Scheduled flights and ferry
For flight information see the page ‘Scheduled’
We think this is an excellent option, especially if you want to spend a few days in mainland Greece before coming to Crete.
Athens, in particular has much to see; apart from the usual tourist sights like the Acropolis, museums, etc. there’s a wonderful ‘garden’ market in the central park on Sunday with, literally, hundreds of stalls selling an amazing assortment of plants and garden items.
If an outsize nursery is not for you there’s the flea market consisting of regular shops and kerbside stalls. We spent almost a whole Sunday there and were staggered by its size and the variety of items on offer. Add street entertainers and innumerable little cafés and tavernas and it’s hard not to have an enjoyable day.
Anek Lines (created in the 1960s by Cretans who wanted a better and safer service to and from the mainland) is the established carrier on this route. providing a daily overnight voyage leaving Piraeus at 20:30, arriving at Souda at about 06:00 next morning.
The return to Athens also departs and arrives at these times. Single fares are about 23€.
Boarding a ferry here is not like Dover. Buy a ticket (in advance or at the time) and, if the ferry is tied up at the dockside with a ramp in place, you wander aboard, dodging the vehicles that are loading. Your ticket may be checked.
Compared with UK cross channel ferries Anek are very civilised - comfortable seats, no louts trying to get drunk in the shortest possible time, reasonably priced decent food available in full service and self-service restaurants. During summer, especially in August, they can get very busy with many people trying to find seats, benches or floor space to sleep on.
A cabin is a good idea and quite cheap. A three or four bed outside cabin costs about 53 € (£37) one way and 99 € (£69) return. Economy class single and return tickets cost about 23 € and 43 € respectively
Anek ferries stay alongside the Souda dock for quite a while so you don’t have to scramble ashore as soon as they park. There’s a similar lack of panic in Piraeus. Complimentary coffee and fruit juice is served while you wait to disembark.
Hellenic Seaways started a new high-speed service in March 05 and brought a brand new boat into service on 16 June. It sails daily, except Tuesday, leaving Piraeus at 15:45 and Hania (Souda) at 21:00 with a journey time of 4hrs 45 mins.
Adult economy return fare is about €55 with under 5s travelling free (as they do on Anek). There are also, Business and V.I.P. classes.
Ferries.gr give information and on-line booking service for all ferries.
For ANEK click here and
For Hellenic click here
All local car hire companies will deliver a car to the ferry terminals at Hania (Souda), Rethimno or Heraklion. Some make a charge for meeting a ferry at Heraklion.
We have usually used Anek ferries (for a brief period Blue Star sailed this route. We tried them once.) and are quite satisfied. We have not yet used the Hellenic fast service.
There’s a fleet of mostly new, air conditioned buses that transfer passengers the thirty three kilometres between the airport and the ferry port. It’s a twenty-four hour service running at twenty minute intervals (from 07:00) for most of the day. The longest interval (45 mins) is in the early hours of the morning.
There’s space for luggage and many of the buses can accommodate wheelchair users who can remain in their chairs as they can be properly secured on the bus.
The fare? An outrageous €2.90 (£2.00 - yes, two pounds and that’s valid on all Athens’ public transport for 24 hours from time of purchase).
Buses run between the arrivals terminal and Gate 8 at the docks, The Anek ferry is ten minutes walk from Gate 8.
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