Ferry from Heraklion (Crete) to Rhodes (Rodos)
11h 30m to 12h 40m · from €26.50 · 1 operator
Heraklion to Rhodes at a glance
Ferries from Heraklion (Crete) to Rhodes (Rodos) are scheduled 3 times over the next 8 days, 2 or 3 times a week. The earliest departure in that window is 02:30 and the latest is 05:20. The crossing takes between 11h 30m and 12h 40m, depending on the vessel. The route is served by 1 operator: Blue Star Ferries. Published fares start from €26.50 on a conventional ferry. There are sailings on Thursday and Saturday during the next fortnight. Operators have published this timetable as far as 31 October 2026.
Tickets from
| Conventional ferry | €26.50 | Book now |
|---|
Lowest published figure for each kind of ticket, one way. The price you pay depends on the sailing and the date you choose.
Operators have published this route's timetable to 31 October 2026. Sailings beyond that date have not been announced yet.
Heraklion to Rhodes through the year
Over the last 12 months it ran all year, busiest in September (2 or 3 times a week).
Sailings a day, last 12 months
Tap a month to see how it ran
Month by month
| Month | Sailings | Days with a sailing | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2025 | 9 | 9 of 31 | 2 or 3 times a week |
| November 2025 | 9 | 9 of 30 | 2 or 3 times a week |
| December 2025 | 8 | 8 of 31 | about twice a week |
| January 2026 | 10 | 10 of 31 | 2 or 3 times a week |
| February 2026 | 8 | 8 of 28 | 2 or 3 times a week |
| March 2026 | 7 | 7 of 31 | about twice a week |
| April 2026 | 8 | 8 of 30 | about twice a week |
| May 2026 | 8 | 8 of 31 | about twice a week |
| June 2026 | 8 | 8 of 30 | about twice a week |
| July 2026 | 9 | 9 of 31 | 2 or 3 times a week |
| August 2026 | 11 | 9 of 31 | 2 or 3 times a week |
| September 2026 | 11 | 8 of 30 | 2 or 3 times a week |
October 2025 · this month, a year ago
November 2025 · this month, a year ago
December 2025 · this month, a year ago
January 2026 · this month, a year ago
February 2026 · this month, a year ago
March 2026 · this month, a year ago
April 2026 · this month, a year ago
May 2026 · this month, a year ago
June 2026 · this month, a year ago
July 2026 · this month, a year ago
August 2026 · this month, a year ago
September 2026 · this month, a year ago
These are the sailings we recorded on this route from October 2025 to September 2026. They show what ran then, not a forecast: timetables change from year to year.
Heraklion to Rhodes Route Map
The Blue Star Chios links Heraklio with Rhodes in around eleven to eleven and a half hours, running east along the Cretan coast and then through the southern Dodecanese. It is one of the few direct sea links between Crete and Rhodes, and it usually calls at Sitia, Kassos, Karpathos and Chalki on the way.
Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese and one of the busiest destinations in the southeast Aegean. The walled medieval Old Town, built by the Knights of St John and a UNESCO World Heritage site, sits immediately behind the commercial harbour, and the Mandraki harbour alongside it is the spot traditionally associated with the Colossus. Beyond the town there are long beaches down both coasts and the villages and hills of the island's interior.
Sailings run a couple of times a week and follow the wider Dodecanese schedule, so departures cluster rather than spread evenly. The current timetable and fares appear in the table below. From Rhodes there are onward links throughout the Dodecanese, to Piraeus, and across to the Turkish coast.
Heraklion to Rhodes Ferry Fares
Lowest fare by vessel class
From €26.50 on a conventional ferry. A high-speed crossing and a conventional one are different products at different prices, so they are listed separately rather than reduced to a single figure.
| Vessel class | From | Operator | Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional ferry | €26.50 | Blue Star Ferries | Blue Star Chios |
Weekly Heraklion to Rhodes Ferry Schedule
The repeating pattern behind the dated timetable, without dates. Each row is one scheduled departure and the days it runs.
| Operator | Vessel | Days | Departs | Arrives | Duration | From | Season | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Star Ferries | Blue Star Chios conventional | 02:30 | 14:00 | 11h 30m | €26.50 | 2026-10-22 to 2026-10-29 | Book the Blue Star Chios sailing | |
| Blue Star Ferries | Blue Star Chios conventional | 05:20 | 18:00 | 12h 40m | €26.50 | 2026-10-24 to 2026-10-31 | Book the Blue Star Chios sailing |
Book ferry port and airport transfers here: Welcome Pickups →
Hiring a car
Is it worth hiring a car in Rhodes?
Worth it if you're staying more than a couple of days, since the island is large and its two bus companies (Roda in the west, KTEL in the east) don't make it easy to combine both coasts in a day. The port is a 10-minute walk from Rhodes Old Town, with paid parking nearby. Compare local suppliers at Discover Cars.
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 Rhodes between 24 October 2026 and 6 November 2026.
| Date | Departs | Arrives | Duration | Vessel | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 2026-10-24 | 05:20 | 18:00 | 12h 40m | Blue Star Chios | Blue Star Ferries |
| Thu 2026-10-29 | 02:30 | 14:00 | 11h 30m | Blue Star Chios | Blue Star Ferries |
| Sat 2026-10-31 | 05:20 | 18:00 | 12h 40m | Blue Star Chios | Blue Star Ferries |
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do ferries run from Heraklion to Rhodes?
Ferries from Heraklion (Crete) to Rhodes (Rodos) are scheduled 3 times over the next 8 days, 2 or 3 times a week. In that fortnight there are departures on Thursday and Saturday. Operators have published this route's timetable as far as 31 October 2026, and nothing beyond that date has been announced yet.
Are there ferries from Heraklion to Rhodes today?
Yes, there is 1 sailing from Heraklion (Crete) to Rhodes (Rodos) today. Departure time: 05:20.
How many ferries run from Heraklion to Rhodes this week?
2 sailings from Heraklion (Crete) to Rhodes (Rodos) are scheduled over the next seven days, typically 1 a day on the days it runs. The busiest day is Saturdays.
What time is the first ferry from Heraklion to Rhodes?
Scheduled departures from Heraklion (Crete) to Rhodes (Rodos) leave at 02:30 and 05:20.
How long is the ferry from Heraklion to Rhodes?
The fastest crossing from Heraklion (Crete) to Rhodes (Rodos) takes 11h 30m and the slowest 12h 40m.
How much does the Heraklion to Rhodes ferry cost?
Published fares for the Heraklion (Crete) to Rhodes (Rodos) ferry start from €26.50 on a conventional ferry. The figure you pay depends on the vessel, the ticket class and the date you travel.
Which ferry companies operate the Heraklion to Rhodes route?
The Heraklion (Crete) to Rhodes (Rodos) route is served by Blue Star Ferries. Crossings run on conventional ferries.
Tips for the Heraklion to Rhodes 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.
- Some overnight ferries have a small lounge with seating and movies; a worthwhile alternative to trying to sleep on a rough crossing.
- Once you arrive in Rhodes, the medieval walled Old Town – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe, with the Street of the Knights and the Palace of the Grand Master as its centrepieces. Tsambika Beach on the east coast and the ancient hilltop site of Lindos are the island's other headline attractions.
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