Greece › Ferries › Crete to Athens
Updated: January 7, 2026 • By Santorini Dave
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The Heraklio ferry port is close to several good Heraklio hotels and walking distance from downtown. You can purchase tickets at the port though I recommend passengers buy ferry tickets online.
Souda Bay is the ferry port for Chania. It’s 10-20 minutes by taxi or bus from Old Town Chania.
Ferries from Crete arrive at the Piraeus ferry port, 30-minutes by taxi or train from central Athens.
Crete to Athens – Ferry Essentials
- Ferryhopper.com is the best way to buy ferry tickets for Athens to Crete ferries. It’s also good for researching ferry timetables, costs, and schedules.
- All tickets booked at Ferryhopper are e-tickets which means you do not have to pick up a paper ticket before boarding.
- Ferries will leave on time from their first departure port in the morning (usually large ports like Piraeus, Heraklio, and Chania) but will be late arriving and departing from all onward ports (e.g. Naxos). Usually getting later as the day progresses.
- Most areas in Greece, including Athens and Crete, have public transportation strikes throughout the year. These strikes can affect all forms of transit, including, buses, trains, ferries, flights, and taxis. During strikes no buses, no ferries, and only a handful of trains and flights will depart on time (or at all); taxis tend to be the least affected mode of transport. Though strikes can occur any time, there is always a huge strike on May 1. Avoid booking any ferries, flights, or trains that day.
How do I buy tickets and use E-Tickets?
The process is now fully digital and simple. The days of waiting in lines at dusty port kiosks are over.
- Where to buy: I always use Ferryhopper.com. It connects to all the ferry databases, allows you to compare fast vs. slow boats easily, and handles the E-Ticket process seamlessly for you.
- The E-Ticket Process: After you book, you will receive a confirmation email. For most companies (like Blue Star), you complete a quick Online Check-in (usually available 48 hours before departure) to generate your actual Boarding Pass.
- Boarding: You simply download the Boarding Pass (which is a QR Code) to your phone. When you walk up to the ferry ramp, a crew member scans your phone screen. That is it. You do not need to print anything.
- Best seats: I recommend cabin for Crete to Athens overnight ferries.
The “Blue Horizon” Blue Star ferry in Heraklio bound for Athens.
The “Blue Galaxy” Blue Star ferry in Chania bound for Athens.
Crete to Athens Ferry Schedule
There are ferries from Heraklio and Chania to Athens year-round, with frequency increasing in the summer months. Ferries depart from the ports at Heraklio (near downtown) and Chania (Souda Port, 7 km east of central Chania) and arrive in Athens at the Piraeus Port. The ride duration ranges from 8 to 9.5 hours, with most routes operating overnight. It is a good idea to book a cabin on an overnight ferry – the large boats that service this route are huge and stable and the cabin berths are comfortable for sleeping. Ferry tickets from Crete to Athens cost €35 to €130, depending on the ferry line and class of ticket.
Example Crete to Athens Ferry Schedule
Crete-Athens ferry schedule and prices on ferryhopper.com. Ferries depart from Chania and Heraklio.
I recommend Business or First Class seats for the longish ride from Crete to Athens. For a bit more money you get added room and a quieter, more relaxed environment.
Sleeping cabins are available in two and four-bed layouts. This is the four-person sleeping cabin. It has a small private bathroom and shower.
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