Getting from Crete to Kea

If you are heading to Kea from Crete you are going to the closest Cycladic island to Athens, an underrated island of good beaches, a quiet Chora and an ancient stone lion carved into the hillside that is one of the strangest monuments in the Cyclades.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Crete to Kea. The island is served primarily from Lavrio on the Attica coast, with up to 7 daily departures in summer taking around 40 minutes to 1 hour. Getting to Lavrio from Crete means either taking the seasonal direct ferry from Crete to Lavrio, which runs April to October and takes around 5 to 6 hours, or flying to Athens and taking a taxi or bus to Lavrio from the airport, which takes around 30 to 40 minutes.

Getting there by air

Kea has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Flying from Crete to Athens takes around 50 minutes and then a taxi or bus to Lavrio takes around 30 to 40 minutes, followed by the short ferry to Kea taking around 40 minutes to 1 hour. Total travel time is around 3 to 4 hours.

Your best option

Fly to Athens and take the ferry from Lavrio to Kea. The proximity of Lavrio to Athens Airport makes it a straightforward connection without crossing the city. If the seasonal direct ferry from Crete to Lavrio is running for your dates it is worth considering as it saves the Athens transfer entirely.