Ferry from Heraklion (Crete) to Sitia (Crete)
2h 30m · from €15.00 · 1 operator
Heraklion to Sitia at a glance
Ferries from Heraklion (Crete) to Sitia (Crete) are scheduled 4 times over the next 14 days, roughly 2 a week. The earliest departure in that window is 04:00 and the latest is 05:30. The crossing takes 2h 30m. The route is served by 1 operator: Blue Star Ferries. Published fares start from €15.00. There are sailings on Thursday and Saturday during the next fortnight. Operators have published this timetable as far as 31 October 2026.
Tickets from
| Standard ticket | €15.00 | 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 Sitia Route Map
Blue Star Ferries' Blue Star Chios runs along the north coast of Crete from Heraklio to Sitia in around two and a half hours. It is a short leg on a much longer line that carries on towards Kassos, Karpathos and Rhodes, so the ship is a full-size conventional ferry with cabins and vehicle decks. Fares start around €15.
Sitia is a relaxed port town in Lassithi at the northeastern end of Crete, noticeably quieter than Heraklio or Chania and still recognisably a working Cretan town. The Venetian Kazarma fortress looks down on the waterfront, and the seafront tavernas are the centre of things in the evening. It is the natural base for the far east of the island, including the Vai palm beach and the Minoan site at Zakros.
The service runs a couple of times a week rather than daily, so it works better as part of a longer itinerary than as a way of getting about Crete. Current departures and fares are shown below. The road between Heraklio and Sitia is direct and served by regular KTEL buses, which is what most people use for this stretch.
Heraklion to Sitia Ferry Fares
Tickets from €15.00.
Weekly Heraklion to Sitia 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 | 04:00 | 06:30 | 2h 30m | 2026-08-20 to 2026-10-29 | Book the Blue Star Chios sailing | ||
| Blue Star Ferries | Blue Star Chios conventional | 05:30 | 08:00 | 2h 30m | 2026-08-22 to 2026-10-31 | Book the Blue Star Chios sailing |
Book ferry port and airport transfers here: Welcome Pickups →
Hiring a car
Do you need a car in Sitia?
Yes, a car is genuinely useful here. Sitia sits about 130km, roughly two hours' drive, east of Heraklion, on the quieter side of Crete. A limited KTEL bus reaches the palm forest at Vai (28km) in summer, but a car gives easier access to Toplou Monastery and Sitia's beaches. Rental offices operate in Sitia town and at the small local airport; compare prices 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 Sitia between 24 August 2026 and 6 September 2026.
| Date | Departs | Arrives | Duration | Vessel | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 2026-08-27 | 04:00 | 06:30 | 2h 30m | Blue Star Chios | Blue Star Ferries |
| Sat 2026-08-29 | 05:30 | 08:00 | 2h 30m | Blue Star Chios | Blue Star Ferries |
| Thu 2026-09-03 | 04:00 | 06:30 | 2h 30m | Blue Star Chios | Blue Star Ferries |
| Sat 2026-09-05 | 05:30 | 08:00 | 2h 30m | Blue Star Chios | Blue Star Ferries |
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do ferries run from Heraklion to Sitia?
Ferries from Heraklion (Crete) to Sitia (Crete) are scheduled 4 times over the next 14 days, roughly 2 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 Sitia today?
No, there are no scheduled departures from Heraklion (Crete) to Sitia (Crete) today. The next sailing in the published timetable is on 27 August 2026, at 04:00. Departures fall on Thursday and Saturday.
How many ferries run from Heraklion to Sitia this week?
2 sailings from Heraklion (Crete) to Sitia (Crete) are scheduled over the next seven days, typically 1 a day on the days it runs.
What time is the first ferry from Heraklion to Sitia?
Scheduled departures from Heraklion (Crete) to Sitia (Crete) leave at 04:00 and 05:30.
How long is the ferry from Heraklion to Sitia?
The crossing from Heraklion (Crete) to Sitia (Crete) takes 2h 30m.
How much does the Heraklion to Sitia ferry cost?
Published fares for the Heraklion (Crete) to Sitia (Crete) ferry start from €15.00. The figure you pay depends on the vessel, the ticket class and the date you travel.
Which ferry companies operate the Heraklion to Sitia route?
The Heraklion (Crete) to Sitia (Crete) route is served by Blue Star Ferries. Crossings run on conventional ferries.
Tips for the Heraklion to Sitia 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.
- Vehicle dimensions and weight affect your ferry fare; double-check the operator's measurement categories if you are driving an unusually large or heavy vehicle.
- A wide-brimmed hat provides better sun protection than a baseball cap on the open deck of a moving ferry, where the sun comes from multiple angles.
Plan a journey
Search for a connection between any two Greek ports, including journeys that need a change.
