Heraklion to Piraeus Ferry

The Heraklion Piraeus ferry route connects Crete with Athens and is currently operated by 2 ferry companies. The Minoan Lines service runs up to 11 times per week with a sailing duration of around 7 hours while the Anek Superfast service runs up to 11 times per week with a duration from 8 hr 45 min.

So that’s a combined 22 sailings on offer per week on the Heraklion Piraeus route between Crete and Athens. Compare now and get the best fare at the time that you want to travel.

Heraklion to Piraeus Ferry Alternatives

For more information, please visit our Ferries from Crete to Athens page.

Heraklion - Piraeus Ferry Operators

  • Minoan Lines
    • 11 Sailings Weekly 7 hr
    • Get price
  • Anek Superfast
    • 11 Sailings Weekly 8 hr 45 min
    • Get price

Average Heraklion Piraeus Prices

Prices shown represent the average one way price paid by our customers. The most common booking on the Heraklion Piraeus route is a car and 2 passengers.

Heraklion Piraeus Ferry reviews

  • "Satisfied"

    We are very pleased with everything. Will definitely be travelling again next year!!

    'Coty' travelled Heraklion Piraeus with Minoan Lines on Festos Palace

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  • "Nice journey"

    Some of the on board facilities have been converted to shops, which is a shame. We didn't use the on board catering so cannot comment on it. Otherwise was a great journey. Nice clean cabin and effective shower.

    'Mark' travelled Heraklion Piraeus with Minoan Lines on Festos Palace

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  • "Perfect boat trip during you holiday"

    We, me and my boyfriend, have traveled around whole Greece. We have started in Crete. We have not felt like flying all the time, and as a result, we have decided to travel to Athens by this ferry. It took nearly whole day, however, we are from inland, so it was very nice trip. I can only recommend this ferry, nothing have gone wrong and ferry has been really beautiful.

    'Daniela' travelled Heraklion Piraeus with Minoan Lines on Knossos Palace

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  • "Reasonable vessel, noisy cabin"

    We went from Heraklion to Athens, this time on the Knossos Palace. The cabin was reasonable but had a faint odour of diesel and was much noisier than the one we had on her sister-ship Festos Palace.

    'John' travelled Heraklion Piraeus with Minoan Lines on Knossos Palace

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Heraklion Guide

The Greek city of Heraklion is the capital and largest city on the island of Crete. A popular visitor attraction near the city is Knossos, which is around 5 km from Heraklion. This important archaeological site was the Palace of King Minos and home to the Minotaur, if legend is to be believed. The palace was built over the remains of a former Neolithic settlement in around 1900 BC.

An important attraction in the city itself is the Archaeological Museum which can be found on one corner of the central Eleftherias Square, in a converted power station. The museum collects and displays many artefacts from Knossos, Archanes, Phaestos, Zakros and many other important archaeological sites on the island. The museum's collection spans several thousand years and includes the Phaestos disc, classic Hellenic and Roman sculptures, frescos, jewellery, wall paintings and pottery.

Visitors to Heraklion can take a ferry from the port, which is important for both passenger services and cargo, to destinations including Santorini, Ios, Paros, Mykonos and Rhodes. There are also daily sailings to the mainland port of Piraeus.

Piraeus Guide

The Greek city and port of Piraeus is one of the largest ports in the whole of the Mediterranean, and the third largest in the world, and has become a major hub for the ferry network that spans the Aegean Sea. Piraeus is an important city in its own right despite the fact that it is frequently considered to be a suburb of Athens, the Greek capital, which is only a very short distance away. Despite its proximity to Athens, Piraeus' waterfront has its own distinct appearance and visitors will see that the most appealing parts of the city are located around its eastern quarter, alongside both Mikrolimano Harbour and Zea Marina. A popular event in Piraeus is the Ecocinema International Film Festival which is held annually in late February and is where a number of films are screened at the Atticon Cinema and the Cineac Cinema, which are both located in the city's Town Hall Square.

Full of restaurants, bars and nightclubs, the waterfront district was greatly redeveloped in time for the Athens Olympics and as a result a new harbour front promenade was created that is lined with trees and passes the medieval city walls. The walls serve as a reminder and as an insight into the city's rich past.