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TRAVEL OPTIONS

CRETE VIA ATHENS BY AIR

Scheduled flights to Athens operate from various UK airports all year but with reduced availability during winter months.  A domestic flight from Athens to Heraklion or Chania  completes the journey to Crete.  [Sitia airport is a possible alternative if your final destination is the extreme eastern end of the island].

There are far fewer scheduled flights than charters in summer and they are the only option in winter.  Scheduled flights may be fewer but they offer flexibility and flight times are often more convenient.  Prices are usually competitive.

UK / Athens flights

Athens / Crete flights

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Fly to Athens from various UK airports on scheduled flights.  Complete the trip to Crete by ferry.

This is another year-round option.  Transport to Piraeus [Athens’ port] from the airport are excellent and cheap. It’s advisable to book well in advance if you wish to travel during any of the Greek major celebrations, for example, at Greek Easter or the August holiday period.

In winter bad weather can delay ferry sailings but the boats are comfortable with good facilities if you have to stay aboard for a few hours extra.

ATHENS BY AIR + FERRY TO CRETE

CRETE BY ROAD VIA FERRY FROM ITALY

Drive to an Italian port and take a ferry to Greece followed by a drive to Piraeus and a ferry to Crete.  The most popular sea routes are Ancona to Patra and Venice to Patra *.  Brindisi is also a popular departure port from Italy.

From Patra to Piraeus [Athens’ port] is a drive of 1½ - 2 hours [about 125m/200Km] on a good road, much of it modern motorway.  An alternative is a shorter ferry crossing to Igoumenitsa [on the west coast opposite Corfu] and drive to Athens [approximately 250m/400Km] to see something of mainland Greece.

* Other Italian ports with ferries to Greece are Bari,Venice and Trieste.

ATHENS BY ROAD - FERRY TO CRETE

Driving to Athens across Europe and about 1100 Km through Slovakia, Serbia and F.Y.R.O.M.*  is for the adventurous only. There can be considerable bureaucracy, the roads are poor in many places and it is likely to be a time-consuming and tiring journey.

Those resourceful enough to undertake this road journey will find the Michelin website a great resource. Complete the journey to Crete by ferry.

* Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Flying direct to Crete is by far the most popular choice but is an option only during the summer holiday season [April to October]. There are no direct flights in winter.

Direct charter flights from the UK to Heraklion or Chania with departures from many UK airports operate from April to October . There are approximately ten flights to Heraklion for every one to Chania and about two-thirds of all flights are on Tuesday.

During summer there are also direct scheduled flights to Heraklion from Gatwick and Manchester [easyJet ] and East Midlands and Leeds Bradford [Jet2.com].

Scheduled flights

CRETE DIRECT BY AIR

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Charter flights

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UK / Athens flights

Ferries to Crete

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Italy / Greece ferries

Ferries to Crete

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Michelin website

Ferries to Crete

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