Getting from Arki to Crete

If you are heading to Crete from Arki you are making your way from one of the smallest inhabited islands in the Dodecanese to the largest island in Greece, with ancient Minoan sites, mountain gorges, excellent food and a coastline that stretches for hundreds of kilometres.

Take the ferry

There is a seasonal direct ferry from Arki to Heraklion in Crete running in summer on the wider Blue Star route that connects the Dodecanese with Crete. The service runs a limited number of times per week and takes many hours with stops along the way through multiple Dodecanese islands. It is a good option if you want to travel by sea and avoid going through Athens entirely. Alternatively, take the ferry from Arki to Leros and fly to Crete via Athens.

Getting there by air

Both Heraklion and Chania have airports with daily connections from Athens. Arki has no airport. Taking the local ferry from Arki to Leros, flying to Athens and then Athens to Heraklion or Chania takes around 50 minutes on the second leg. Total journey time is around 5 to 6 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the local ferry from Arki to Leros, fly 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. Check the ferry schedule from Arki carefully before booking your flights as services run only a limited number of times per week. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Arki through the Dodecanese network to Piraeus and board the overnight Piraeus to Crete ferry, which takes your vehicle directly to the island and arrives in the morning ready to go.