Almost everyone travelling from Athens to Crete assumes flying is obviously right, because 50 minutes beats 9 hours. That maths ignores the two things that actually decide it: the overnight ferry replaces a hotel night, and which Cretan port you land at changes your whole trip.
Quick Answer
Take the overnight ferry with a cabin if you're heading to Chania or western Crete, travelling with real luggage, or want to save a night's accommodation — you board in Piraeus around 21:00–22:00 and wake up at Souda about 06:30, 4km from Chania. Fly if you're short on time, travelling in winter, or heading somewhere the ferry doesn't serve conveniently. Deck tickets from ~€30, cabins ~€60–120; flights are 50 minutes and vary far more in price.
Ferry vs Flight, Honestly
| Overnight ferry | Flight | |
|---|---|---|
| Journey time | ~9 hours (asleep) | 50 minutes |
| Real time cost | None — you sleep through it | ~4 hours door to door |
| From | €30 deck / €60–120 cabin | Varies widely |
| Saves a hotel night? | Yes, with a cabin | No |
| Luggage | No real limit | Airline allowance |
| Winter reliability | Runs year-round, weather-dependent | More reliable |
| Arrives | 06:30, in town | Airport, then transfer |
The row that changes people's minds is "real time cost". A 9-hour crossing you sleep through costs you nothing but the evening; a 50-minute flight still eats most of a day once you add getting to the airport, checking in, and getting from Chania airport into town.
Compare Both in One Search
Omio prices the Piraeus–Souda ferries alongside the Athens–Chania flights, which is the only sensible way to compare them — the cheapest option changes by date, and cabins sell out before deck space does.
Which Port You Sail To Matters More Than the Boat
This is the decision people get wrong, and it costs a day.
- Souda serves Chania and western Crete. It's 4km east of Chania town — a €12–15 taxi or a ~€2 KTEL bus that meets arriving ferries. If your trip is Chania, the Samaria Gorge, Balos or Elafonissi, this is your port.
- Heraklion serves central and eastern Crete, and is the only Cretan port with onward Cyclades and Dodecanese connections. The terminal is about 1km from the city centre.
Sail to the wrong one and you've added a 1.5-hour drive across the island before your holiday starts. Souda and Heraklion are 145km apart.
Two related things worth knowing: Souda is not Kissamos — that's a different port 42km west of Chania serving Kythira and the Peloponnese (see our Kissamos port guide) — and Souda has no Cyclades ferries at all, so if Santorini is also on your list, read island hopping from Chania before you book anything.
Full detail on the terminal itself is in our Chania ferry port guide.
The Overnight Crossing
Operated by ANEK and Blue Star Ferries, year-round.
| Direction | Departs | Arrives | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piraeus → Souda (Chania) | ~21:00 off-season, ~22:00 high season | ~06:30 | ~9h |
| Souda → Piraeus | Evening | Early morning | ~9h |
| Piraeus → Heraklion (overnight) | ~21:00 | ~06:00 | 9–10h |
| Piraeus → Heraklion (day) | ~09:00 | ~18:00 | 9–10h |
Check in 30–45 minutes before departure as a foot passenger, and longer with a vehicle. Piraeus is a big port with numbered gates — allow time to find yours, and confirm the gate number when you book rather than on the night.
The 06:30 arrival is the crossing's one genuine drawback: it's too early for hotel check-in. Arrange bag drop with your accommodation in advance, or plan a long breakfast on the harbour — Chania is a good place to be awake early.
Cabins, Seats and Deck
The fare classes matter more than the operator here.
- Cabin (~€60–120) — the one worth buying. Inside or outside, en-suite, and it converts the crossing into a night's accommodation you'd otherwise pay for. This is what makes the ferry cheaper than flying, not the ticket price.
- Airline-style seat — reclining, in a lounge. Fine for a daytime crossing, mediocre for nine hours overnight.
- Deck (~€30) — the cheapest, and a false economy on a night crossing. You'll arrive tired.
Cabins sell out before anything else in July and August. If the ferry is your plan, book the cabin early rather than assuming you can upgrade later.
Practical notes: bring water and something to eat, since onboard food is expensive and unremarkable; there's no meaningful luggage limit, which is why the ferry suits families and long trips; and Wi-Fi is unreliable, so download anything you need.
When Flying Is Clearly Better
The ferry isn't always the answer:
- You're short on time. A weekend in Crete shouldn't spend two evenings on a boat.
- It's winter. The crossing runs year-round but is weather-dependent, and a rough nine hours is genuinely unpleasant. Flights are more reliable November to March.
- You're prone to seasickness. The Aegean in a meltemi is not calm.
- You found a cheap fare. Booked early, a flight can undercut a cabin outright.
Chania airport (CHQ) is about 14km from town. Details in our Chania airport guide.
Booking Notes
- Compare both modes on the same dates. The cheaper option flips depending on the day and how far ahead you book.
- Book the cabin, not the deck ticket, if you're crossing overnight.
- Confirm the port before you pay. Souda for Chania; Heraklion for the east and for onward islands.
- July and August need real advance booking — cabins go first.
- Arrange early bag drop for a 06:30 arrival.
- Don't plan a tight onward connection off an arriving ferry. Weather delays happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the ferry from Athens to Crete?
About 9 hours to Chania (Souda) and 9–10 to Heraklion. Chania sailings are overnight, leaving Piraeus around 21:00–22:00 and arriving about 06:30.
Is it better to fly or take the ferry?
Fly if you're short on time or travelling in winter. Take the overnight ferry with a cabin if you want to save a night's accommodation and a day of travel — you sleep on board and wake up in Crete. The ferry also wins on luggage, which has no real limit.
How much does it cost?
Deck tickets from around €30, cabins roughly €60–120 depending on season and type. Flights vary far more — cheap booked early, expensive at short notice in August.
Which Cretan port should I sail to?
Souda for Chania and western Crete, Heraklion for the centre, east and any onward island-hopping. They're 145km apart, so the wrong choice costs you a 1.5-hour drive.
Should I book a cabin?
On the overnight, yes. Deck seats are cheap but you won't sleep, and the cabin is what replaces a hotel night — which is the whole financial case for the ferry. Cabins sell out first in high season.
Book the Journey