Two nights in Heraklion off a morning boat, with Knossos and the Archaeological Museum on the first afternoon and a drive to the south coast on the second day.
Santorini and Crete: What Changes
The two islands have almost nothing in common beyond the language, which is the reason the pairing works so well.
Size. Santorini is 76 square kilometres. Crete is 8,300. You can drive across Santorini in forty minutes and not across Crete in a day.
Landscape. A flooded volcano against mountains to two and a half thousand metres, gorges, plateaus, forests and four hundred kilometres of coast.
Beaches. Worth the santorini to crete ferry on its own: Crete, decisively, and not close. Elafonissi, Balos, Preveli, Vai and a hundred others, against black volcanic sand on one Santorini coast and no swimming on the other.
Spectacle. Santorini. Nothing in Crete looks like the caldera.
Price. After the santorini to crete ferry, Crete is a third to a half cheaper for rooms, food and car hire. This is frequently the reason people take the santorini to crete ferry in the first place.
Archaeology. Both are exceptional. Akrotiri against Knossos, Phaistos, Malia and the Heraklion museum.
Food. Crete has the stronger cuisine and the better produce. Santorini has assyrtiko and its own tomatoes, capers and fava.
Walking. Crete, by a distance: Samaria, Imbros, the E4 and the White Mountains. Santorini has one excellent rim path.
Crowds. Santorini in a small space; Crete has room to absorb them.
Season. Crete’s south coast runs longer at both ends and much of Crete functions year-round. Most of Santorini closes.
Which to give more days to. Crete, always. The santorini to crete ferry is the short half of the trip leading to the long half.
Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming there is a ferry to Chania. There is not. You land at Heraklion and drive two hours.
Booking the crossing on your flight-home day. With one or two sailings a day and a wind that cancels the fast boats, this is the most expensive mistake available.
Leaving the santorini to crete ferry until the last week. Fewer departures than the Cyclades routes means sold-out boats, and a sold-out boat costs a day.
Planning to take a hire car across. Almost every Santorini rental agreement forbids it, and the fast boats carry no vehicles at all.
Not booking the transfer to Athinios. Thirty taxis, a hairpin road, and a boat that leaves on time.
Arriving at the port twenty minutes before departure in August. Boarding closes early and the quay is crowded.
Ignoring the paper ticket question. Some operators still require collection. Check at booking.
Giving Crete two nights. It is the largest island in Greece and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean. Two nights sees Heraklion and nothing else.
Expecting the Mykonos level of service. The santorini to crete ferry is a quieter route with fewer boats, and the planning has to be tighter because of it.
Skipping the morning departure to sleep in. The morning boat is calmer, more reliable and leaves you a usable day in Crete.
Santorini to Crete Ferry: Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the santorini to crete ferry? About 1 hour 45 to 2 hours 15 on a high-speed catamaran to Heraklion. Conventional and indirect services take four hours or more.
How much does it cost? Roughly 55 to 95 euros a person one way on the fast boats, and less on the slower services.
Which port does it arrive at? Heraklion, on Crete’s north coast, about two kilometres from the city centre.
Is there a ferry to Chania? No. Land at Heraklion and drive two to two and a half hours west, or take the KTEL coach.
How often does it run? One to three sailings a day in July and August, one to two in the shoulder months, and a thin weather-dependent service in winter.
Which companies operate it? Seajets and Minoan Lines carry most of the traffic, with availability shifting between seasons.
Where does it leave from on Santorini? Athinios, twenty minutes south of Fira down a hairpin road.
Can I take a car? Only on conventional ferries, and almost no Santorini hire agreement permits taking the vehicle off the island.
Will I get seasick? Possibly. There are no islands in between, so this is an open-water crossing and the fast boats move in a north wind.
Does the santorini to crete ferry get cancelled? The fast boats are cancelled by the meltemi several times each summer, and with so few departures that can cost a day.
Is it better to fly? There are seasonal direct flights of about forty minutes. Similar door to door, usually more expensive, and more reliable in wind.
How far ahead should I book? Four to eight weeks for July and August, two to four weeks in the shoulder months.
Which island should I do first? Santorini, then Crete, and give Crete at least twice as many nights.
Is a day trip worth it? No. Four hours of boat for a few hours in Heraklion.
We Handle the Santorini End
We are a local operator on Santorini with our own vehicles and our own drivers, and Athinios is the one place on this island where improvising reliably goes wrong: a single-lane hairpin road, a narrow quay, and a boat that does not wait.
Tell us your sailing time and where you are staying and we will have you there with margin, including the half past six starts for a morning departure. We do the same in reverse when you arrive, including the late boats.
Prices are per vehicle rather than per person, hotel pickup anywhere on the island is included, we guide in twelve languages, and an 80 EUR deposit confirms a date.
See the personalised tour, the private transfers, or contact us.
Every Village and Site on the Island
Any of these can be built into a private day. Each has its own page with what to see and how long to allow.
Caldera villages: Fira · Firostefani · Imerovigli · Oia · Finikia · Baxedes
Inland villages: Pyrgos · Megalochori · Emporio · Mesaria · Karterados · Vothonas · Vourvoulos · Exo Gonia · Mesa Gonia · Pigadia
Beaches: Perissa · Perivolos · Kamari · Vlychada · Monolithos · Red Beach · White Beach · Agios Georgios · Agia Paraskevi
Sites and landmarks: Akrotiri · Ancient Thira · Akrotiri Lighthouse · Nea Kameni · Palia Kameni · Thirasia · Athinios Port
All our tours: All Santorini tours · Full day tour · Sightseeing tour · Personalised tour · North part tour · Horse riding · South part tour · Sunset tour · Shore excursion · Caldera tour · Food experience · Wine tour · Historical tour · Small group tour
Planning and services: Famous sights tour · Private transfers · Transfers to Oia and Finikia · Transfers to other villages · Villages of Santorini · History of Santorini · Tours near you · Languages we guide in · Food and fun tours · Gay friendly tours · Our tour buses · Daily tours · Day tours · FAQ · Gallery · Tour photo gallery · About us · Contact · Blog
