Getting from Crete to Leros

If you are heading to Leros from Crete you are going to one of the most atmospheric islands in the Dodecanese, with a striking Art Deco Italian colonial port at Lakki built in the 1930s on a scale completely out of proportion to the island and a medieval castle above the main town of Platanos that dominates the skyline.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Crete to Leros. The most practical ferry approach is to take the direct overnight ferry from Heraklion to Rhodes and then connect north through the Dodecanese, but the total journey by sea takes the better part of two days. Flying is the only realistic option for most travellers.

Getting there by air

Both Crete and Leros have airports. Flying from Crete to Athens takes around 50 minutes and then Athens to Leros takes around 50 minutes, giving a total journey time of around 3 to 4 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Fly to Leros via Athens. It is the most practical approach and at around 3 to 4 hours total it is one of the more straightforward Dodecanese connections from Crete. Leros Airport is close to the main towns so you are on the island quickly after landing.