Athens (Piraeus)
Heraklion
Ferries to Crete
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Open tickets are valid for up to 12 months from booking date (see ticket conditions).

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Ferry from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion

The Athens (Piraeus) Heraklion ferry is serviced by 2 ferry companies; Minoan Lines & SeaJets.Athens (Piraeus) Heraklion ferries take around 9 hours 25 minutes. The ferry costs between €75.56 and €574.50, 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 Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion.

Athens (Piraeus) Heraklion Ferry Times

The first Athens (Piraeus) Heraklion ferry typically departs from Athens (Piraeus) at around 07:00. The last ferry usually departs at 21:00.

How long is the ferry from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion?

The Athens (Piraeus) Heraklion ferry trip can take around 9 hours 25 minutes. The fastest sailings are approximately 7 hours 20 minutes. Sailing times can vary between ferry operators and can be impacted by weather conditions.

Athens (Piraeus) Heraklion Ferry Operator Schedules

There is 27 weekly sailings from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion provided by Minoan Lines & SeaJets. Timetables can change from season to season.

Minoan Lines provide 8 sailings weekly. SeaJets provide 14 sailings weekly.

Athens (Piraeus) Heraklion Ferry Prices

Athens (Piraeus) Heraklion ferry prices typically range between 76€* and 575€*. The average price is typically 211€*. The cheapest Athens (Piraeus) Heraklion ferry prices start from 76€*. The average price for a foot passenger is 150€*. The average price for a car is 334€*.

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 March 2025.

How far is it from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion?

The distance between Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion is approximately 193.9 miles (312.1km) or 168.5 nautical miles.

Can I travel by car on the Athens (Piraeus) Heraklion ferry?

Yes, Minoan Lines & SeaJets ferries allow cars on board ferries between Athens (Piraeus) and Heraklion. Use our Deal Finder to get live pricing for car ferries between Athens (Piraeus) and Heraklion.

Can I travel as a foot passenger from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion?

Yes, foot passengers can travel with Minoan Lines & SeaJets ferries between Athens (Piraeus) and Heraklion.

Can I take my pet on the ferry from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion?

Pets are allowed on ferries travelling from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion 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.

Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion Ferry Alternatives

For more information, please visit our Ferries from Athens to Crete page.
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Athens (Piraeus) - Heraklion Ferry Route Summary
Departure DestinationAthens
DestinationCrete
No. of Operators2
OperatorsMinoan Lines & SeaJets
Average Price€211
Average Daily Sailings4
Average Weekly Sailings27
Average Sailing Duration9 h 25 m
Fastest Sailing Duration7 h 20 m
First Ferry07:00
Last Ferry21:00
Distance168 Nautical Miles

* Prices subject to change, pricing is taken from last 30 days, last updated 1 March 2025.

Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion Ferry Most Popular Questions

  • How long is the ferry from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion?

    The ferry crossing time from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion is approximately 9 hours 25 minutes. Sailing duration may vary from season to season and by operator, so we would advise doing a live check using our Deal Finder.

  • How much is the ferry from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion?

    Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion ferry price can differ depending on the season. The average price of a ferry from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion is 211€. Price exclusive of booking fees.

  • Which ferry companies operate between Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion?

    There are 2 popular ferry operators for Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion. These are

  • How can I book ferry tickets from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion?

    Book ferries from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion through our deal finder and check our offers page to view the latest ferry offers. 

  • Can you travel as a foot passenger on the ferry from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion?

    Yes, you can travel as a foot passenger from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion with

  • Can you take your car on the ferry from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion?

    Yes, you can travel on the ferry with a car from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion with

  • Can you bring pets on the ferry from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion?

    Yes, pets are permitted onboard the ferry. You may need a pet passport. Please read the ferry operators pet guidelines. Currently you can bring pets on ferries with:

  • How far is Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion?

    The distance from Athens (Piraeus) to Heraklion is 168 nautical miles.

Athens (Piraeus) Guide

The port city of Piraeus in Greece lies on the Saronic Gulf in the Attica region of the country and forms part of the Athens urban area, with the centre of Athens located some 12 km from the port. The centre of Piraeus is generally congested with traffic and tends not to be place where tourists would go. The area has many of the facilities you would expect of a non-tourist town: banks, public buildings, pedestrian areas, shopping streets and the like. The area around Zea Marina and Mikrolimano Harbour are perhaps the most attractive part of Piraeus and have a good selection of restaurants, cafes and bars.

Piraeus is Greece's main port and the largest in Europe and the third largest in the world. Unsurprisingly, it is the hub of Greece's maritime industries and the base for its merchant navy. Having recently undergone a refurbishment, facilities at the port have improved and include ATM's, bureau de change, restaurants, cafes, bars and a number of travel agencies selling ferry tickets. destinations served by the port include the island of Crete, the Cyclades Islands, the Dodecanese Islands, the eastern parts of Greece and parts of the northern and eastern Aegean Sea.


Heraklion Guide

Located on the Greek island of Crete, Heraklion is the island's largest city and is one of the main urban centres in Greece. The city can trace its history back to at least the 9th century AD when its development began and then later came under the influence of the Arabs, the Venetians and the Ottomans. Popular sites in the city with tourists include the fortification walls that are essentially the boundary of the old city. These were first built by the Arabs and then reinforced by the Venetians. From the seven bastions, only the Martinengo bastion survives to this day and is where visitors will find the tomb of the renowned writer N. Kazantzakis, overlooking the city. The city was also a venue during the 2004 Olympic Games, and hosted games of the football tournament.

Located in the city's old port, visitors can still see the vaulted tarsanades where ships used to be built and also the 16th century Koule Fortress. From the port, ferries depart to destinations including Santorini, Ios, Paros, Mykonos and Rhodes. There are also ferry services to the Greek mainland port of Piraeus.

Piraeus to Heraklion Ferry Timetables

Timetables between 24/03/2025 and 30/03/2025


Operator Departure Time Arrival Time Duration Sailing Days
Blue Star Ferries 17:00 03:00 10 hours Thu
Blue Star Ferries 17:00 04:20 11 hours 20 minutes Sat
Blue Star Ferries 21:00 06:15 9 hours 15 minutes Everyday
Minoan Lines 21:00 06:30 9 hours 30 minutes Everyday
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