There are 7 ways to get from Crete to Athens by plane, car ferry, helicopter, bus, busferry, or ferry
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly from Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis”
best- Fly from Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis” (HER) to Athens International Airport (ATH)plane HER - ATH
3h 2m€45–120Car ferry, helicopter
- Take the carferry from Heraklion Port to Thira Santorini Portcarferry
- Take the helicopter from Santorini Heliport to Mykonos Heliporthelicopter
- Take the helicopter from Mykonos Heliport to Athens Heliporthelicopter
6h 40m€697–1,100Car ferry
- Take the carferry from Heraklion Port to Port of Piraeuscarferry
9h 40m€45–170Bus, bus and ferry
- Take the bus from Heraklion to Chaniabus
- Take the busferry from Chania to Port of Piraeusbusferry
12h 54mFly from Chania International Airport
- Fly from Chania International Airport (CHQ) to Athens International Airport (ATH)plane CHQ - ATH
3h 25m€77–218Fly from Sitia Airport
- Fly from Sitia Airport (JSH) to Athens International Airport (ATH)plane JSH - ATH
2h 20m€52–271Ferry
- Take the ferry from Heraklion to Port of Piraeusferry Hsw
9h 40m€45–180
Crete to Athens by car ferry
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Crete to Athens is to car ferry which costs €45 - €170 and takes 9h 40m.
The fastest way to get from Crete to Athens is to fly which takes 2h 20m and costs €50 - €280.
No, there is no direct bus from Crete to Athens. However, there are services departing from Heraklion and arriving at ΣΤ. Υπεραστικων Λεωφορειων via Chania and Στ.Μετρο Πειραιασ. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 12h 54m.
Yes, there is a direct ferry departing from Heraklion Port and arriving at Port of Piraeus. Services depart once daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 9h 40m.
The distance between Crete and Athens is 344 km.
Book your Crete to Athens ferry tickets online with Omio.
The best way to get from Crete to Athens without a car is to car ferry and helicopter which takes 6h 40m and costs €650 - €1100.
It takes approximately 3h 2m to get from Crete to Athens, including transfers.
Crete to Athens bus services, operated by KTEL Chanion-Rethymnou S.A, depart from Heraklion station.
Crete to Athens bus services, operated by KTEL Chanion-Rethymnou S.A, arrive at Chania station.
What companies run services between Crete, Greece and Athens, Greece?
Sky Express and Aegean Airlines fly from Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis” (HER) to Athens International Airport (ATH) hourly. Alternatively, ANEK Lines operates a car ferry from Heraklion Port to Port of Piraeus once daily. Tickets cost €45–170 and the journey takes 9h 40m.
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis” to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 51 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €35–100
Flights from Chania International Airport to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €50–95
Flights from Sitia Airport to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €30–250
- Website
- skyexpress.gr
Flights from Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis” to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 51 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €35–110
Flights from Chania International Airport to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 57 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €45–120
- Website
- ryanair.com
Flights from Chania International Airport to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €30–130
- Website
- olympicair.com
Flights from Sitia Airport to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €30–250
- Phone
- +302821093052
- info@e-ktel.gr
- Website
- KTEL Chanion-Rethymnou S.A
Bus from Heraklion to Chania
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €18
- Website
- KTEL Chanion-Rethymnou S.A
Busferry from Chania to Port of Piraeus
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 20m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Website
- KTEL Chanion-Rethymnou S.A
- Phone
- +30 210 710 7 710
- info@seajets.gr
- Website
- Seajets
Car ferry from Heraklion Port to Thira Santorini Port
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- €45–110
- Website
- Seajets
- Phone
- +30 210 89 19 800
- anek@anek.gr
- Website
- ANEK Lines
Car ferry from Heraklion Port to Port of Piraeus
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €45–170
- Website
- ANEK Lines
- Economy
- €45–65
- Airplane-type seats
- €45–70
- 2 beds - outside cabin
- €120–170
- Phone
- +30 210 89 19 800
- hellenicseaways@hellenicseaways.gr
- Website
- Hellenic Seaways
Ferry from Heraklion to Port of Piraeus
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €50–75
- Website
- Hellenic Seaways
- Airplane Type Seats
- €50–75
- Phone
- +30 2810 399800
- info@minoan.gr
- Website
- Minoan Lines
Ferry from Heraklion to Port of Piraeus
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €45–80
- Website
- Minoan Lines
- Phone
- +30 21 0891 9800
- bluestarferries@bluestarferries.com
- Website
- Blue Star Ferries
Ferry from Heraklion to Port of Piraeus
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 5m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- €75–180
- Website
- Blue Star Ferries
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