Getting from Rhodes to Rethymno

If you are heading to Rethymno from Rhodes you are making your way to a Venetian old town on the northern coast of Crete, to the southwest. It has a fortress above the sea, a long sandy beach running east from the town centre and a maze of narrow lanes behind the waterfront.

Take the ferry

There is a direct overnight ferry from Rhodes to Heraklion running year-round, taking around 9 to 12 hours. Rethymno is around 80 kilometres west of Heraklion, so from Heraklion a bus or taxi to Rethymno takes around 1 to 1.5 hours. There is also a seasonal direct ferry from Rhodes to Rethymno so check the schedule before routing via Heraklion.

Getting there by air

Both Rhodes and Crete have airports. The nearest airports to Rethymno are Heraklion and Chania. Flying from Rhodes to Athens takes around 1 hour and then Athens to either airport takes around 50 minutes, followed by a bus or taxi to Rethymno. Total travel time is around 4 to 5 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Check whether a direct Rhodes to Rethymno seasonal ferry is available for your dates. If not, fly via Athens to Heraklion or Chania and take the bus to Rethymno. If you are travelling with a car, the overnight ferry from Rhodes to Heraklion is the practical choice, then drive west to Rethymno from there.