Getting from Santorini to Chania

Chania is the most beautiful city in Crete and one of the finest in Greece. The Venetian old town wraps around a harbour that has been in use for over three thousand years, with the lighthouse at the entrance, the covered market inland and a maze of narrow lanes behind the waterfront that reveal mosques, churches, fountains and mansions from successive centuries of occupation. The White Mountains rise steeply behind the city and the Samaria Gorge, one of the longest in Europe, cuts through them to the south coast. The beaches west of Chania at Falassarna and Balos are among the best in Crete. It is an island city that rewards several days of slow exploration and excellent food.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Santorini to Chania. The nearest ferry port to Chania is Rethymno, around 66 kilometres to the east, which has a seasonal ferry connection from Santorini running a few times per week from May to October and taking around 2 hours. If the Rethymno timing does not work for your dates, the main alternative is to take the ferry from Santorini to Heraklion, which has far more frequent service, and then travel by bus or car to Chania, which takes around 2 to 2.5 hours. Check the Rethymno schedule on Ferryhopper first as it saves the onward road journey if the days align.

What about flying?

Both Santorini and Chania have airports. Chania Airport is around 14 kilometres from the city. The journey goes Santorini to Athens and then Athens to Chania, with total travel time around 4 to 5 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights. For this particular route however the ferry options to Rethymno or Heraklion are often more practical than flying via Athens.

Your best option

Check whether the seasonal Rethymno ferry works for your dates. If it does, take it. If not, take the frequent ferry to Heraklion and travel to Chania by bus. Flying via Athens adds complexity without saving much time compared to the direct sea crossing.