Getting from Alexandroupoli to Crete

If you are heading to Crete from Alexandroupoli you are making your way from the far northeastern corner of Greece to the largest island in the country, with ancient Minoan sites, mountain gorges, excellent food and a coastline that stretches for hundreds of kilometres.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Alexandroupoli to Crete. Alexandroupoli's ferry connections are limited to Samothrace, Lemnos, Agios Efstratios and Lavrio. Getting to Crete by sea means flying to Athens first and then boarding the overnight Piraeus to Crete ferry, which departs around 9pm and arrives in Heraklion or Chania in the early morning after around 8 to 9 hours.

Getting there by air

Both Heraklion and Chania have airports with daily connections from Athens. Alexandroupoli also has its own airport. Flying from Alexandroupoli to Athens and then Athens to Heraklion or Chania takes around 50 minutes on the second leg. Total travel time door to door is around 4 to 5 hours.

Your best option

Fly from Alexandroupoli to Athens and then fly to Crete. It is the fastest and most practical approach. Choose Heraklion for central and eastern Crete, Chania for the west. If you are traveling with a car, drive from Alexandroupoli to Piraeus via the Egnatia motorway and E75 and board the overnight Piraeus to Crete ferry, which takes your vehicle directly to the island and arrives in the morning ready to go.