Getting from Arki to Heraklion

If you are heading to Heraklion from Arki you are making your way from one of the smallest inhabited islands in the Dodecanese to the capital of Crete, with the Palace of Knossos just 5 kilometres from the city centre and one of the finest archaeological museums in Greece.

Take the ferry

There is a seasonal direct ferry from Arki to Heraklion 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 Heraklion via Athens.

Getting there by air

Heraklion has an international airport with daily connections from Athens. Arki has no airport either. Taking the local ferry from Arki to Leros, flying to Athens and then Athens to Heraklion takes around 50 minutes on the second leg. Total journey time is around 4 to 5 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 Heraklion. It is the fastest and most practical approach. Check the ferry schedule from Arki carefully before booking your flights as services run only a limited number of times per week. If you prefer to travel by sea, check whether the seasonal direct ferry from Arki to Heraklion aligns with your dates as it avoids Athens entirely. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Arki through the Dodecanese network to Piraeus and board the overnight Piraeus to Heraklion ferry, which takes your vehicle directly to Crete.