Ferry from Tinos to Heraklion (Crete)

Tinos to Heraklio is a high-speed run of around five and a quarter hours down through the Cyclades to Crete, worked by Seajets with the Worldchampion Jet and Champions League Jet 2. These are large fast catamarans carrying vehicles as well as foot passengers, with airline-style seating and limited outside deck. The route calls at other islands on the way south, so it is a stopping service rather than a straight crossing.

Heraklio is the capital of Crete and one of the busiest ports in Greece, so you arrive into a full-scale city. The Venetian fortress of Koules stands at the old harbour entrance with the restored arsenali beside it, and the archaeological museum and Venetian old town are a short walk from the waterfront. The Palace of Knossos is a few kilometres out and easily reached by city bus.

Sailings run about once a day through the summer and largely disappear outside the season. Current times, vessels and fares are listed in the timetable below. From Heraklio there are onward ferries to Piraeus and connections along the Cretan coast, which makes it a practical place to end a Cyclades run.

Tinos to Heraklion Ferry Fares

Weekly Tinos to Heraklion 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

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.

Do you need a car in Tinos?

Not strictly, since Tinos has one of the Cyclades' better bus networks and buses reach most villages from Tinos Town, but only a handful of times a day. With well over 30 villages scattered across the island and many worth a stop, a hire car gives you the freedom to see more than the three or four the bus timetable allows; compare suppliers at Discover Cars.

Next 14 days

Every scheduled departure from Tinos to Heraklion between 24 August 2026 and 6 September 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tips for the Tinos to Heraklion ferry

• Tinos has two ports – most ferries now use the new port about ten minutes from town, while only the Flyingcat catamaran still departs from the old port right in Tinos Town centre. Check which one is named on your ticket.
• If you are travelling with a vehicle, check in at least an hour before departure. Foot passengers can check in from 30 minutes before sailing, though it is worth allowing extra time in Tinos during busy summer sailings.
• The port sits a short walk from the Panagia Evangelistria church, so around 15 August – the island's main pilgrimage day – expect the harbourfront and surrounding streets to be extremely crowded with visitors arriving and departing by ferry.
• Cabin toiletries are minimal or absent on Greek ferries; bring everything you need for the night.
• 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.