Getting from Anafi to Rethymno

If you are heading to Rethymno from Anafi you are making your way from one of the most remote islands in the Cyclades 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 Anafi to Rethymno. Rethymno's port receives very limited ferry connections. The most practical sea approach is to take the seasonal direct ferry from Anafi to Heraklion, which runs a limited number of times per week in summer and takes around 3 to 5 hours, and then take the bus from Heraklion to Rethymno, which takes around 1 hour. Alternatively, take the overnight ferry from Anafi to Piraeus and board the overnight Piraeus to Chania ferry, followed by the bus to Rethymno taking 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. Anafi has no airport either. Taking the ferry from Anafi to Santorini, flying to Athens and then Athens to Heraklion or Chania, followed by the bus to Rethymno, gives a total journey time of around 6 to 7 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the seasonal direct ferry from Anafi to Heraklion when the schedule works for your dates, then take the bus to Rethymno. It avoids Athens entirely. If the timing does not align, take the ferry from Anafi to Santorini, fly to Athens and then fly to Heraklion or Chania and take the bus to Rethymno. Chania Airport is slightly closer to Rethymno and the road between them is a good one.