Getting from Volos to Heraklion

If you are heading to Heraklion from Volos you are making your way from a city on the Pagasetic Gulf at the foot of the Pelion peninsula 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 Volos to Heraklion. 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 Heraklion ferry, which departs around 9pm and arrives 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

Heraklion 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 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

Drive from Volos to Athens and fly from Athens to Heraklion. It is the fastest and most practical approach. If you are traveling with a car, drive to Piraeus for the overnight Piraeus to Heraklion ferry, which takes your vehicle directly to 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.