Santorini to Heraklion Ferry

The Santorini to Heraklion crossing is the classic hop between the Cyclades and Crete, linking Santorini's caldera to the largest city on Greece's largest island. The distance is roughly 63 nautical miles (about 120 km), and how long you spend at sea depends entirely on the type of vessel you choose.

Operators and vessel types

This is one of the busiest island-to-island routes in the southern Aegean, and it is served by two very different classes of ship:

• High-speed catamarans run by SeaJets, including the Worldchampion Jet and Champions League Jet, cover the crossing in about 1 hour 35 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes. These are the fastest option and the reason so many travellers treat Santorini and Crete as a single trip.
• Conventional car ferries from Minoan Lines and Blue Star Ferries take longer, typically 3 to 5 hours, but ride more smoothly in wind and carry vehicles at lower fares.

Ports

Boats leave Santorini from Athinios port, the island's main ferry harbour below the cliffs (not the old port beneath Fira), and arrive at the port of Heraklion, walking distance from the city centre and a short taxi ride from the airport and Knossos.

Frequency, season and fares

The route runs across much of the year, with the heaviest schedule and multiple daily departures in the peak summer months, thinning out in winter. High-speed catamaran fares are premium, generally starting around 90 euros and rising in August, while a standard deck seat on a conventional ferry can start from as little as 15 euros. Vehicles are only carried on the conventional ships, so drivers should book a Minoan or Blue Star sailing rather than a fast catamaran.

Because high-speed catamarans are more sensitive to strong Aegean winds (the summer meltemi), the occasional cancellation is possible; a conventional ferry is the more weather-resilient fallback on a blustery day.