Piraeus to Heraklion Ferry

The Piraeus Heraklion ferry route connects Athens with Crete 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 Piraeus Heraklion route between Athens and Crete. Compare now and get the best fare at the time that you want to travel.

Piraeus to Heraklion Ferry Alternatives

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

Piraeus - Heraklion Ferry Operators

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

Average Piraeus Heraklion Prices

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

Piraeus Heraklion Ferry reviews

  • "Fantastic way to get to Crete"

    We decided to book a luxury cabin as it wasn't any more expensive than flying from Athens in economy. What a treat. It was large and luxurious. Very comfortable bed, seating area and an ensuite bathroom. We ate in the restaurant, had a very good meal, which was well priced. A nightcap to round it off and we retired to our cabin. We slept right through the journey to Crete. Woke just as we were arriving. Had a shower and some breakfast and disembarked clean and well rested for a busy day of travelling.

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

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  • "Very Enjoyable Crossing"

    The ferry was very big, plush and looked more like a cruise ship than ferry crossing. The staff were friendly and helpful. We enjoyed a meal in the self service buffet as we set sail. Our cabin was spacious and comfortable. I would recommend the Knossos Palace to fellow travellers and would use it myself again.

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

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  • "great holiday."

    Amazing staff and vessel, to quality food and accommodation.

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

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  • "Fantastic trip"

    Hello everybody! I am pleased to let everyone know that our vacation in Crete had a perfect start and a perfect end thanks to Minoan Lines. We crossed the Aegean sea back and forth smoothly, aboard a state of the art ship. Words cannot encompas the feeling aboard mighty Festos Palace. I strongly recommend anyone willing to go to Crete by means of water to use the services of Minoan Lines. Also many thanks to Direct Ferries for providing us the reservation. Happy vacations to everyone!

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

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Piraeus Guide

The port city of Piraeus in Greece lies on the Saronic Gulf in the Attica region of the country and forms part of the Athens urban area, with the centre of Athens located some 12 km from the port. The centre of Piraeus is generally congested with traffic and tends not to be place where tourists would go. The area has many of the facilities you would expect of a non-tourist town: banks, public buildings, pedestrian areas, shopping streets and the like. The area around Zea Marina and Mikrolimano Harbour are perhaps the most attractive part of Piraeus and have a good selection of restaurants, cafes and bars.

Piraeus is Greece's main port and the largest in Europe and the third largest in the world. Unsurprisingly, it is the hub of Greece's maritime industries and the base for its merchant navy. Having recently undergone a refurbishment, facilities at the port have improved and include ATM's, bureau de change, restaurants, cafes, bars and a number of travel agencies selling ferry tickets. destinations served by the port include the island of Crete, the Cyclades Islands, the Dodecanese Islands, the eastern parts of Greece and parts of the northern and eastern Aegean Sea.

Heraklion Guide

Located on the Greek island of Crete, Heraklion is the island's largest city and is one of the main urban centres in Greece. The city can trace its history back to at least the 9th century AD when its development began and then later came under the influence of the Arabs, the Venetians and the Ottomans. Popular sites in the city with tourists include the fortification walls that are essentially the boundary of the old city. These were first built by the Arabs and then reinforced by the Venetians. From the seven bastions, only the Martinengo bastion survives to this day and is where visitors will find the tomb of the renowned writer N. Kazantzakis, overlooking the city. The city was also a venue during the 2004 Olympic Games, and hosted games of the football tournament.

Located in the city's old port, visitors can still see the vaulted tarsanades where ships used to be built and also the 16th century Koule Fortress. From the port, ferries depart to destinations including Santorini, Ios, Paros, Mykonos and Rhodes. There are also ferry services to the Greek mainland port of Piraeus.