Ferries from Santorini to Crete (and return) [Updated 2024]

/ March 27, 2024

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The Crete to Santorini ferry schedule is available at the bottom of the article.

If you are already tired of the superb sunrises in Santorini or of the volcano views, then you can plan taking a day trip to Crete. The largest of the Greek islands, Crete boasts lovely beaches, incredible architecture and tasty (healthy) cuisine.

One of the romantic ways to go from one island to another is by ferry. Along with the lovely views of the sea and the ports, you also get to save some money on your ticket.

Santorini or Thira?

When you look up the ferries between two islands, you are actually looking for ferries between two ports. And in some cases, the name of the island isn’t the same as the name of the port. Santorini makes no exception, so in case you cannot find the island listed in the schedules and on line booking systems, then look for Thira (Santorini) or the port code ATI.

Crete, Heraklio, Chania or Rethymnon ?

Being the largest of the Greek islands, it only makes sense to find more than one port serving Crete. In fact, Crete is served by four ports:

  • Heraklio (or Heraklion), port code HCR
  • Chania , port code CHC
  • Rethymnon (or Rethymno), port code RET
  • Sitia , port code SIT

How long does it take to get from Santorini to Crete?

The ferry journey between Santorini and Crete (Heraklio) takes 1 h 40 min (on high speed ferry) and up to 4 or 5 hrs on the regular (old-style) ferry.

Is there a high speed ferry between Santorini and Crete?

Yes.

How much does it cost to get from Santorini to Crete by ferry?

The price depends on the route, type of seat you book, type of ferry and company

On the Santorini – Heraklio route, on the high seed ferry operated by Sea Jeats, the price starts at €92.70.
However, on the slow Blue Star ferry, the price starts at €16.

How many ferries per day depart from Santorini to Crete during the low season?

The following ferries are available between Santorini and Crete (Heraklio) during the 2024 low season (Apr – May, Sep – Oct)

Day of the week Hour Dates
Thursday 12:50 AM till 4-Apr, from 11-Apr to 18-Apr, from 25-Apr to 26-Sept
Saturday 12:50 AM till 30-Mar, from 6-Apr to 13-Apr, from 20-Apr to 28-Sept
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday 3:00 PM from 1-May to 14-Oct
Friday 4:00 PM from 5-Apr to 26-Apr
Monday to Thursday, Saturday 4:00 PM from 6-Apr to 1-May
Sunday 4:00 PM from 7-Apr to 28-Apr
Monday, Thursday, Saturday 4:00 PM from 2-May to 14-Oct
Tuesday, Friday, Sunday 4:00 PM from 3-May to 15-Oct
Wednesday 4:00 PM from 8-May to 9-Oct
Tuesday, Friday, Sunday 4:15 PM from 7-May to 11-Oct

The following ferries are available between Santorini and Crete (Sitia) during the 2024 low season (Apr – May, Sep – Oct)

Day of the week Hour Dates
Thursday 12:50 AM till 4-Apr, from 11-Apr to 18-Apr, from 25-Apr to 26-Sept

How many ferries per day depart from Santorini to Crete during the high season?

The following ferries are available between Santorini and Crete (Heraklio) during the 2024 high season (June – August) :

Day of the week Hour Dates
Thursday 12:50 AM from 25-Apr to 26-Sept
Saturday 12:50 AM from 20-Apr to 28-Sept
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday 3:00 PM from 1-May to 14-Oct
Monday, Thursday, Saturday 4:00 PM from 2-May to 14-Oct
Tuesday, Friday, Sunday 4:00 PM from 3-May to 15-Oct
Wednesday 4:00 PM from 8-May to 9-Oct
Tuesday, Friday, Sunday 4:15 PM from 7-May to 11-Oct

The following ferries are available between Santorini and Crete (Sitia) during the 2024 high season (June – August) :

Day of the week Hour Dates
Thursday 12:50 AM from 25-Apr to 26-Sept

The following ferries are available between Santorini and Crete (Rethymnon) during the entire 2024:

Day of the week Hour Dates
Tuesday, Saturday 4:45 PM from 4-May to 15-Oct

Are there any overnight journeys between Santorini and Crete?

Yes. The slow ferry operated by Blue Star Ferries.

Where can I buy tickets from?

