Ferry from Rhodes (Rodos) to Heraklion (Crete)
10h 30m to 11h 45m · from €26.00 · 1 operator
Rhodes to Heraklion at a glance
Ferries from Rhodes (Rodos) to Heraklion (Crete) are scheduled 4 times over the next 14 days, roughly 2 a week. The earliest departure in that window is 11:00 and the latest is 17:00. The crossing takes between 10h 30m and 11h 45m, depending on the vessel. The route is served by 1 operator: Blue Star Ferries. Published fares start from €26.00. There are sailings on Thursday and Sunday during the next fortnight. Operators have published this timetable as far as 29 October 2026.
Tickets from
| Standard ticket | €26.00 | 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 29 October 2026. Sailings beyond that date have not been announced yet.
Rhodes to Heraklion Route Map
Rhodes to Heraklio is a long overnight-scale crossing of the southern Aegean, run by Blue Star Ferries with the Blue Star Chios. Expect somewhere between ten and a half and twelve hours depending on the calls made at Karpathos, Kassos and Sitia along the way. It is a full-sized conventional ferry taking vehicles, with cabins and reclining seats for the length of the trip, and fares start around twenty six euros.
Heraklio is the capital of Crete and by some distance its largest city, a busy commercial and administrative hub built around a Venetian old town core. The Koules fortress guards the old harbour entrance next to the restored Venetian arsenali, and the Archaeological Museum in the centre holds the Minoan finds from Knossos, which is a short bus ride out of town. It is one of the busiest ports in Greece and the main gateway for exploring the rest of the island.
The route runs only a couple of times a week, so dates matter more than usual here. Current departures, durations and fares are set out in the table below. Heraklio has good onward ferry links north to the Cyclades and to Piraeus, plus an international airport if the return leg needs to be quicker.
Rhodes to Heraklion Ferry Fares
Tickets from €26.00.
Weekly Rhodes to Heraklion 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 | 11:00 | 22:45 | 11h 45m | 2026-08-23 to 2026-10-25 | Book the Blue Star Chios sailing | ||
| Blue Star Ferries | Blue Star Chios conventional | 17:00 | 03:30 | 10h 30m | 2026-08-20 to 2026-10-29 | Book the Blue Star Chios sailing |
Book ferry port and airport transfers here: Welcome Pickups →
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.
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.
Next 14 days
Every scheduled departure from Rhodes to Heraklion between 24 August 2026 and 6 September 2026.
| Date | Departs | Arrives | Duration | Vessel | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 2026-08-27 | 17:00 | 03:30 | 10h 30m | Blue Star Chios | Blue Star Ferries |
| Sun 2026-08-30 | 11:00 | 22:45 | 11h 45m | Blue Star Chios | Blue Star Ferries |
| Thu 2026-09-03 | 17:00 | 03:30 | 10h 30m | Blue Star Chios | Blue Star Ferries |
| Sun 2026-09-06 | 11:00 | 22:45 | 11h 45m | Blue Star Chios | Blue Star Ferries |
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do ferries run from Rhodes to Heraklion?
Ferries from Rhodes (Rodos) to Heraklion (Crete) are scheduled 4 times over the next 14 days, roughly 2 a week. In that fortnight there are departures on Thursday and Sunday. Operators have published this route's timetable as far as 29 October 2026, and nothing beyond that date has been announced yet.
Are there ferries from Rhodes to Heraklion today?
No, there are no scheduled departures from Rhodes (Rodos) to Heraklion (Crete) today. The next sailing in the published timetable is on 27 August 2026, at 17:00. Departures fall on Thursday and Sunday.
How many ferries run from Rhodes to Heraklion this week?
2 sailings from Rhodes (Rodos) to Heraklion (Crete) are scheduled over the next seven days, typically 1 a day on the days it runs.
What time is the first ferry from Rhodes to Heraklion?
Scheduled departures from Rhodes (Rodos) to Heraklion (Crete) leave at 11:00 and 17:00.
How long is the ferry from Rhodes to Heraklion?
The fastest crossing from Rhodes (Rodos) to Heraklion (Crete) takes 10h 30m and the slowest 11h 45m.
How much does the Rhodes to Heraklion ferry cost?
Published fares for the Rhodes (Rodos) to Heraklion (Crete) ferry start from €26.00. The figure you pay depends on the vessel, the ticket class and the date you travel.
Which ferry companies operate the Rhodes to Heraklion route?
The Rhodes (Rodos) to Heraklion (Crete) route is served by Blue Star Ferries. Crossings run on conventional ferries.
Tips for the Rhodes to Heraklion ferry
- Rhodes has two separate ferry ports: large car ferries such as Blue Star Ferries use Akandia, while Dodekanisos Seaways catamarans and small boats to Symi depart from Kolona, just outside the Old Town walls – check your ticket for the correct one.
- Akandia port is roughly a 20-minute walk from the Old Town and has no shelter, seating or toilets while you wait, so it is more comfortable to wait in town and take a taxi straight to your ferry.
- Arrive at least one hour before departure to allow time to check in, since boarding for ferries from Rhodes typically closes around 20 minutes before the scheduled sailing time.
- Aircraft-style reserved seats cost a little more than deck class and are worth it on longer crossings if cabins are beyond your budget.
- Heraklion serves as the main gateway to Crete, with the legendary Palace of Knossos – the centre of Minoan civilisation – just a short drive from the city centre. The city's Archaeological Museum houses one of the most important collections of Minoan artefacts in the world, and wine tours into the surrounding region are a popular option.
Plan a journey
Search for a connection between any two Greek ports, including journeys that need a change.
