Ferry from Heraklion (Crete) to Diafani (Karpathos)

Blue Star Ferries' Blue Star Chios runs from Heraklio to Diafani in around seven and three quarter hours, a long conventional crossing east from Crete into the Dodecanese. Diafani is one of the more unusual calls on the line, a small harbour on the northeast coast of Karpathos rather than the island's main port. The ship has cabins, lounges and a vehicle deck, which makes the length of the crossing manageable.

Diafani is a sleepy fishing village backed by pine-covered hills, and one of the least developed ports in the Dodecanese. Almost everyone arriving is heading up to Olympos, the mountain village above it where traditional dress, dialect and windmills have survived, reached either by the mountain road or on foot along the old trail. Small boats also run down the coast to Karpathos Town.

Ferries call here roughly once a week, so it is a route to build a trip around rather than a casual option. Current departures and fares are shown below. Anyone who cannot make the dates work can reach Diafani from Pigadia by road or by the local boat in season.

Heraklion to Diafani Ferry Fares

Weekly Heraklion to Diafani Ferry Schedule

The repeating pattern behind the dated timetable, without dates. Each row is one scheduled departure and the days it runs.

Hiring a car

Can you rent a car in Heraklion?

Yes. Heraklion's ferry port sits about 1km from the centre, an easy walk or short taxi ride, and several rental firms have desks right at the harbour or nearby in town. The city itself is compact enough on foot, but a car pays off once you want to reach Knossos, the south coast or the Lasithi plateau, where buses run less often. Check rates at Discover Cars.

Next 14 days

Every scheduled departure from Heraklion to Diafani between 24 October 2026 and 6 November 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tips for the Heraklion to Diafani ferry

• Arrive at Heraklion port at least 45 minutes before departure if you already hold an e-ticket – if you are travelling with a car, allow 60 to 90 minutes, as vehicles queue and board separately from foot passengers.
• Buy your ferry ticket online in advance rather than at the port – ticket kiosks at Heraklion only open a few hours before each departure, and Santorini's high-speed services sell out in summer.
• For the Santorini day-boats, SeaJets asks passengers to be at the terminal 30 minutes before sailing – expect heavy congestion and longer check-in queues on summer mornings.
• Always cross-check your ticket details – date, vessel name, passenger count, and vehicle details – before the cancellation window closes.
• Washing clothes at island laundries (found on almost every inhabited island) means you can travel with less; a 3–4 day supply of clothing is usually enough.

Plan a journey

Search for a connection between any two Greek ports, including journeys that need a change.