125x125 You can buy the tickets online right here at most 2 months prior to departure if the schedule is available. There’s also the possibility to book via a travel agency (in your country or directly in Greece). And of course, you can buy the ticket directly in the port. There’s not much need to book well in advance except if you plan to travel during the weekends in July or August.

Does everyone charge the same prices?

The prices are exactly the same, whether you buy them online, via a travel agent or directly from the ticketing office in the port. If there are any differences, those shouldn’t be significant.

However, when you book online, service fees may apply based on the country you book from. And if you choose to get the tickets deliver via courier, you’ll pay the shipping fee (you can choose to pick them up in the port).

How about the ferries from Crete to Santorini?

During the 2024 high season there are the following ferries connecting Crete (Heraklio) to Santorini:

Day of the week Hour Dates
Monday 1:30 AM from 22-Apr to 1-Jul
Friday 5:15 AM from 26-Apr to 27-Sept
Monday, Thursday, Saturday 7:30 AM from 9-May to 12-Oct
Tuesday, Friday, Sunday 8:00 AM from 5-May to 14-Oct
Wednesday 8:00 AM from 5-May to 9-Oct
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday 8:45 AM from 1-May to 14-Oct
Sunday 11:00 PM from 7-Jul to 22-Sept

During the 2024 high season there are the following ferries connecting Crete (Sitia) to Santorini:

Day of the week Hour Dates
Friday 2:00 AM from 26-Apr to 28-Jun, from5-Jul to 20-Sept

During the 2024 low season there are the following ferries connecting Crete (Heraklio) to Santorini:

Day of the week Hour Dates
Monday 1:30 AM till 1-Apr, from 8-Apr to 15-Apr, from 22-Apr to 1-Jul, on 30-Sept
Friday 5:15 AM till 5-Apr, from 12-Apr to 19-Apr, from 26-Apr to 27-Sept
Monday, Thursday, Saturday 7:30 AM from 9-May to 12-Oct
Friday 8:00 AM from 5-Apr to 26-Apr
Monday to Thursday, Saturday 8:00 AM from 6-Apr to 1-May
Sunday 8:00 AM from 7-Apr to 28-Apr
Tuesday, Friday, Sunday 8:00 AM from 5-May to 14-Oct
Wednesday 8:00 AM from 5-May to 9-Oct
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday 8:45 AM from 1-May to 14-Oct
Sunday 11:00 PM from 7-Jul to 22-Sept

During the 2024 low season there are the following ferries connecting Crete (Sitia) to Santorini:

Day of the week Hour Dates
Friday 2:00 AM till 5-Apr, from 12-Apr to 19-Apr, from 26-Apr to 28-Jun, on 27-Sept, from5-Jul to 20-Sept

During the entire 2024 there are the following ferries connecting Crete (Rethymnon) to Santorini:

Day of the week Hour Dates
Tuesday, Saturday 8:00 AM from 4-May to 15-Oct

Important note:

All ferry companies submit their schedule to the Ministry of Merchant Marine weekly so it is possible to find that the online schedule is not very accurate in some cases. Also, if the schedule hasn’t been made public yet for a route, you won’t be able to find or book a ferry for that route.

Read more about:

>> Ferries in Greece
>> Ferries from Athens: How to deal with the Port of Piraeus
>> Ferries from Athens to Aegina
>> Ferries from Athens to Crete
>> Ferries from Athens to Karpathos
>> Ferries from Athens to Hydra
>> Ferries from Athens to Mykonos
>> Ferries from Rafina to Mykonos
>> Ferries from Athens to Patmos
>> Ferries from Athens to Santorini
>> Ferries from Mykonos to Syros
>> Ferries from Santorini to Mykonos
>> Ferries from Santorini to Naxos
>> Ferries from Alonissos to Skopelos
>> Ferries from Corfu to Patras
>> Ferries from Rhodes to Kos
>>Ferries to and from Santorini
>> Ferries from Athens to Paros
>> Ferries from Mykonos to Crete
>> Ferries from Santorini to Karpathos
>>Ferries from Thessaloniki to Lesvos
>> Ferries to and from Mykonos
>> Ferries from Mykonos to Paros (and return)
>> Ferries from Crete to Gavdos
>> Ferries from Santorini to Rhodes
>> Ferries from Santorini to Paros
>> Ferries from Mykonos to Ios
>> Ferries from Mykonos to Tinos
>> Ferries from Thessaloniki to Rhodes
>> Ferries from Athens to Naxos
>> Ferries from Athens to Thessaloniki
>> Ferries from Santorini to Syros
>> Ferries from Kavala to Thassos
>> Ferries from Alonissos to Skiathos
>> Ferries from Athens to Lesvos (Lesbos)
>> Ferries from Thessaloniki to Kos
>> Ferries from Thessaloniki to Chios

Note: *The article was first published in 2009; latest schedule update was made as of April 2023.
This article includes links that may qualify as affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission.

