Getting from Astakos to Heraklion

If you are heading to Heraklion from Astakos you are making your way from a port town on the western coast of central Greece 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 no direct ferry from Astakos to Heraklion. Astakos ferry connections are limited to Kefalonia and Ithaca. Getting to Heraklion by sea means driving from Astakos to Athens, which takes around 3.5 hours, and then boarding the overnight Piraeus to Heraklion ferry, which departs around 9pm and arrives in the early morning after around 8 to 9 hours. The total journey takes the better part of two days.

Getting there by air

Heraklion has an international airport with daily connections from Athens. Astakos has no airport either. Driving from Astakos to Athens and flying to Heraklion 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

Drive from Astakos to Athens and fly to Heraklion. 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 Heraklion ferry, which takes your vehicle directly to Crete and arrives in the morning ready to go.