Santorini to Crete Ferry (and Back): Times, Prices & Ports

The Santorini to Crete ferry runs all year between Athinios, Santorini's ferry port, and Heraklion on Crete's north coast, with a summer-only fast boat to Rethymno as well. The crossing takes from about an hour and a half on a high-speed catamaran to just under four hours on a conventional ship. We run a small cave hotel in Fira, about 8 km north of Athinios, so this guide covers the route in both directions, plus the part ferry sites skip: what to do when you step off. For the rest of your planning, start with our Santorini travel guide.

Prices and timetables below were checked in October 2026. They move with the season and the sailing, so confirm on the booking page before you pay.

Photo: Marc Ryckaert (MJJR), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Santorini to Crete ferry at a glance

According to Ferryhopper's Santorini to Heraklion route page, you can sail all year round, with up to 3 daily crossings in summer, and fares start from around €15.

What you want to know	Answer	Source
Ports	Athinios (Santorini) and Heraklion (Crete)	Ferryhopper route data
Journey time	1 hr 30 min to 3 hr 50 min	Ferryhopper route data
Lowest fare	From around €15	Ferryhopper route data
Distance by sea	63 nautical miles (120 km)	Ferryhopper route data
Ferry companies	Blue Star Ferries, Seajets	Ferryhopper route data
Winter service	Usually 2 ferries a week	Ferryhopper Heraklion data

Which port on Crete: Heraklion or Rethymno?

Pick Heraklion unless you're staying in western Crete in summer. Heraklion has sailings all year and two companies to choose from. Rethymno is a seasonal fast-boat route with far fewer departures.

The Santorini to Heraklion ferry

This is the main route, and in summer there are up to 3 ferries per day, per Ferryhopper's Heraklion route page. Out of season it thins out. The same page says there are usually 2 weekly ferries from Crete to Santorini in winter (source: Ferryhopper Heraklion data).

Heraklion port is handy once you're there. According to Ferryhopper's Santorini to Heraklion page, it sits about 2 km from the city centre and the regional bus station is 700 m away. The airport is about 4 km from the port, reachable by city bus lines 1 and 78 or by taxi, according to the same Ferryhopper page.

The Santorini to Rethymno ferry

Rethymno is the option for western Crete. Ferryhopper's Rethymno route data lists it from May to October, 2 days per week, with Seajets. The shortest trip is 2h 20m and tickets start at €104.70 (source: Ferryhopper Rethymno data).

Heading to Chania? We couldn't find a direct Santorini ferry to Chania on the booking sites we checked, so plan on Heraklion or Rethymno and continue by road.

Photo: Lourakis, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

High-speed vs conventional ferries to Crete

Take the Seajets catamaran if you want the shortest crossing. Take Blue Star if price matters more than time. On this route the fare gap is big. Every figure in this table comes from Ferryhopper's Heraklion route data, checked October 2026.

	High-speed (Seajets)	Conventional (Blue Star Ferries)	Source
Journey time	1 hr 30 min to 1 hr 50 min	2 hr 50 min to 3 hr 50 min	Ferryhopper Heraklion data
Tickets from	approximately €92.70	approximately €15	Ferryhopper Heraklion data
Example ships	Champions League Jet 2, Worldchampion Jet	Blue Star Chios, Diagoras	Ferryhopper Heraklion data
Space on board	Basic amenities	More space and onboard facilities	Ferryhopper Heraklion data

Our take: the slow boat is no hardship here. It's a few hours, not the long haul from Athens, and the price difference buys a lot of dinners. Only pay for the catamaran when the timetable forces it, or when you're squeezing the trip into one day.

How long is the ferry from Santorini to Crete?

The Santorini to Heraklion ferry takes between 1 hr 30 min and 3 hr 50 min, depending on whether you're on a high-speed or conventional boat, according to Ferryhopper. Ferryhopper names the Champions League Jet 2 and the Worldchampion Jet as the fastest boats, at about 1 hr 30 min (source: Ferryhopper Heraklion data).

Departure times from Santorini lean late. Per Ferryhopper's Santorini to Heraklion page, the earliest ferry normally sails at 15:45 and the last leaves between 23:55 and 00:10. That's useful. You get a final morning on the island before you go.

How much does the Santorini to Crete ferry cost?

A standard ticket starts at around €15 on the conventional ferries, per Ferryhopper's fare data. Here's what else Ferryhopper lists for the route:

• Numbered seats: from around €17.50 (Ferryhopper fare data)
• VIP lounge seats from around €107, business lounge from around €129 (Ferryhopper fare data)
• A car: from around €60 (Ferryhopper vehicle data)
• A motorbike: from €12 (Ferryhopper vehicle data)

Cabins on the Blue Star ships take 1-4 passengers, according to Ferryhopper. Pets usually travel free if you add them to the booking. These are "from" prices, the lowest Ferryhopper shows, so a summer catamaran on a busy day will cost more.

The Crete to Santorini ferry

The return direction runs on the same two companies and mostly the same ships. The difference is the clock. According to Ferryhopper's Heraklion to Santorini page, the earliest ferry from Heraklion normally leaves at around 08:00, and late-night crossings may depart between 23:59 and 00:30.

