Getting from Crete to Halki

If you are heading to Halki from Crete you are going to one of the most charming small islands in the Dodecanese, a car-free island of neoclassical sponge merchant mansions around a horseshoe harbour, with almost no tourist infrastructure and a pace of life that is as slow as it gets in Greece.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Crete to Halki. The island is connected primarily to Rhodes, with local ferries from Rhodes to Halki taking around 1.5 to 2 hours. The most practical ferry approach is to take the direct overnight ferry from Heraklion to Rhodes, which runs year-round and takes around 9 to 12 hours, and then connect to Halki from Rhodes.

Getting there by air

Halki has no airport. The nearest airport is Rhodes. Flying from Crete to Athens takes around 50 minutes and then Athens to Rhodes takes around 1 hour, followed by the local ferry from Rhodes to Halki taking around 1.5 to 2 hours. Total travel time is around 4 to 5 hours.

Your best option

Fly to Rhodes via Athens and take the local ferry across to Halki. It is considerably faster than the overnight ferry from Crete to Rhodes and gives you the same straightforward connection from Rhodes. Give yourself at least two nights on Halki. The island is small enough to walk around and tranquil enough to make you want to stay much longer.