Getting to Crete has never been easier. From the end of March to the end of October, charter flights are available from many cities in the UK and the rest of Europe directly to Chania or to Heraklion, a two hour drive from Chania.

British Airways, through their subsidiary GBAirways, also flies direct to Heraklion in the summer from Gatwick and Manchester. Scheduled domestic flights from Athens to Chania are offered year round by two airlines: Aegean and Olympic.

Between them you have a choice of 5-9 flights daily depending on the season and day of the week. If you are arriving overland by car, you can take a ferry from Piraeus to the port of Souda, which serves Chania. ANEK Lines' overnight ferry departs daily at 21.00 and arrives in Souda at 5.30 the following day.

From March to October, Hellenic Seaways also operates a high-speed catamaran on this ame route, departing Piraeus at 15.45 and arriving in Souda at 20.30.

 

 

The north coast of Crete is well served by the National Road, Crete's main road connecting its major cities and towns. Driving from Chania to Rethymnon takes about an hour and the island capital Heraklion is only a two-hour car journey from Chania. The interior of the island has a well developed network of roads which are constantly being improved, but
because of the mountainous terrain most roads are narrow and winding, which reduces the speed at which you can travel.

However, the spectacular scenery will invite you to go more slowly just to take in all the views. Extra care is also necessary because of the sometimes haphazard local driving habits as well as flocks of sheep and goats which are sometimes found along village roads.

An alternative to driving is to take advantage of Crete's excellent public bus service. Hourly buses connecting the main cities operate from 5.30 to 20.30 daily and there are at least two buses a day to even the smallest villages. The buses are in good mechanical condition, most have air-conditioning and the drivers are safe and confident. Chania, Rethymnon and Heraklion also have their own local bus services. Taxis can be an economical means of getting around, especially if you are a group of 2-4 people. Taxis can be hailed in the street, hired from a taxi rank or ordered by telephone (for which there is a small extra charge). Tipping is optional and not taken for granted, but be aware that a small surcharge is sometimes in effect from port and airport terminals as well as during the Easter and Christmas holiday periods.