Reach Athinios by road for the Crete-bound ferry. The cable-car and old-port route below Fira serves a different harbour and does not take you to this ship.
Choose Greece as your place of departure, then select Santorini - Heraklion. If the ports are grouped under an island or region, choose that place of departure or “Show all routes”. Enter your dates and confirm the direction shown before booking. Search all ferry routes.
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Start with a dated one-way departure for Heraklion in the Seajets passenger booking search. An evening time printed for an excursion returning to Crete can belong to passengers who bought the whole package. Confirm a ticket from Santorini before booking an onward connection.
Build in the road journey from Oia, Fira or your accommodation to Athinios. The last part of the approach descends to the busy ferry quay. A transfer leaving your hotel at the ship’s boarding time is already too late.
Check the vessel and ticket inclusions before choosing how to travel. A passenger-only result cannot confirm space for a car. A walk-on passenger with luggage also needs to know where the driver will drop them at the harbour.
Heraklion is the port of arrival in Crete. The airport, Knossos and resorts outside the city each need a different transfer. For a same-day flight, plan for disembarkation and the road journey as well as the time at sea.
Check the total cost for everyone travelling, including any vehicle, reserved seat, cabin or other option offered. A later arrival in Heraklion may affect your next connection or accommodation, so compare the whole journey as well as the fare.
Travelling the other way? Read the Heraklion to Santorini ferry guide.
Compare the operators and departures offered for your dates. The sailing result confirms the carrier, vessel and travel options for that journey.
SeaJetsSeaJets is listed in FerryEU’s guide to this crossing. Search the Santorini to Heraklion direction to see which departures and ticket types are offered for your date.
Check the vessel, boarding arrangements at Santorini, baggage allowance and any vehicle or accommodation options in the selected sailing. The return leg can have a different schedule or ship.
Most scheduled ferries use Athinios, below the caldera. The port is busy in summer and road access is steep, so pre-arranged bus, taxi or transfer plans can save time.
Tell a driver you need Athinios passenger ferry port for Heraklion. Give the ship and the date, since more than one island service may be boarding at the quay.
Heraklion is Crete’s busiest ferry gateway and the ferry point for fast SeaJets services to Santorini and the Cyclades.
At Heraklion, organise collection at the passenger exit. If continuing across Crete after a late arrival, check that the next bus or hire-car collection is available at that hour.
Use the facilities listed for the ship on your departure. Vessel assignments and onboard services can change.
High-speed ferries provide assigned or category-based seating. Select the class that fits your comfort and budget.
Food and drink are available onboard the high-speed vessel, with the exact service depending on the sailing.
Follow crew instructions for larger bags and keep documents, medication and valuables with you.
Notify SeaJets in advance if assistance is needed and allow extra time during busy summer boarding periods.
For your Santorini to Heraklion sailing, keep the booking confirmation and any identification required by the operator ready. Check ticket collection, check-in and boarding instructions before leaving for Santorini.
Use the terminal named on the Santorini booking confirmation. Plan the route to check-in, including any parking or drop-off arrangements, before departure.
Check names and travel details before you arrive. If taking a vehicle, enter its full dimensions and include trailers, roof loads or rear-mounted equipment where required.
Use current official guidance for documents, entry permissions and any vehicle or pet requirements that apply to your journey. Requirements depend on your circumstances and can change.
Central Heraklion is walkable, while buses and road connections make Knossos, beaches and destinations across northern Crete straightforward to reach.
The Archaeological Museum, Morosini Fountain, old town and Venetian harbour can be combined comfortably on foot.
Frequent local transport links central Heraklion with Knossos, while intercity buses serve major towns around Crete.
A vehicle gives the greatest flexibility for beaches, villages, archaeological sites and mountain landscapes beyond the main bus corridors.
For an onward connection from Heraklion, include time to leave the ship and terminal. Check local transport for the actual arrival day, especially if the ferry arrives early in the morning or late at night. A nearby hotel or a later connection may give more flexibility if the crossing is delayed.
Explore HeraklionSearch nearby dates and compare the complete journey when considering another crossing. Different ports can change your transfer time, onward drive or overnight plans.
Return journey: Heraklion to Santorini · Browse all ferry routes
No. The cable car goes to Fira’s old port. The ferry for Heraklion uses Athinios, which needs a road transfer.
Check vehicle availability for your ship before you travel to the port. A passenger seat or the return time of a day excursion provides no assurance of a vehicle place.
High-speed trips between Santorini and Heraklion can take around two hours. For an independent one-way trip, use the arrival on your ticket rather than the estimated timing on a tour itinerary.
Check the Crete-bound passenger search, including Seajets when offered. A Heraklion day-tour return to Crete is described by the same endpoints but is sold as a different product.
Report to Athinios port. From Fira or Oia you need a road transfer down to the harbour, so arrange a pickup early enough for the ferry check-in.
Walk-on places and vehicle places are separate. Check what the selected ship can carry and what its booking form actually sells for your Santorini departure before taking a vehicle down to Athinios.
Compare the dates and departure times that work for your trip. Check the total for passengers, any vehicle and accommodation, then compare ticket flexibility and the onward journey from Heraklion. Prices depend on the sailing and available capacity.
Central Heraklion is walkable, while buses and road connections make Knossos, beaches and destinations across northern Crete straightforward to reach. Allow time to disembark and reach your onward transport before a timed connection.
Use the return-trip option in the search and check both directions and dates before booking. The Heraklion to Santorini guide covers the opposite departure port. Availability and sailing times can differ between the two legs.
Check the sailing from Santorini, arrival in Heraklion and travel options before confirming your reservation.
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