Getting from Volos to Chania

If you are heading to Chania from Volos you are making your way from a city on the Pagasetic Gulf at the foot of the Pelion peninsula 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 Volos to Chania. Getting there by sea means driving from Volos to Piraeus, which takes around 3 to 3.5 hours via the E75 motorway, 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. This is a manageable two-step connection that suits travelers with a car particularly well.

Getting there by air

Chania has an international airport with daily connections from Athens. Volos has a small airport at Nea Anchialos with limited connections from Athens. Driving from Volos to Athens and flying from Athens to Chania 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

Drive from Volos to Athens and fly from Athens to Chania. It is the fastest and most practical approach. If you are traveling with a car, drive to Piraeus for the overnight Piraeus to Chania ferry, which takes your vehicle directly to western Crete and arrives in the morning ready to go. The drive from Volos to Piraeus takes around 3 to 3.5 hours via the E75 motorway.