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16 thoughts on “Ferries from Santorini to Crete (and return) [Updated 2024]”

  2. Excellent post! Been looking all over for something like this, however these ferries do not seem to exist when I try and search for tickets on any of the greek ferry websites. I’m hoping that is just because they have not yet posted them into the system, or is there a certain place anyone recommends for buying ferry tickets online that i have managed to miss? thanks!

    Reply

  4. Adam: I have updated the schedule BUT they don’t always price out on the ferry booking tickets. You can only look for ferries about 2 months in advance on those booking sites. Let me know the dates you plan to travel and I can look them up for you.

    Reply

  5. Will be going from santorini to crete sometime between the 5th and 10th of April. It really depends on when the ferries are available, because I would rather not have to go back through athens to get to crete!

    Reply

  6. Excellent information, could have saved hours if I had found you earlier. Is there a ferry from Santorini to Crete at the end of September then onto Bodrum mid October?

    Reply

    • Hi Christine,

      Santorini to Crete , there are 4 schedules approved and one pending.
      Mon, Wed-Fri , Sun 5:50 p.m., until Sept 27
      Sun 5:20 p.m., Sept 29
      Mon 5:30 p.m., Sept 30
      Mon, Tue, Thu-Sun 5:55 p.m., until Sept 22 (this one is supposed to run until Oct 6 when approved)

      Ferries to Bodrum…I know there’s a direct one from Rhodes to Bodrum and one from Kos to Bodrum. So you have to get from Crete to either one of those two islands. Here is a list of islands connected to Crete https://www.greecelogue.com/ferries-to-and-from-crete.html and Rhodes is one of them. The ferry schedule is not available yet.

      Reply

  7. Hi Christine,
    Thanks for updating the schedules! but im not sure if i quite got it 🙂 so just to make sure would you be so kind to help me?. We want to go from Santorini to Crete on the 14th May (our flight to Germany is leaving on the 15th, so need to be there one day prior our departure) but according to the schedules you post it there is just ferries leaving only Wed.? at 5:55pm (from 6 may -20 June), is tht correct? if so, do you know another way to go to Crete??? . Thank you so much
    Karla

    Reply

    • Karla,
      I just ran a search for May 14th (Tue) and there is a ferry at 5:55 p.m. which arrives at 7:30 p.m. in Heraklio. It’s run by HELLENIC SEAWAYS.
      I think it’s best to just click the banner at the top of the article and run a search on the booking site directly. That’s what I’ve just done and seems to have given me a good result.
      And the schedule says Daily EXCEPT on Wed. 🙂 “Daily except on Wed, 5:55 pm., Apr 26-May 4, May 6- Jun 20”; so it runs every day (May 14 is a Tue) except on Wed (May 15).

      Reply

  8. Cristina thank you so much!! you are an angel!!! i read it again and yeah it goes daily so it would be prefcet for us 🙂 and just to make sure this ferry change it schedule we would go even a day before on the 13th. (just in case).
    Thanks for your help
    Have a nice Day!! 🙂
    Karla

    Reply

  9. Hi dear Chrisina , now I think I met a real trouble, I have a fight today in Chania (Crete) airpoort at 21:20 pm, but my boat arrives HERAKLIO (HCR)port at 19:30 pm , is that possible for me to catch my fight? which way can I choose?
    Cause I really don’t know much about Crete island….

    thank you so much, I think I need some information

    Reply

  10. Hi Cristina, we are looking for the fastest way from Santorini to Crete. We are staying in Chania.
    Does the high speed ferry go to Rethymnon? Also, is Minoan Air still around? Thank you, Vanda

    Reply

    • Hi, you will need to ask the ferry company directly. Or check your inter-rail pass to see what ferry companies are accepted (since more than one company runs the route). Then click the banner above , run the search, and check if that company runs on the day you need to 😉

      Reply

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