Getting from Syros to Heraklion

If you are heading to Heraklion from Syros you are making your way from the capital of the Cyclades to the capital of Crete, with the Palace of Knossos just 5 kilometres from the city centre and one of the finest archaeological museums in Greece.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Syros to Heraklion. Getting there by sea means taking the ferry from Syros to Piraeus, which runs up to 6 daily crossings in summer and takes around 2 hours on the fast boat, and then boarding the overnight Piraeus to Heraklion ferry, which departs around 9pm and arrives in the early morning after around 8 to 9 hours. Plan your Syros departure carefully to allow enough time to reach Piraeus for the evening sailing.

Getting there by air

Heraklion has an international airport with daily connections from Athens. Syros has a small domestic airport with limited connections from Athens. Taking the ferry from Syros to Piraeus and flying from Athens to Heraklion takes around 50 minutes on the second leg. Total journey time is around 4 to 5 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Syros to Piraeus and fly from Athens to Heraklion. It is the fastest and most practical approach. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Syros to Piraeus and board the overnight Piraeus to Heraklion ferry, which takes your vehicle directly to Crete and arrives in the morning ready to go.