Getting from Astakos to Crete

If you are heading to Crete from Astakos you are making your way from a port town on the western coast of central Greece 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 no direct ferry from Astakos to Crete. Astakos ferry connections are limited to Kefalonia and Ithaca. Getting to Crete by sea means driving from Astakos to Athens, which takes around 3.5 hours, 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. The total journey takes the better part of two days.

Getting there by air

Both Heraklion and Chania have airports with daily connections from Athens. Astakos has no airport either. Driving from Astakos to Athens and flying to Heraklion or Chania gives a total journey time of around 5 to 6 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

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