Ferry from Santorini (Athinios) to Sitia (Crete)

The crossing from Santorini to Sitia is a long haul down the eastern edge of the Aegean, run by Blue Star Ferries on the conventional ship Blue Star Chios. Depending on the routeing and the calls it makes on the way, the passage takes somewhere between about six and a half and eight hours. It is a proper sea day rather than a hop, so settle in on deck or claim a seat inside early.

Sitia sits on the northeast coast of Crete, in Lassithi, and is a good deal more relaxed than Heraklio or Chania. It has the feel of a working Cretan town rather than a resort, with the Venetian-era Kazarma fortress looking down over the waterfront. From here you are well placed for eastern Crete, including the palm beach at Vai and the archaeological site at Zakros, and the town has its own small airport if you are flying out.

Sailings are infrequent, running a couple of times a week rather than daily, and they are concentrated in the warmer months. The current timetable, journey times and fares are shown in the table below. The same Blue Star routeing links Sitia onward to Kassos, Karpathos and Rhodes, so this crossing works well as one leg of a longer Aegean loop.

Santorini to Sitia Ferry Fares

Weekly Santorini to Sitia 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

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 on Santorini?

Yes. The ferry port at Athinios sits about 7.5km below Fira up a steep, winding road; the bus takes about 25 minutes and a taxi costs many times the fare. A car lets you reach Oia, Akrotiri and the red and black beaches at your own pace without waiting for infrequent buses; rental desks operate near the port, and you can compare prices across local suppliers at Discover Cars.

Next 14 days

Every scheduled departure from Santorini to Sitia between 24 October 2026 and 6 November 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tips for the Santorini to Sitia ferry

• Arrive at Athinios port at least 45 minutes before departure – the switchback access road down the caldera cliff often backs up in summer, and boarding can start earlier than the printed departure time.
• If you're staying in Oia, note that no bus runs directly to or from Athinios port – you'll need to change at Fira, adding a ticket and a wait, so a taxi or pre-booked transfer is usually more practical.
• Collect paper tickets from the Nomikos or Dakoutros travel agency booths at the port as soon as you arrive, rather than waiting until boarding – queues build quickly as departure time approaches.
• If you're travelling by public bus, stow large luggage in the storage compartment underneath rather than carrying it aboard, as space inside is limited, especially on the busy Fira–Oia route.
• A lightweight drybag or small tote is handy for beach days on islands – it doubles as your day bag on short crossings when you leave your main bag at the hotel.

Plan a journey

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