Getting from Volos to Crete

If you are heading to Crete from Volos you are making your way from a city on the Pagasetic Gulf at the foot of the Pelion peninsula to the largest island in Greece, with ancient Minoan sites, mountain gorges, excellent food and a coastline that stretches for hundreds of kilometres.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Volos to Crete. 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 Crete ferry, which departs around 9pm and arrives in Heraklion or Chania in the early 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

Both Heraklion and Chania have airports 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 Heraklion or 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 Crete. Choose Heraklion for central and eastern Crete, Chania for the west. It is the fastest and most practical approach. If you are traveling with a car, drive to Piraeus for the overnight Piraeus to Crete ferry, which takes your vehicle directly to the island and arrives in the morning ready to go.