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Travel information for Ferries.
Ships and Ferries to Heraklion - Crete Island.
Heraklion and the Crete island in general are connected
to the port of Piraeus. There are evening departures
to the ports of Chania (Souda), Rethymno, Heraklion
and Agios Nikolaos every day, all year long.
In addition, there are ferry connections from Crete
ferry to the Cycladic islands of Ios, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Mykonos, Amorgos, Milos and also to the islands of Kythira, Karpathos, Rhodes, Kos, and basically all Dodecanese and East Aegean Islands via a third island.
Your trip to Crete can be with a conventional ferry boat or Highspeed depending on the day, the time and the ferry company you wish to travel with.
Your trip to Crete, Heraklion will last approximately
8-9 hours and to Chania 7-8 hours, travelling during
the night, whereas the same daily trip lasts 6 and 5
hours respectively. If you decide to visit Rhodes first,
you can reach Heraklion through Sitia's port (Karpathos,
St Nikolaos) and your trip will last approximately 12
hours. From the island of Santorini the trip to Heraklion with a high speed ferry will last no more than 2.30 hours
Ferries from Piraeus to Crete run all year round on a
daily basis. However, during the summer, Easter and holidays in general there is an additional daily route
for you to choose, according to the increased demand.
1. Piraeus - Crete Heraklion
2. Piraeus - Crete Chania
3. Piraeus - Crete Rethymno
4. Piraeus - Crete Agios Nikolaos
Sitia
5. Piraeus - Paros - Naxos - Santorini
Crete Heraklion
6. Piraeus - Milos - Crete Rethymno
7. Gythion - Kythira - Crete Kissamos
8. Mykonos - Santorini - Crete Heraklion
9. Rhodes - Karpathos - Crete Sitia
Agios Nikolaos
Attention !
The above mentioned information is subject to alteration. To be sure about correct schedules, departure and arrival times of conventional and highspeed ferries check the ONLINE Booking System. Click here.
ON LINE Booking System for seats and tickets in real time.
Starting your reservation through the online booking system you can select to have your tickets
sent to you or to collect them from the port office on the day of departure about 2 hours
before departure simply by giving your reservation code and showing your ID card.
We wish you a pleasant trip!
ATTENTION! You have to make your reservation
at least 4 days before the date of travel.
There were settlements dating back to the Neolithic period where Heraklion stands today. It is believed to have been the site of the Minoan harbour of Knossos, although very little evidence has been found to confirm this.
The Saracens took possession of the town in 824 A.D. and was renamed El Khandak, Moat Fort, when they built the large moat around the town. The town was recaptured by the Byzantium Emperor in 961A.D. after many fruitless attempts. After a period of rule that spanned 2 centuries this empire was dissolved by the Crusaders, who took over the rule of Crete. It was relinquished to the Venetians for 1,000 silver coins. Candia, as the Venetians named it, flourished under their rule as a centre of the arts. Many craftsmen and artists found sanctuary here after the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
The Venetians commenced the building of the fort in 1462 and it took them over 100 years to complete. The walls covered 4 km and were built in triangular style with seven bastions. They also built the harbour as well as other eminent buildings. The strategic significance was shown when it lay under siege by the Ottoman Empire for 21 years. The town surrendered in 1669 after 30,000 Venetians and 100,000 Turks had lost their lives.
The Ottoman occupation was offensive to the Cretans as they were forced to convert to Islam. From 1820 onwards there was the resistance fight against the Turks until their departure. Crete was annexed to Greece in 1913.
Due to the strategic position, it was again the focus of the Germans during WWII with bombings during the Battle of Crete in 1941. The Germans stayed until 1945. After the war the city was rebuilt.
Make your ferries reservations now ...from the comfort of your home !
