How to get from Santorini to Crete by ferry

The ferry from Santorini to Crete leaves 1 or 2 times a day, and the journey can take 1 hour and 45 minutes on the quicker Santorini Crete ferries. This travel guide on how to get from Santorini to Crete in Greece gives you all the information you need to know.

The best way to get from Santorini to Crete by ferry

Traveling from Santorini to Crete by ferry

Crete is located to the south of the Greek mainland, and is the largest island in Greece. Santorini lays just to the north of Crete.

Even though Santorini has an airport, flying from between Santorini and Crete directly is not possible. This means that the only way to get to Crete from Santorini is by ferry.

The good news though, is that the two Greek islands are reasonably close together, and there are plenty of Santorini to Crete ferry services to choose from.

The good news though, is that the two Greek islands are reasonably close together, and there are 1 or 2 daily Santorini to Crete ferry services to choose from in the high season.

Santorini to Crete ferry time

The most frequent Santorini ferry to Crete is the SeaJets Powerjet vessel which leaves every day of the week. This regular crossing leaves the ferry port at Santorini at 16:00 and arrives at Heraklion port in Crete at 17:45.

As it's a high speed ferry, ticket prices for traveling between the two islands are quite pricey at nearly 80 Euros for passengers.

In addition to these fast ferries, Minoan Lines also offer a crossing. These are not daily ferries though, and they make the Santorini to Heraklion trip just 3 times a week. It might be the cheapest way to get from Santorini to Crete however.

When it comes to booking Santorini Crete ferry tickets online, the simplest place to look at schedules for Greek ferries is at the Ferryhopper website.

Other Ferries to Crete from Santorini

During the high season in Greece (normally July, August and September), additional ferry schedules may be added on this route according to anticipated demand.

These ferry connections to Crete from Santorini might be operated by SeaJets, Golden Star Ferries, Minoan Lines, and Prevelis. They might be a mix of high speed and conventional ferry trips.

In order to book online and check the latest ferry timetables, I recommend Ferryhopper.

The ticket prices are more or less the same, ranging between 65 and 68 Euro per passenger. Keep in mind that peak season travel may be more expensive than the shoulder seasons.

Some tips and advice so you can plan the perfect trip to visit Knossos in Crete

Crete Island Travel Tips

A few travel tips for visiting the Greek island of Crete:

  • Ferries leave from Athinios port, a few kilometres from Fira in Santorini. The ferries then arrive at the port in Heraklion in Crete.

  • For places to stay in Crete, I suggest using Booking. They have a great selection of where to stay in Crete and there are plenty of places to stay in Heraklion before you move on to other parts of the island of Crete. 


  • Ferryhopper is perhaps the easiest site to use when it comes to booking Ferry tickets online. Although I think it's better to book your Santorini to Crete ferry tickets in advance, especially during the busiest time of summer.



Santorini to Crete Ferry FAQ

Readers sometimes ask these question about traveling to Crete from Santorini:

How do you get to Crete from Santorini?

The only way to make a journey from Santorini to Crete is by taking a ferry. There are between 3 and 4 ferries per day sailing to Crete from Santorini.

Is there an airport in Crete?

Crete has three airports, which are in Heraklion, Chania, and Sitia.

How long is the ferry ride from Santorini to Crete?

The ferries to Crete island from Santorini take between 1 hour and 50 minutes and 6 hours and 10 minutes. Ferry operators on the Santorini Crete route may include SeaJets, Golden Star Ferries, Minoan Lines, and Prevelis.

How can I buy tickets for the ferry to Crete?

I find that the Ferryhopper website is the best place to book ferry tickets online. Although I think it's better to book your Santorini to Crete ferry tickets in advance, you might also prefer to use a travel agency in Greece when you have arrived.

Santorini to Crete Ferry Guide


Dave Briggs visiting an island in GreeceDave Briggs
Dave is a travel writer currently based in Greece In addition to creating this travel guide to ferries from Santorini to Crete, he's also written hundreds more travel guides to Greek destinations. Follow Dave on social media for travel inspiration from Greece and beyond:

Leave a Comment