Ferry Crete (Heraklion) - Santorini

Discover the best ferries from Heraklion to Santorini, travel tips, prices, and many more. Here we go!

In brief, you can travel from Heraklion (Crete) to Santorini with a high-speed/catamaran ferry or a conventional one. Crossings between the two are available from late March to mid-October.
Ferries depart from the port of Heraklion and reach Athinios port.
The trip can last from less than 2 hours up to 6 hours and 20 minutes and a one-way ticket can cost from '16' 'EUR' (16 Euros) to '95.7' 'EUR' (95.7 Euros) for a standard seat, depending on the company you will travel with. Business class/VIP seats can also be booked for an extra fee.
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Power Jet arriving in Santorini

Disclaimer: The information provided below is based on previous years' data. To find the exact routes for your dates, please refer to our booking engine.
Reaching Santorini from Heraklion is possible from late March to mid-October. The number of itineraries increases during summer, with at least 3 ferries departing from Heraklion to Athinios port every morning.
The first ferry departs from Heraklion at 07:00 or 08:00 (depending on the day of the week) and the last one at 10:00, but once a week a Blue Star conventional ferry leaves at 22:45.

Santorini Palace

During the high season, the route is operated by high-speed/catamaran ferries, belonging to the Seajets, Fast Ferries, Minoan Lines and Horizon Sea Lines companies. Additionally, two conventional ferries - one owned by Aegeon Pelagos and one by Blue Star - also operate routes between the two destinations, mainly during the shoulder season.
High-speed ferries are the fastest type of vessels, which is the reason for the short duration of the trip between Heraklion and Santorini. On the other hand, conventional ferries offer more affordable tickets.

The distance between Heraklion and Santorini is 63 nautical miles (72 miles or 120 km).
The duration of the ferry trip is around 1 hour and 50 minutes for all high-speed/catamaran vessels. Conventional ferries will get you there in about 3 or 6 hours.
The fastest ferries are Naxos Jet and Power Jet by Seajets.

The ticket price range for this route is from '16' 'EUR' (16 Euros) to '129.7' 'EUR' (129.7 Euros). For a standard seat in a conventional ferry, prices start from '16' 'EUR' (16 Euros), while for a high-speed ferry, the minimum price is '78.9' 'EUR' (78.9 Euros). Regarding Business class/VIP seats, those start from '104' 'EUR' (104 Euros) and can reach '129.7' 'EUR' (129.7 Euros).
Ferry companies usually offer discounts (25% to 50%) that apply to certain categories of passengers. Groups of people who are eligible for reduced-priced tickets include passengers with disabilities, families with 3+ children, infants, children up to 10 years old and ISIC cardholders (after showing the relevant documents).

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Seats in the ferry Thunder of Fast Ferries

High-speed ferries:
Two types of seats are available on high-speed vessels - standard airline seats and business-VIP seats. Both types correspond to numbered seats, with standard airline seats being the cheapest option and business seats being more deluxe.

Conventional ferries:
On conventional ferries, standard economy seats are available as well. Holders of such tickets can either sit in one of the special lounges within the ferry or on deck. This type of seat is highly preferred since it is the most affordable option. However, these seats are not numbered, so even after booking a ticket, you do not secure any specific space on the vessel. To be able to find a comfortable place to sit throughout your journey, you should board the ferry as early as possible.

The port of Heraklion is located in Heraklion Town. All passenger ferries depart from the western side of the port, at piers I and II. A passenger terminal is available as well.
The main port of Santorini is Athinios, which welcomes all passenger ferries that reach the island. It is located around 10 km from the capital city (Fira).

Greek ferry companies do not have strict luggage policies allowing you to carry up to 40 kg or 0.5 cubic meters of luggage. All vessels offer a designated area for passengers' suitcases and other bulky objects, but you can also keep your luggage next to you onboard. We recommend taking your personal items such as your wallet, mobile phone and keys with you and using the designated area for bulky items.

The majority of ferries have a garage, allowing you to travel with your car or motorbike. To do so, a special ticket for your vehicle is required. Booking such tickets as early as possible is strongly recommended since high-speed/catamaran ferries have a limited vehicle capacity and car/moto tickets tend to sell out quickly.
In addition, you need to be at the port at least 60 minutes before departure time.
Keep in mind that you will be asked to exit your vehicle after parking and you will not be allowed to enter the garage during the trip.

Santorini and Heraklion both boast international airports; nonetheless, there are no direct flights between Crete and Santorini.
At the same time, there are numerous direct flights to the International Airport of Mykonos from many cities abroad during summer. Therefore, you can take a flight to Mykonos and then board a ferry to Santorini. Ferry itineraries between Mykonos and Santorini are daily and frequent during the high season.
Another way is flying to the International Airport of Athens and then taking a ferry to Santorini from Piraeus or Rafina ports. The port of Rafina is located closer to the airport. Learn more about the Athens - Santorini ferry route.
If you want to avoid additional transport, you can book a direct flight to Santorini from the International Airport of Athens.

The alley from Fira to Firostefani