Chania has two ferry ports, they're on opposite sides of the city, and they serve completely different networks. Confusing them is one of the more expensive mistakes you can make in western Crete, so this guide covers both — and is honest about what neither of them does.
Quick Answer
Souda, 4km east of town, is Chania's main port. It sails overnight to Piraeus (Athens) in about 9 hours — and essentially nowhere else in the Aegean. Kissamos, 42km west, sails to Kythira, Antikythira and Gythio on the Peloponnese. There are no ferries from Chania to Santorini, Mykonos or any Cycladic island. For those you travel east to Heraklion.
Souda Port
Souda sits in a long natural bay about 4km east of Chania's town centre. It's a working port — the bay is also a naval base — and the passenger terminal is straightforward: ticket desks, a café, and a short walk to the berths.
It is not walkable from town with luggage. Budget for a bus or taxi in both directions.
What sails from here:
- Piraeus (Athens) — the reliable route, run by ANEK and Blue Star. Overnight, roughly 9 hours.
- Milos — a seasonal Souda–Milos–Piraeus fast ferry has operated in some years and not others. Booking aggregators currently disagree about whether it runs at all. Do not build a plan around it without confirming a live schedule the same week you book.
That's genuinely the whole list. There has never been a reliable Chania–Cyclades service.
The Athens Crossing
The overnight to and from Piraeus is a good way to travel, and better value than it first looks once you count the saved hotel night.
| Direction | Departs | Arrives | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piraeus → Souda | ~21:00 off-season, ~22:00 high season | ~06:30 | ~9h |
| Souda → Piraeus | Evening | Early morning | ~9h |
Three practical notes:
- Book a cabin. Deck seats are cheap and you will not sleep in one for nine hours. A cabin turns the crossing into a night's accommodation you'd otherwise have paid for anyway.
- Check in early. Foot passengers should aim for 30–45 minutes before departure; vehicles need longer.
- You arrive at 06:30. Too early for hotel check-in. Arrange bag drop with your accommodation in advance, or plan a long breakfast.
Flying is faster if you're only counting hours — but the ferry saves a night's room, and a cabin crossing is a more pleasant experience than a 06:00 airport run. See our Chania airport guide for the alternative.
Getting From Souda Into Chania
| Option | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| KTEL bus | ~€2 | Meets arriving ferries; runs to Chania bus station |
| Taxi | ~€12–15 | Rank outside the terminal; ~10 minutes |
| Car rental | From ~€18/day | Usually collected in town or at the airport, not the port |
The bus is timed around ferry arrivals and is the obvious choice if you're travelling light. With a family and luggage at 06:30, the taxi is worth it.
Renting a Car in Chania
Most rental collections happen in town or at the airport rather than at Souda. LocalRent compares local Cretan companies alongside the international brands — from €18/day.
Kissamos Port — A Completely Different Place
This catches people out regularly, so it's worth being blunt: Kissamos is 42km west of Chania. Souda is 4km east. They are 46km apart, on opposite sides of the city, and one is not a substitute for the other.
Kissamos (also written Kastelli) sails to:
- Kythira — about 3h15–3h50, three to six sailings a week
- Antikythira — the tiny island between Crete and the Peloponnese
- Gythio — on the Peloponnese mainland, about 10h15
- Piraeus — on some routings
Operators are SeaJets and LANE Sea Lines. This is the sea route between Crete and the southern mainland, and it's a genuinely lovely, almost entirely un-touristed corner of Greece — Kythira in particular is worth the crossing if you have the time.
Most visitors, though, meet Kissamos for a different reason: it's where the Balos and Gramvousa excursion boats leave from. If you're doing that day trip, see our Balos lagoon guide — and note that the boat departure is from Kissamos port, roughly 45 minutes' drive from Chania town.
Going Anywhere Else in Greece
If Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Rhodes or almost any other Greek island is on your list, neither Chania port will get you there. You need Heraklion, which handles around 179 sailings a week to sixteen-plus destinations across the Cyclades and Dodecanese.
It's about 1.5 hours by car on the E75, or 2.5 hours and roughly €14 by KTEL bus, and the Heraklion bus station sits beside the port.
This sounds like a nuisance and mostly isn't — it just means structuring the trip in the right direction. Fly into Chania, travel east across Crete, sail out of Heraklion. No backtracking, and you see the whole island on the way. We cover it properly in:
- Island hopping from Chania — the port structure and how to plan around it
- Crete island hopping itinerary — the worked two-week route
- Chania to Santorini — the three ways that actually work
- One-way car rental — the drive east
Our sister site covers the far end: the Heraklion ferry port guide and the full list of islands you can reach from Heraklion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Chania's ferry port?
Souda, about 4km east of the town centre. Not walkable with luggage — take the KTEL bus, which meets arriving ferries, or a taxi (~€12–15).
Where do ferries from Chania go?
Piraeus (Athens), overnight, about 9 hours. There are no ferries from Chania to Santorini, Mykonos or any Cycladic island. A seasonal Souda–Milos service has run in some years but can't be relied on.
What time does the Athens ferry arrive in Chania?
Around 06:30, having left Piraeus about 21:00 off-season or 22:00 in high season.
Is Kissamos the same as Souda?
No. Souda is 4km east and sails to Athens; Kissamos is 42km west and sails to Kythira, Antikythira and Gythio. They're 46km apart on opposite sides of Chania.
How do I get from Chania to the Greek islands?
Travel east to Heraklion — 1.5 hours by car, 2.5 hours by bus — and sail from there. It's the only Cretan port with real Cyclades and Dodecanese connections.
Planning the Journey