TRAVEL
HOW TO REACH CRETE?
Crete is the largest Greek island and it can be reached by plane or by boat.
Travel by plane
Flights to Crete land at one of the two main airports. These are Chania International Airport (CHQ), on the west side of the island, and Heraklion International Airport (HER), which is closer to the east side and serves the most populated region of Crete. HCMR (Conference venue) is located 15 km to the east from Heraklion International Airport. The distance between Heraklion and Chania is about 140 km.
Heraklion International Airport is the second busiest airport in Greece. It took its name from the famous author Nikos Kazantzakis and is 4 km from the center of the city. Travelers can catch a flight from Heraklion to Greek domestic airports as well as to around hundred cities around the world.
There are a few ways to reach the Heraklion town from its airport – bus, taxi, or even 35-50 minute walk, depending on desired spot. The best solution is to take the bus No. 6 (blue busses). The bus station is located just outside the airport building, on the central road on your left. The central road is located straight ahead of you as soon as you exit the arrival building of the airport. Busses arrive every 10 minutes and are headed from the airport to Heraklion KTEL bus terminal, which is located in the central spot inside the city of Heraklion. Bus schedules start daily at 06:00 and last until 23:00.
For the travel to Gournes area, bus station is located on your right. This is the intercity bus station and busses are not blue but (mostly) green. The most of the busses travelling to the east pass through Gournes; ask the driver about your exact destination.
Travel by boat
The port of Heraklion is located on the north coast of Crete, connecting the island to Athens, the Cyclades and the Dodecanese. The terminal for ferries and cruises is located on the eastern side of the port and is easily accessible.
Heraklion is connected to Athens with regular ferry services from the port of Piraeus. During the summer, the Piraeus - Heraklion ferry route runs daily. The journey takes about 8 to 10 hours and ferry crossings are usually at night.
Most people get around via car rental, which offers the freedom to do what you want and when you want. Public buses also connect travelers through and within all the major cities. There is no universal Crete travel card, but fares tend to be inexpensive within cities, while they cost more to travel between cities.
KTEL Buses (Suburban)
There are two KTEL services in Crete: the KTEL of Chania-Rethymno and the KTEL of Heraklion-Lassithi. KTEL buses are green. There are daily and regular schedules between the four main towns of Crete (Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos). Also from the main towns, there are regular buses to the largest villages and main tourist places of the prefecture.
Urban buses
In the four largest towns of Crete (Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos), there are blue buses that serve the suburbs of the town. These buses may have itineraries till a distance of 5-6 km from the town. For example, the bus from Heraklion Town to Knossos is blue.
Cars and motorbikes
There are car rental offices and motorbike rental agencies in almost all towns, airports and bus stations in Crete. If you book online, you can also ask for pick up in your hotel or departure point. It is advised to make an online car reservation before you arrive on the island, as car rentals are very popular, particularly in high season.
Road network
The road network in Crete connects all major towns and tourist places on the island. However, extra attention is required as roads are narrow and there are only 1 or 2 lines per direction. Particularly in mountain regions, the roads are winding and can be very narrow.
Taxis
Taxis in Crete can be found anywhere, particularly in large towns. As some fares are fixed (e.g. from the port/airport to a tourist place), it is advised to ask the driver for the total fare before you get aboard.