Crete to Santorini Ferry Guide

Greece › Ferries › Crete to Santorini
Updated: January 8, 2026 • By Santorini Dave

See Also

• Where to Stay in Crete
• Heraklio Ferry Port Guide
• Where To Stay in Santorini
• Santorini Ferry Port Guide

The view of the caldera on a Crete to Santorini boat tour. If you only need a one-way ferry ticket then book with FerryHopper.com.

Crete to Santorini Ferry – My Tips

My boys boarding the ferry in Heraklio on our way to Santorini.

• The Golden Rule: Book your ferry tickets in advance. While sell-outs are rare in the shoulder season, the high-speed ferries in July and August frequently sell out days in advance. I recommend booking 1 to 2 months ahead for peace of mind. Use FerryHopper.com to check schedules and buy tickets.

The Main Route (Heraklio to Santorini)

• This is the primary connection. Ferries run daily from mid-April to late October.
• Frequency: In high season (June–Sept), there are 3 to 4 departures per morning (usually between 8:00 am and 9:30 am).
• Duration: It takes about 2 hours on a high-speed vessel (Seajets or Minoan Lines).
• Cost: Approx. €110–€125 one-way.

The Rethymno Connection (Tue/Sat Only)

• There is a ferry (usually Seajets) that runs from Rethymno to Santorini twice a week (typically Tuesdays and Saturdays).
• This is convenient if you are staying in Rethymno or Chania, as it saves you the drive to Heraklio.
• Note: There are no ferries from Chania or Agios Nikolaos to Santorini. You must travel to Heraklio or Rethymno to catch the boat.

Day Trips (The Reality)

• Can you do a day trip? Yes, but it is a long day. The ferries leave Crete in the morning (around 8:00 am) and return from Santorini in the late afternoon (around 4:00 pm or 5:00 pm). This gives you about 6 hours on Santorini.
• Best Tour Option: If you want to do a day trip without the logistical stress, book the Santorini Full-Day Tour. It handles the transfers to the port, the ferry tickets, and the bus transport on Santorini (which is crucial because taxis are scarce).
• Important: There are no day trips from Santorini to Crete. The schedules do not allow it (ferries leave Santorini for Crete in the afternoon).

Important Warnings

• Seasickness Warning: The stretch of sea between Crete and Santorini can get rough, especially during the “Meltemi” winds in July and August. The high-speed catamarans can be bumpy. If you are prone to motion sickness, take medication 30 minutes before boarding.

Flights vs. Ferries

• Some years, there are flights between Crete (Heraklio) and Santorini, but they are infrequent and expensive. They take 40 minutes but require airport security time. Honestly, the ferry is almost always easier and faster door-to-door.

Island Hopping Strategy

• Most ferries from Crete to Santorini continue north to Paros, Naxos, Ios, and Mykonos. This makes Crete the perfect starting point for a “South to North” Cyclades island-hopping itinerary.

Day Tours from Crete to Santorini

View of the Santorini caldera on the day-trip tour from Crete – which will usually visit either Santo Wines or Venetsanos Winery (both with great caldera views).

How To Buy Tickets and Use E-Tickets?

The process is now fully digital and simple. The days of waiting in lines to buy tickets are over.

• Where to buy: I only use Ferryhopper.com. It connects to all the ferry databases, allows you to compare fast vs. slow boats easily, and handles E-Tickets seamlessly.
• The E-Ticket Process: After you book, you will receive a confirmation email. For most companies (like Blue Star and SeaJets), you complete a quick Online Check-in (usually available 48 hours before departure) to generate your actual Boarding Pass.
• Boarding: 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: Business or VIP are worth the extra cost (nicer seats in a more relaxed setting).

Ferry Schedule: Crete to Santorini

The Heraklio ferry port has multiple ferries to Santorini from late March to early November.

Example Crete to Santorini Ferry Schedule

Crete-Santorini ferry schedules, times, and prices on ferryhopper.com.

I recommend Business Class or VIP seating for the added room and more-relaxed environment.

Common Ferries from Crete to Santorini

The Seajets Power Jet from Crete to Santorini.

The Seajets Naxos Jet from Crete to Santorini.

Flights from Crete to Santorini

Sky Express has regular flights from Heraklio, Crete to Santorini.

Some years Sky Express has direct flights from Heraklio to Santorini. As of this update, I am not seeing any direct flights for 2026. This could change but probably won’t. Flying through Athens is the only other option and that only is worth if for people who really really don’t want to go on the ferry.