July 6, 2026
From its ports Crete connects by ferry to mainland Greece and a scatter of other islands. Here is where you can go by ferry from Crete in 2026, which port to use, and how to plan the trip.
Crete may be the largest Greek island, but it is far from isolated. A network of ferries links its ports to mainland Greece and to a wide scatter of other islands, from nearby Santorini to the far-flung Dodecanese. If you want to add a second destination to a Crete holiday, the ferry is often the most scenic and affordable way to do it.
The key is knowing which port serves which route, because Crete's harbours face in different directions and connect to different island groups. Here is where you can go by ferry from Crete in 2026.
The busiest routes are the overnight ferries to Piraeus, the port of Athens. They run daily year-round from Heraklion and from Souda, the port of Chania, taking roughly eight to nine hours with cabins available.
In summer, fast catamarans link Heraklion with Santorini in under two hours, and continue on to Ios, Naxos, Paros and Mykonos. This is the most popular island add-on and the easiest day-trip or short-stay hop from Crete.
From the eastern ports of Sitia and Agios Nikolaos, a slower line threads east through Kasos and Karpathos to Rhodes and Halki. These are longer, less frequent crossings that suit unhurried travellers heading for the Dodecanese.
From Kissamos in the far west, a seasonal ferry crosses to the islands of Antikythira and Kythira and on to Gythio in the Peloponnese. It is the quiet back door out of Crete, useful for a road trip through southern mainland Greece.
Small ferries run from the south-coast harbours of Sfakia and Paleochora to Gavdos, the southernmost point of Europe. Sailings are weather-dependent and less frequent, so always leave a buffer day when visiting.
Book ahead for July and August, when both cabins and high-speed seats sell out early. Overnight ferries save a night's accommodation, while fast catamarans are quicker but pricier and more prone to cancellation in strong wind. Always check the timetable close to your date, as summer and winter schedules differ sharply.
Ferries suit travellers who want to combine Crete with a second island or the mainland without flying. For a quick taste of another island, the high-speed hop to Santorini is hard to beat; for a bigger adventure, the eastern line to the Dodecanese rewards those with time to spare.
In July and August, yes, especially for cabins and high-speed seats, which sell out early. Off-season you can often buy closer to the date, but always check the current timetable, as schedules change between summer and winter.
The eastern ports of Sitia and Agios Nikolaos, from where a slower line threads through Kasos and Karpathos to Rhodes and Halki. These crossings are longer and less frequent than the Cyclades routes.
Overnight ferries run daily year-round from Heraklion and from Souda, the port of Chania, to Piraeus, the port of Athens. The crossing takes about eight to nine hours, with cabins available.
Yes. In summer, fast catamarans link Heraklion with Santorini in under two hours, continuing on to other Cyclades such as Ios, Naxos, Paros and Mykonos.
Sophia M. – London, UK • July 17, 2026
This guide is incredibly helpful for planning connections, which is often the trickiest part of visiting the islands! I was particularly interested to see the details on the routes connecting to the mainland, as that was vague in my previous research. We are hoping to rent a car and make a few trips to the nearest island to do a quick detour, so knowing the different departure ports really narrows down our planning. Thanks for putting this together!
Emma R. – Berlin, Germany • July 13, 2026
This guide is so helpful for planning! I was getting overwhelmed trying to figure out which ports connect to which islands, and seeing this breakdown makes it much easier. I'm hoping to travel to the Cyclades after spending some time in Crete, so the mainland connection details are especially useful for my itinerary.
Lucas T. – Paris, France • July 10, 2026
This is incredibly helpful for planning, especially with the 2026 dates! I was particularly confused about the optimal port for reaching the Cyclades from Crete—I've spent hours researching which port minimizes layovers. I plan on taking the ferry to Naxos next spring and this breakdown really clarifies the connections I need to make.
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A local guide to the best places to reach by boat from Kolymbari in western Crete — from the Diktynna sanctuary at Menies Beach to Balos Lagoon, Gramvousa and the wild coves of the Rodopou peninsula.
A practical 2026 guide to Crete weather by season, with sea conditions, wind patterns, packing advice and the best months for beaches and boat trips.
A practical guide to reaching Crete by ferry in 2026 — the main routes from Athens and the islands, which Cretan port to arrive at, and how to book cabins, seats and vehicles.
A local guide to the best places to reach by boat from Kolymbari in western Crete — from the Diktynna sanctuary at Menies Beach to Balos Lagoon, Gramvousa and the wild coves of the Rodopou peninsula.
A practical 2026 guide to Crete weather by season, with sea conditions, wind patterns, packing advice and the best months for beaches and boat trips.