Ferry from Rhodes (Rodos) to Sitia (Crete)

Rhodes to Sitia is the eastern Crete leg of the long southern Aegean route, operated by Blue Star Ferries with the Blue Star Chios. The crossing takes between about eight and nine hours, calling at Karpathos and Kasos on the way, which is what stretches out the time. Fares start around €25.50 and this is a conventional car ferry, so vehicles travel too.

Sitia sits on the northeast coast of Crete and is a good deal more relaxed than Heraklion or Chania, with a proper Cretan-town feel to the waterfront. The Venetian Kazarma fortress overlooks the harbour, and the town works well as a base for eastern Crete: the palm beach at Vai, the Minoan site at Zakros and a string of quieter beaches are all within reach. There is a small airport here as well as the ferry link.

Sailings run a couple of times a week, so this is one to plan the trip around. The current timetable and fares are shown below. From Sitia the road west runs to Agios Nikolaos and Heraklion, and the same ferry route continues in that direction by sea.

Weekly Rhodes to Sitia Ferry Schedule

What each ferry company has published for the four weeks from 13 November 2026 to 10 December 2026: the days it sails and its departure times from Rhodes.

Rhodes to Sitia Ferry Fares

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.

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 Sitia between 13 November 2026 and 26 November 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tips for the Rhodes to Sitia 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.
• If you are leaving luggage unattended on a ferry, remove all valuable items and do not leave your bag in an isolated or unsupervised area.
• 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.