Getting from Antiparos to Rethymno

If you are heading to Rethymno from Antiparos you are making your way from a small quiet island 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 Antiparos to Rethymno. Rethymno's port receives very limited ferry connections. The most practical sea approach is to take the short ferry from Antiparos to Paros and then board the seasonal direct ferry from Paros to Heraklion, which runs in summer and takes around 5 to 6 hours, followed by the bus from Heraklion to Rethymno taking around 1 hour. Alternatively, make your way 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. Antiparos has no airport either. Taking the short ferry from Antiparos to Paros, making your way to Piraeus and flying to Heraklion or Chania via Athens, followed by the bus to Rethymno, gives a total journey time of around 7 to 8 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the short ferry from Antiparos to Paros and board the seasonal direct ferry from Paros to Heraklion, then take the bus to Rethymno. It avoids Athens entirely and is the most enjoyable approach. If the timing does not align, make your way to Piraeus and fly to Heraklion or Chania via Athens, then take the bus to Rethymno. Chania Airport is slightly closer to Rethymno and the road between them is a good one.