Getting from Chania to Kylini

If you are heading to Kylini from Chania you are making your way from the most intimate of Crete's three main cities to a port town on the northwestern Peloponnese coast, on the opposite side of Greece. It has a long sandy beach and the medieval castle of Chlemoutsi nearby, one of the best preserved Frankish fortifications in Greece.

Getting there by air

Kylini has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Chania has an international airport with connections from Athens. Flying from Chania to Athens and then driving west to Kylini, which takes around 3 to 3.5 hours from Athens via the E65 motorway and Patras, gives a total journey time of around 6 to 7 hours. Flying is not a practical option beyond the initial Athens connection for this route.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Chania to Kylini. Getting there by sea means taking the overnight ferry from Chania to Piraeus, which takes around 8 to 9 hours, and then driving west to Kylini via Patras, which takes around 3 to 3.5 hours from Athens. The total journey takes the better part of two days.

Your best option

Fly from Chania to Athens and drive west to Kylini via the E65 motorway through Corinth and Patras. It is the most practical approach. If you are traveling with a car, take the overnight ferry from Chania to Piraeus and drive west to Kylini via Patras. Kylini is the main departure point for ferries to Zakynthos and Kefalonia, making it a useful hub if you are continuing your journey into the Ionian islands.