Getting from Tinos to Heraklion

If you are heading to Heraklion from Tinos you are making your way from the most venerated pilgrimage island in 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 a direct ferry from Tinos to Heraklion running on the Blue Star route, which connects several Cycladic islands before continuing to Crete. The service runs a limited number of times per week and takes around 7 to 10 hours. Check the schedule carefully before booking as departure days vary by season. Alternatively take the ferry from Tinos to Piraeus and board the overnight Piraeus to Heraklion ferry, which departs around 9pm and arrives in the early morning after around 8 to 9 hours.

Getting there by air

Heraklion has an international airport with daily connections from Athens. Tinos has no airport. The nearest airport is Mykonos. Taking the short ferry from Tinos to Mykonos, flying from Mykonos to Athens and then Athens to Heraklion 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 short ferry from Tinos to Mykonos and fly from Mykonos to Athens, then fly from Athens to Heraklion. It is the fastest and most practical approach. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Tinos 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.