Athens by air or road, ferry to Crete; Links to ferries from Italy to Crete, Greece

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ATHENS BY AIR - FERRY TO CRETE

Athens & Ferry

GETTING TO CRETE

ATHENS BY ROAD + FERRY

Flights

Anek Lines: Chania [Souda] and Heraklion daily.
Rethimnon three times per week.

Minoan Lines: Heraklion daily.

Hellenic Seaways: to Chania daily.

Ferry - Athens [Piraeus] / Crete

ALTERNATIVES

Road to Italy

The most popular ferry crossing from the UK to France is Dover to Calais. It is probably the quickest route overall as most other crossings are considerably longer.

The drive from northern Europe to an Italian port can be achieved quickly if driving can be shared but the journey will be more relaxed with an overnight stop.

The main Italian ports for travel to Greece are Ancona, Brindisi, Bari and Venice to Patra or Igoumenitsa. Ancona/Patra is the most popular route, combining easy access in Italy with a reasonable length (19 hours) voyage to Patra.

To see something of mainland Greece take the shorter sea crossing to Igoumenitsa with a longer drive to Athens.

Book ALL your Italian and Greek ferry crossings at the same time, with the same company.

Big discounts are given for doing so.

Effectively, this means booking with Anek or
Minoan/Hellenic.

Tip

The Michelin web site makes planning easy with free, detailed route maps and directions.

Choose from Michelin recommended, shortest or quickest route either using or avoiding M-ways or plan your own way.

Whichever you do there's a mass of useful information including toll charges, estimated fuel cost, places to see or stay, roadworks etc.

See all UK ferry routes at

The alternatives for travelling from the airport to the ferry port are:

By Express bus - the stop for Route X 96 to Piraeus (for map click here) is outside the arrivals exit door, even closer than the metro station. The fare to Karaiskaki Square (outside dock gate 8) is €3.20 and includes transfer to any other Athens public transport.

By Metro - the station is in the centre of the airport complex, close to the arrivals area. Route and ticket information is all on the Metro web site. The Metro is excellent; modern quiet and clean with clear route maps and on board announcements [in Greek and English] for all stops and interchange stations. From the airport to central Athens takes about 35 minutes and to Piraeus about 50 minutes.

By taxi - the rank is by Exit 3 of the arrivals area.

For flights to Athens see the Getting to Crete > Scheduled page.

Tip

Using the Michelin site

Read or download in PDF format

All Greek ferry routes
in the Mediterranean

Patra to Athens/Piraeus takes two to three hours depending on traffic conditions. Much of the route is modern, good standard motorway.

The final leg of the journey is from Piraeus to Chania, Rethimnon or Heraklion (see "Ferry - Athens [Piraeus] / Crete" above.

Ferry - Italy / Greece

Could you be stranded by a breakdown?

Why risk it?

International rescue at your command.

Make your way to Athens by:

●

Air.

●	Road to an Italian port, ferry to the Greek mainland and driving to Athens.

●	Road through France, Belgium, Germany, Austria and the Balkans to Athens.

Complete the journey to Crete by ferry from Piraeus [Athens' port].

Hellenic Seaways services to Heraklion begin on 30 March and to Hania on 31 March.

Click logos to visit company sites.

Through the Balkans

Driving to Greece through the Balkans is only for the more intrepid traveller. On the shortest routes many roads are quite poor so progress is slow and alternative routes with somewhat better roads increase the distance.

A typical route recommended by Michelin is about 3,150 Km [1,958 mls.] from Calais and is estimated to take about 40 hours driving time. There could also be a political situation to be taken into account.