Arrival & Transport
Arrival by Plane
Crete has two international airports — an important decision in travel planning:
Heraklion "Nikos Kazantzakis" (HER)
Crete's main airport and one of the busiest in Greece. Located 5 km east of Heraklion. Direct flights from Germany year-round (Lufthansa, Condor, Eurowings, Ryanair, easyJet, Corendon, TUIfly). In summer, almost all German airports fly directly to Heraklion. Flight time: 2.5–3.5 hours from Germany. Prices: 100–400€ return (early bookers from 80€ with Ryanair/easyJet).
From the airport to the center: Bus No. 1 (every 15 minutes, 1.50€, 15 minutes) or taxi (15–20€). Ideal for: Central Crete (Knossos, Heraklion), East Crete (Agios Nikolaos, Spinalonga), and the south coast east of Rethymno.
Chania "Ioannis Daskalogiannis" (CHQ)
The smaller airport in the west, 14 km east of Chania on the Akrotiri Peninsula. Direct flights from Germany mainly in the season (April–October): Condor, Eurowings, Ryanair, easyJet. Fewer connections than Heraklion, but a much better choice for West Crete.
From the airport to Chania: Bus (KTEL, 2.50€, 30 minutes) or taxi (25–30€). Ideal for: West Crete (Chania, Balos, Elafonisi, Samaria, Rethymno) and the south coast west of Plakias.
Connections between the Airports
Heraklion and Chania are 140 km apart (about 2 hours drive on the E75 highway). There is no shuttle between the airports — you either take the KTEL bus (Heraklion–Chania, about 15€, 2.5h, hourly) or a rental car. Pro tip: Fly into one airport and out of the other — this way you see both East and West without doubling back. One-way rental cars are available, but may incur a surcharge.
Tipp
Book your rental car at least 4–6 weeks before the trip, especially for July/August. During the high season, rental cars in Crete are often fully booked or twice as expensive as with early booking. Local providers (e.g., AutoCandia, Cretan Rental) often offer better prices and include comprehensive insurance.
Arrival by Ferry
Crete is accessible by ferry from Piraeus (Athens) and some islands — a real alternative to flying, especially if you are coming with your own car or motorhome.
Piraeus → Heraklion
Minoan Lines and ANEK Lines/Blue Star Ferries operate daily overnight. Departure Piraeus: 21:00, arrival Heraklion: 6:00. Duration: about 9 hours. The ferries are comfortable: restaurants, bars, outdoor decks, and cabins. Prices: deck passage from 35€, inside cabin from 55€, outside cabin from 75€, car transport from 70€.
Piraeus → Chania (Souda)
ANEK Lines/Blue Star Ferries operate daily overnight to Souda (7 km east of Chania). Similar times and prices as the Heraklion route. From Souda port to Chania: bus (1.50€) or taxi (12€).
Island Hopping
From Crete, you can reach the Cyclades (Santorini: 2h with high-speed, from 50€; Mykonos: 4.5h), Rhodes (via Karpathos), and Milos by ferry. The high-speed ferries (SeaJets, Hellenic Seaways) mainly depart from Heraklion. Tip: Santorini as a day trip from Heraklion is possible — but stressful. Better: add 2–3 days.
Book ferries: ferryscanner.com or directferries.de compare all providers and routes. In the high season (July/August) book early — especially if you are taking a car!
Local Transport
Rental Car — The Best Option
A rental car is almost indispensable on Crete — the island is 260 km long, the most beautiful beaches and villages are off the main roads, and public transport only covers the major routes. The joy of driving is immense: winding mountain roads, spectacular coastal roads, and the freedom to stop at any time.
Prices: From 25€/day (small car, off-season) to 60€/day (SUV, high season). Comprehensive insurance is highly recommended — Cretan roads are sometimes narrow, rocky, and full of potholes, especially off the main routes. Note: Many cheap offers have a high deductible (800–1,200€) — either add comprehensive insurance with the rental company or take out independent rental car insurance.
Driving style in Crete: Cretans drive considerably faster than in Germany — but not aggressively, more pragmatically. It is common to pull over onto the shoulder on the main road to let faster drivers pass. Honking is a greeting, not an insult. On mountain roads, always honk before curves — oncoming traffic! Goat herd on the road? Wait. It's part of the experience.
KTEL Buses
The KTEL (Kino Tamio Eispraxeon Leoforion) operates a decent bus network along the northern coastal highway (Kissamos–Chania–Rethymno–Heraklion–Agios Nikolaos–Sitia) with hourly connections. Prices are affordable:
| Route | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Heraklion → Chania | 2.5h | 15€ |
| Heraklion → Rethymno | 1.5h | 9€ |
| Heraklion → Agios Nikolaos | 1.5h | 8€ |
| Chania → Rethymno | 1h | 7€ |
| Heraklion → Knossos | 20 Min. | 1.70€ |
| Chania → Omalos (Samaria) | 1h | 8€ |
Website: e-ktel.com (schedules and online tickets). Tickets also available at the bus station. The southern connections (Plakias, Matala, Sfakia) run much less frequently — check schedules in advance!
Ferries (South Coast)
Along the south coast, ferries operate in summer (May–October) between Paleochora, Sougia, Agia Roumeli, Loutro, and Chora Sfakion — the only way to reach some of these places (Loutro has no road!). The journey along the wild southwest coast is an experience in itself. Operator: ANENDYK. Prices: 6–12€ per route.
Taxi
Taxis are relatively inexpensive on Crete (base fee 3.50€, then about 1€/km). For longer distances (e.g., airport–hotel), agree on the price beforehand. Taxis are always available at airports and bus stations. Apps like "Beat" (Greek equivalent of Uber) work in Heraklion and Chania.
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