Getting from Tilos to Chania

If you are heading to Chania from Tilos you are making your way from a volcanic island in the Dodecanese to the most intimate of Crete's three main cities, with a Venetian old town of narrow lanes, a fortress above the sea and a long sandy beach running east from the town centre.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Tilos to Chania. Getting there by sea means taking the overnight ferry from Tilos to Piraeus, which runs via Rhodes and takes around 15 to 18 hours, and then boarding the overnight Piraeus to Chania ferry, which departs around 9pm and arrives at Souda port in the morning after around 8 to 9 hours. The total journey by sea takes the better part of three days. Flying is considerably more practical for most travelers.

Getting there by air

Chania has an international airport with daily connections from Athens. Tilos has no airport. The nearest airport is Rhodes. Taking the ferry from Tilos to Rhodes, flying from Rhodes to Athens and then Athens to Chania takes around 50 minutes on the second leg. Total journey time is around 5 to 6 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Tilos to Rhodes and fly from Rhodes to Athens, then fly from Athens to Chania. It is the fastest and most practical approach. Check the Tilos to Rhodes schedule before booking as departure days and times vary by season. If you are traveling with a car, take the overnight ferry from Tilos to Piraeus and board the overnight Piraeus to Chania ferry, which takes your vehicle directly to western Crete and arrives in the morning ready to go.