Getting from Aegina to Rethymno

If you are heading to Rethymno from Aegina you are making your way to the most intimate of Crete's three main cities, with a Venetian old town of narrow lanes, a fortress above the sea and a long sandy beach running east from the town centre.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Aegina to Rethymno. The most practical ferry approach is to take the Saronic ferry from Aegina to Piraeus, which takes around 40 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes, and then board the Piraeus to Rethymno overnight ferry, which runs seasonally and takes around 9 hours. Outside of the summer season the direct Piraeus to Rethymno service does not run and the most practical alternative is to take the overnight ferry from Piraeus to Chania and then travel by bus to Rethymno, which takes around 1 hour.

Getting there by air

Rethymno has no airport. The nearest airports are Heraklion, around 80 kilometres to the east, and Chania, around 60 kilometres to the west. Taking the Saronic ferry from Aegina to Piraeus, the metro to Athens Airport and flying to either airport, followed by a bus or taxi to Rethymno, gives a total journey time of around 5 to 6 hours.

Your best option

Take the Saronic ferry from Aegina to Piraeus and fly to Heraklion or Chania, then take the bus to Rethymno. If the seasonal direct Piraeus to Rethymno overnight ferry is running for your dates it is worth considering as it delivers you directly to Rethymno without the onward transfer. If you are travelling with a car, the overnight ferry from Piraeus is the practical choice as it takes your vehicle directly to Crete.