So from Crete you can be on Santorini by mid-morning. The ferry lands at Athinios, which Ferryhopper places about 8 km south of Fira and 9 km from the airport. Coming from Athens instead? That's a different crossing, covered in our Athens to Santorini ferry guide.

Photo: C messier, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Can you do a day trip between Santorini and Crete?

From Crete to Santorini, yes, if you take the fast boat both ways. From Santorini to Crete, not really.

Here's why the direction matters. Ferryhopper says you can take the first ferry from Heraklion and be in Santorini before 10:00, and the last ferry back to Crete normally leaves between 23:55 and 00:10 (source: Ferryhopper Heraklion data). That's a full day on the island, with a very late night at the end of it.

The other way round, the timing collapses. According to Ferryhopper's Santorini to Heraklion page, ferries from Santorini usually reach Crete at around 17:20. The last boats back to Santorini are the late-night crossings from Heraklion, between 23:59 and 00:30, per Ferryhopper's Heraklion data. Ferryhopper itself recommends spending a night in Crete.

Our honest view of the Crete to Santorini day trip: it works, but you'll spend it in the busiest places at the busiest hours and leave before the island goes quiet. Santorini is at its best early in the morning and after the day-trippers leave. If you can spare one night, you get both. Our guide to how many days to spend in Santorini breaks down what fits into each length of stay.

Booking tips before you sail

• Get to the port early. Ferryhopper recommends arriving at least 1 hr before departure, or 1.5-2 hr ahead with a vehicle (source: Ferryhopper route data).
• Pack within limits. Blue Star Ferries and Seajets both allow up to 50 kg of baggage, per Ferryhopper's Heraklion page. There's no luggage check-in, so your bags stay with you.
• Book your bed before your boat in summer. Ferryhopper suggests booking Santorini accommodation about 3-4 months in advance (source: Ferryhopper Heraklion data).
• Watch the wind. The Aegean can get choppy, and Ferryhopper runs a travel alerts page for weather disruptions and strikes.
• Go paperless. You can check in online and board with the e-ticket on your phone.

Getting to Athinios port from Fira (and back up)

Ferries to and from Crete use Athinios, the same port as the Athens boats. It's a small quay under a cliff that gets crowded in peak season, and Ferryhopper puts it about 8 km from Fira (source: Ferryhopper route data).

By public bus. KTEL buses run from Fira down to Athinios, and the trip takes 20 to 25 min, per Ferryhopper's port notes. The fare between Fira and the port is 2.70 € by day and 3.40 € between 00:30 and 05:00, according to the KTEL Santorini fare table. Buses are usually timed to ferry departures and arrivals.

By taxi. A taxi from Fira takes around 25 min, and from Oia around 45 min, according to Ferryhopper. Licensed taxis are limited, so book a transfer ahead in summer.

For buses, taxis and the rest of the island, see our guide to getting around Santorini.

Where to stay in Santorini before or after the Crete ferry

Stay in Fira. The port bus starts and ends there, so it's one ride down to the boat and one ride back up. You can reach Oia, the beaches and the airport from Fira by bus too. Our where to stay in Santorini guide and our guide to Fira compare the villages if you're still deciding.

Aroma Suites is our small hotel on Agiou Mina, on the caldera side of Fira, with rooms from doubles to a cave suite with an indoor heated jacuzzi. The late departures to Crete suit a Fira stay: you get a last full day on the island and a short ride down to the port. If you book direct for 4 nights or more, our offers page includes a free one-way airport transfer. That covers the airport only, not Athinios, so take the bus or a taxi for the ferry. We're open from March to October.

Traveling as a group or want more space? The same owner runs Uma Ray Suites in Fira and Casa di Terra Villa, a private villa.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the ferry from Santorini to Crete?

Between 1 hr 30 min and 3 hr 50 min to Heraklion, according to Ferryhopper. Seajets catamarans take 1 hr 30 min to 1 hr 50 min and Blue Star ferries 2 hr 50 min to 3 hr 50 min, according to Ferryhopper's Heraklion data.

Is it better to fly or take the ferry from Santorini to Crete?

For most people the ferry wins. It's a direct crossing between the two islands, and the Seajets boats do it in as little as 1 hr 30 min port to port, per Ferryhopper's Heraklion data. Heraklion port is about 2 km from the city centre and Athinios is a short bus ride below Fira, so you skip the airport run at either end.

Can you take a car on the ferry from Santorini to Crete?

Yes. The ships on the route have car decks, and transporting a car starts at around €60, according to Ferryhopper's vehicle data. Arrive 1.5-2 hours early with a vehicle.

Does the Santorini to Crete ferry run in winter?

Yes, but less often. Ferryhopper lists usually 2 weekly ferries between Crete and Santorini in winter, against up to 3 a day in summer (source: Ferryhopper Heraklion data). The Rethymno route only runs from May to October.

Is Crete nicer than Santorini?

They're different trips. Crete is big enough for a week of driving, beaches and mountain villages. Santorini is small, dramatic and built around the caldera. Many people do both, and the ferry between them is short enough to make that easy.

Planning the Santorini half of the trip? Check availability and book direct at Aroma Suites for the best rate we offer.