Travel to Crete

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Chania Old Venetian Harbor and lighthouse
Chania Old Venetian Harbor — Photo by Lapplaender, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Getting to Crete ✈️⛴️

Your guide to flying or taking the ferry to Greece’s largest island.

Fly to Crete: Main Airports

Crete has three public airports. Most international flights land at Heraklion (central Crete) or Chania (west). Sitia serves the east with mainly domestic connections.

  • Heraklion International Airport — HER

    Location: Just east of Heraklion city. Main gateway for east & central Crete.

    Heraklion Airport

  • Chania International Airport — CHQ

    Location: Akrotiri peninsula, west Crete — close to Chania. Excellent for access to beaches like Balos, Falassarna & Elafonissi.

    CHQ website

  • Sitia Public Airport — JSH

    Location: East Crete — perfect for remote beaches, Vai Palm Beach & quiet villages.

Sail to Crete: Ports & Ferry Gateways

Ferries connect Crete with Athens (Piraeus) year-round, plus popular islands like Santorini, Paros & Naxos during summer.

Heraklion Port

Crete’s busiest ferry hub — ideal for Athens links + island hopping.

Chania (Souda) Port

Deep harbour near Chania — main overnight ferries from Athens.

Rethymno Port

Charming mid-island port close to the Venetian Old Town.

Agios Nikolaos Port

Great for east-Crete trips around Mirabello Bay and Spinalonga.

Sitia Port

Gateway to the peaceful far-east of the island.

Popular Ferry Companies

Popular Travel Agents & Booking Sites

Skyscanner

Searches hundreds of airlines — fast way to compare deals.

Expedia

Affordable package combos including hotels + flights.

KAYAK

Great for price alerts & flexible date search.

TUI

Excellent Crete package holidays — ATOL protected.

Jet2holidays

Low deposits, friendly service, great value bundles.

Booking.com

Huge range of stays: hotels, villas & apartments.

Quick Planning Tips

  • Summer direct flights: Many European cities fly into HER & CHQ.
  • Off-season: Most flights connect via Athens.
  • Overnight ferries: Budget-friendly & comfortable — cabins recommended.
  • West Crete? Fly into CHQ.
  • Central/East? Fly into HER.
  • Quiet east? Use Sitia Airport (JSH) or Sitia Port.

Header image: “Chania – Venetian harbor 2” by Lapplaender — CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons).

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