Crete Travel Information
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Getting Around Crete
Buses
Greece has a national bus service called KTEL which also runs services on Crete. The services are cheap, safe and reasonably punctual. Generally, there are a number of buses per day between the main cities and at least two a day to even the smallest villages.
Buses between Heraklion and Rethymnon to Chania run hourly from 05.30hrs (first departure from Chania and Heraklion) to 20.30hrs (last departure from Chania and Heraklion). The buses are in good condition but only a few on the main routes have air-conditioning.
Taxis
Taxis are still quite cheap in Greece but make sure that the meter is set or fix the price beforehand. If you take a taxi at major taxi stands, there will often be a price table listing the costs of a drive to the main destinations.
Be aware that there is a small surcharge from airport and port terminals, as well as on some holidays such as Christmas and Easter.
Car Hire
Car hire is available at all the main towns and airports. It is worth shopping around as prices can vary considerably.
Outside of July and August, especially if you want to hire for a week or more, you can look for bargains.
Mopeds and motorbikes can also be hired.
Driving
On the left. Driving is the most flexible way to get around the island and to explore the real Crete. However whilst driving care should be taken on curving mountains roads and rough road surfaces, particularly in the south.
You should also watch for flocks of sheep and goats, and the occasional chicken, dog or donkey.
Moped drivers should be particularly careful, and should always wear a helmet.
Trains
There are no trains on Crete.
Boats
From Piraeus on mainland Greece there are many ferry sailings to Crete and the rest of the Greek islands.
To Heraklion, sailings take about 9 hours on standard ferries (ANEK Lines) and 6 hours on two high speed services of Minoan Lines. These ferries sail overnight and arrive at their destination between 5.30 and 6.30 in the morning (the high speed ferries operate during the day).
The ANEK Lines overnight ferry from Piraeus to Chania takes 9 hours. Piraeus to Rethymno, is also served by ANEK Lines overnight ferries, as well as the high speed catamaran of Hellenic Seaways.
As the south coast of western Crete is very rugged and doesn't have a coastal road there is a ferry service between the villages of Paleochora, Sougia, Agia Roumeli, Loutro and Hora Sfakion as well as to the island of Gavdos during the summer months. There is a more limited service during the winter months.