Ferry to Sitia 2027: routes, prices & tickets

Ferry to Sitia: how it works in practice

Sitia doesn't have daily sailings like Heraklion. The connection with Piraeus runs only twice a week, as a subsidised lifeline service. The same ship carries on to the Dodecanese: the intermediate stops are Santorini, Anafi, Heraklion, Sitia, Kasos, Karpathos and Halki, with Rhodes as the final destination. Because one ship serves so many ports, days and times change with the season. If you can't yet see 2027 sailings on this page, that is normal: timetables for these routes are usually published later than those for the popular islands.

From Piraeus: journey time and departure times

This is a long voyage, not a quick hop. The fastest ship takes about 12.5 hours from Sitia to Piraeus, with stops at Heraklion and Santorini. With an extra stop at Anafi, the journey stretches to 14 hours. In some weeks the crossing from Piraeus takes more than 15 hours. In the other direction, departures from Piraeus are usually listed between 15:00 and 19:00. That means an early-morning or overnight arrival, and on the return a departure after midnight. For example, one of the spring departures from Sitia left at 01:15 and reached Piraeus at 13:35. Plan your accommodation and transfers around these times. The ships named in the timetables belong to Blue Star Ferries, such as Blue Star Chios, Delos and Diagoras.

Tickets and cabins

As a guide, in recent seasons a passenger ticket cost between €44 and €49, while other records show €59–64 per passenger and from €92.50 for a cabin. A car costs roughly €100–130. Treat these figures as a range, as prices change from season to season. For a journey of 12–16 hours, a cabin is worth it if you arrive or leave at night and have nowhere to sleep afterwards.

If you want Sitia without a 12-hour ferry

If your destination is Sitia rather than the voyage itself, the most practical option is usually a ferry or flight to Heraklion and then onward by road. Heraklion airport is 126 km from Sitia, about 2 hours away. The KTEL intercity bus network links Sitia with Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos, Ierapetra, Vai and Zakros. By bus, the journey to Heraklion takes about 3 hours, with a change at Agios Nikolaos. A hire car is quicker and gives you freedom to explore eastern Crete. The ferry from Piraeus makes most sense if you want to bring a car or carry on to the Dodecanese.

From Sitia to Kasos, Karpathos and Rhodes

This is where Sitia really comes into its own, as it is the closest Cretan port to these islands.

• Kasos: about 2 hours 10 minutes on the Blue Star Chios. On some days the local ΜΑΝΟΥΣΟΣ ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΣ / KASOS PRINCESS takes about 2 hours 45 minutes.
• Karpathos: according to a June timetable, the crossing takes 4 hours 20–25 minutes, with two departures a week.
• Rhodes: in an October timetable, Sitia–Rhodes took about 8 hours 30 minutes.

All of these are low-frequency services. A round trip, such as Sitia–Karpathos–Sitia, isn't always possible within the same week. Check both legs before you book accommodation.

When to book

• July–August: book as soon as the timetables are released, especially if you are taking a car. The two weekly sailings fill up quickly, and the ships serve many ports.
• May–June and September: there is usually more availability and a calmer crossing. Sitia is lovely then, with fewer crowds and less heat.
• Winter: the timetable is thinner. Weather can change or cancel sailings, so don't tie your trip to a same-day flight.

Tips before you travel

• Check the day and time for both legs. Departures are often at night or very early in the morning.
• If you are taking a vehicle, ask for confirmation, as deck space is shared between several ports.
• Check in early. On ships with many stops, arriving at the port at least an hour before departure is the safe option.
• If you are heading to Kasos or Karpathos, keep an eye on the weather. Smaller ships are more easily affected by wind.

What to see around the port

The town spreads out around the harbour and right beside it stands the Kazarma Fortress. Vai and Toplou Monastery are the best-known excursions, while Zakros and Palaikastro fit well into a day trip. The port is within walking distance of cafés and tavernas.