Heraklion – Athens (Piraeus)
Ferries to Athens
Heraklion – Athens (Piraeus)
Ferries to Athens
The Heraklion Athens (Piraeus) ferry is serviced by 2 ferry companies; Minoan Lines & SeaJets.Heraklion Athens (Piraeus) ferries take around 9 hours 15 minutes. The ferry costs between €46.20 and €342.90, depending on ticket details. Prices exclude any service fees. Ferry timetables change seasonally, use our Deal Finder to get live pricing and availability for ferries from Heraklion to Athens (Piraeus).
The first Heraklion Athens (Piraeus) ferry typically departs from Heraklion at around 04:30. The last ferry usually departs at 23:45.
The Heraklion Athens (Piraeus) ferry trip can take around 9 hours 15 minutes. The fastest sailings are approximately 7 hours 30 minutes. Sailing times can vary between ferry operators and can be impacted by weather conditions.
There is 27 weekly sailings from Heraklion to Athens (Piraeus) provided by Minoan Lines & SeaJets. Timetables can change from season to season.
Minoan Lines provide 8 sailings weekly. SeaJets provide 7 sailings weekly.
Heraklion Athens (Piraeus) ferry prices typically range between 46€* and 343€*. The average price is typically 124€*. The cheapest Heraklion Athens (Piraeus) ferry prices start from 46€*. The average price for a foot passenger is 89€*. The average price for a car is 288€*.
Pricing will vary depending on number of passengers, vehicle type, route and sailing times. Pricing is taken from searches over last 30 days and exclusive of service fees, last updated 1 April 2025.
The distance between Heraklion to Athens (Piraeus) is approximately 193.9 miles (312.1km) or 168.5 nautical miles.
Yes, Minoan Lines & SeaJets ferries allow cars on board ferries between Heraklion and Athens (Piraeus). Use our Deal Finder to get live pricing for car ferries between Heraklion and Athens (Piraeus).
Yes, foot passengers can travel with Minoan Lines & SeaJets ferries between Heraklion and Athens (Piraeus).
Pets are allowed on ferries travelling from Heraklion to Athens (Piraeus) with Minoan Lines. Please also note that your pet may have to stay in the vehicle during the journey unless the ferry operator supplies pet accommodation.
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| Crete (Heraklion) - Athens (Piraeus) Route summary | ||
|---|---|---|
| Departure Country | Greece | |
| Destination Country | Greece | |
| No. of Operators | 2 | |
| Operators | Blue Star Ferries & SeaJets | |
| Average Price | 111 €* | |
| Average Daily Sailings | 1 | |
| Average Weekly Sailings | 8 | |
| Average Sailing Duration | 9h 33m | |
| Fastest Sailing Duration | 7h 30m | |
| First Ferry | 04:30 | |
| Last Ferry | 23:45 | |
| Distance | 168 nautical miles | |
* Prices subject to change, pricing is taken from last 30 days, last updated 2024-11-05.
The Greek city of Heraklion is the capital and largest city on the island of Crete. A popular visitor attraction near the city is Knossos, which is around 5 km from Heraklion. This important archaeological site was the Palace of King Minos and home to the Minotaur, if legend is to be believed. The palace was built over the remains of a former Neolithic settlement in around 1900 BC.
An important attraction in the city itself is the Archaeological Museum which can be found on one corner of the central Eleftherias Square, in a converted power station. The museum collects and displays many artefacts from Knossos, Archanes, Phaestos, Zakros and many other important archaeological sites on the island. The museum's collection spans several thousand years and includes the Phaestos disc, classic Hellenic and Roman sculptures, frescos, jewellery, wall paintings and pottery.
Visitors to Heraklion can take a ferry from the port, which is important for both passenger services and cargo, to destinations including Santorini, Ios, Paros, Mykonos and Rhodes. There are also daily sailings to the mainland port of Piraeus.
The Greek city and port of Piraeus is one of the largest ports in the whole of the Mediterranean, and the third largest in the world, and has become a major hub for the ferry network that spans the Aegean Sea. Piraeus is an important city in its own right despite the fact that it is frequently considered to be a suburb of Athens, the Greek capital, which is only a very short distance away. Despite its proximity to Athens, Piraeus' waterfront has its own distinct appearance and visitors will see that the most appealing parts of the city are located around its eastern quarter, alongside both Mikrolimano Harbour and Zea Marina. A popular event in Piraeus is the Ecocinema International Film Festival which is held annually in late February and is where a number of films are screened at the Atticon Cinema and the Cineac Cinema, which are both located in the city's Town Hall Square.
Full of restaurants, bars and nightclubs, the waterfront district was greatly redeveloped in time for the Athens Olympics and as a result a new harbour front promenade was created that is lined with trees and passes the medieval city walls. The walls serve as a reminder and as an insight into the city's rich past.
