Athens (Piraeus) - Chania
Ferry to Crete
Athens (Piraeus) - Chania
Ferry to Crete
Fares for the Athens (Piraeus) to Chania crossing usually range somewhere between $88* and $1135*. Most travellers pay around $432* for a Athens (Piraeus) Chania ferry ticket, and the cheapest fares on this route begin at $88*. Foot passengers can expect to pay roughly $227* on average. Bringing a car along typically brings the average fare up to $871*.
Fares vary according to passenger count, vehicle type, the route itself and what time you sail. Figures come from fares searched in the previous 30 days, don't include service fees, and were last checked September 26.
There's a quick way to stack up ferry fares and operators from around the world side by side, so you can pick the crossing that best suits you. Getting in early tends to open up the widest choice of prices and sailing times.
Direct Ferries has discounts running throughout the year. Where a senior discount applies to your crossing, it's applied the moment you pick the matching age bracket in the passenger section of your search.
If you're a student or recent graduate, a 5% discount is up for grabs. Head to our partner Student Beans to confirm your status and you'll receive a code to enter at checkout.
A handful of Spanish and Italian ferry routes also offer a resident discount — choose the "Residents" option if it appears during your search and the lower fare is applied straight away. You'll usually need to show proof of address, like a residency card or certificate, when you check in.
Sailings on the Athens (Piraeus) Chania route generally kick off from Athens (Piraeus) at around 10:00, and the last departure of the day is usually around 22:00.
With a longer crossing time, a trip between Athens (Piraeus) and Chania is better suited to a weekend away or an extended stay, so you get proper value out of the journey.
Yes, Blue Star Ferries carries vehicles on the Athens (Piraeus) to Chania route. Check our Deal Finder for up-to-date car ferry pricing on this crossing.
Whether a caravan or campervan is welcome on board the Athens (Piraeus) to Chania ferry comes down to the ship and operator running the sailing. Pop your travel details into our Deal Finder, and we'll check the operators on this route for you.
Bicycles aren't currently accepted on sailings between Athens (Piraeus) and Chania.
Yes, Blue Star Ferries carries foot passengers between Athens (Piraeus) and Chania.
Pets aren't currently permitted on ferries between Athens (Piraeus) and Chania. Our Deal Finder can help you find a nearby route that does allow them.
Guide dogs and assistance dogs are often treated differently to general pets, even on routes where pets aren't allowed. Contact our customer service team to find out what's possible on your sailing, or check our Special Assistance Help page for more information.
Whether the Athens (Piraeus) to Chania route has an overnight sailing depends on a mix of factors. Search with your travel dates, and we'll show you whether an overnight option exists, plus current timetables, crossing times and daytime alternatives.
Note that overnight sailings can occasionally take a bit longer than daytime crossings.
What you'll need to travel varies by route, so it pays to check ahead of your sailing. A valid passport is typically required for the Athens (Piraeus) to Chania crossing, along with any visa or national ID required for your nationality. As rules depend on both where you're from and where you're headed, our Check-in, Travel Documents & Tickets guide is worth a read to avoid any hold-ups at check-in.
Booking couldn't be simpler — select your departure port, arrival port and travel date to see everything on offer. From there, you can weigh up alternative routes and departure times to land on the best fit.
Look for early-booking deals and flexible fare types, like upgrades or flexi-tickets, which give you room to change plans later. Double-check details such as passenger numbers and vehicle specs as you go, to keep the booking process painless.
You'll get a confirmation email the moment your booking goes through. From there, how your boarding pass turns up depends on the operator.
Some operators send the boarding pass straight away, while others want you to check in at the port. Where it's on offer, online check-in through the Direct Ferries app can save you time at the terminal.
Ticket desks tend to sit right by the ferry terminal. Building in some extra time before you sail means you won't be rushed collecting tickets and getting checked in.
Have your confirmation email and valid photo ID — a passport or identity card — ready at check-in. If a pet's travelling with you, bring their vaccination and insurance papers, and hold onto proof of address if you booked with a resident discount.
A gap in sailings from Athens (Piraeus) to Chania on your chosen date usually comes down to something like a timetable adjustment, limited space, or a seasonal dip in service. Try a different date, or browse other options with our Route & Port finder.
Generally speaking, booking your Athens (Piraeus) to Chania ferry sooner rather than later pays off — earlier bookings usually mean lower fares and more choice of departure times and cabins.
A few weeks' lead time is usually enough to catch a good deal, though fares can still move around depending on the season and what's left available.
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| Athens (Piraeus) - Chania Ferry Route Prices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Foot Passenger | $227 | |
| Average Price with Car | $871 | |
| Average Price with Motorbike | $346 | |
| Average Campervan Price | $929 | |
| Average Cabin Price | $571 | |
| Athens (Piraeus) - Chania Ferry Route Summary | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Athens |
| Destination | Crete |
| No. of Operators | 1 |
| Operators | Blue Star Ferries |
| Average Price | $432 |
| Average Pet Price | $414 |
| Average Daily Sailings | 1 |
| Average Weekly Sailings | 7 |
| Average Sailing Duration | 9 h 25 m |
| Fastest Sailing Duration | 8 h |
| First Ferry | 10:00 |
| Last Ferry | 22:00 |
| Distance | 135 Nautical Miles |
* Prices subject to change, pricing is taken from last 30 days, last updated 1 September 2026.
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.
Chania, the second largest city on the Greek island of Crete is a city that has hosted many different civilisations during its history. The city is built on the area of Minoan Kidonia, at the end of the Homonym Gulf between the Akrotiri and Onicha peninsulas, and was the former capital city of Crete between 1847 and 1972. Today it is the second largest city on Crete after Heraklion and is the capital of the Homonym prefecture. The Old Town's maze of alleys and streets are lined with beautiful Venetian mansions, churches, fountains and historical monuments which are all popular with visitors.
The Venetian port lies at the heart of the old town and is where visitors can still see Venetian buildings sit alongside Turkish buildings that were built later. On the east of Palea Poli is Splantzia district which is built on the site of the former Turkish district and is where you will find Aghii Anargiri Church, which is the only Orthodox church which had received permission to operate during the Venetian and Turkish occupations of the island. Also in the area is Sintrivani Square. The Neoria district of the city is where the former port was located and is also where Venetian shipyards were located in the 14th and 16th centuries.
From the port, ferry services connect Chania to the port of Piraeus, the Cycladic Islands and to the Dodecanese Islands.
