Getting from Chania to Ikaria

If you are heading to Ikaria from Chania you are making your way from the most intimate of Crete's three main cities to one of the world's Blue Zones, a mountainous island in the eastern Aegean where people live measurably longer than almost anywhere else on earth and the local explanation tends to involve sleeping late, eating well and ignoring schedules.

Take the ferry

There is a seasonal direct ferry from Chania to Ikaria running in summer on the wider Blue Star route that connects Crete with the eastern Aegean. The service runs a limited number of times per week and takes many hours with stops along the way. Alternatively take the overnight ferry from Chania to Piraeus and then the Piraeus to Ikaria ferry, which runs around 3 times a week and takes around 7 to 11 hours. Ikaria has two ports, Agios Kirikos in the south and Evdilos in the north, so check which port your ferry arrives at before booking accommodation as the mountain road between them takes well over an hour.

Getting there by air

Ikaria has its own small airport with connections from Athens running around 3 times a week. Chania has an international airport with connections from Athens. Flying from Chania to Athens and then Athens to Ikaria takes around 50 minutes on the second leg. Total journey time is around 4 to 5 hours. Check the schedule carefully as flights are limited. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Fly from Chania to Athens and then fly to Ikaria. Check the schedule carefully as flights are limited and do not run daily. Build flexibility into your plans once you arrive. Ikaria runs on its own schedule and that is entirely the point. If you prefer to travel by sea, check whether the seasonal direct ferry from Chania aligns with your dates as it avoids Athens entirely. If you are traveling with a car, take the overnight ferry from Chania to Piraeus and board the Piraeus to Ikaria ferry, which takes your vehicle and arrives in the morning.