How do you get to Chania?
Getting There7.9/10Easier to reach than about 75% of cities
- Main airport
- Chania International Airport (Daskalogiannis)
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: traveling.com, en.wikipedia.org
Good to know
Good to Know
- Airport buses run 6 am–11:45 pm; if arriving late, taxi is your only public option.
- Buy bus tickets from kiosks before boarding—on-bus fares are nearly double.
- Taxi queues can exceed 20 minutes in summer; pre-book a private transfer to avoid delays.
- Ferry tickets to Athens are cheapest if booked in advance; overnight sailings are most common.
- Car rental advisable for beaches like Elafonisi; most roads are paved, but some day-trip beaches (Balos) require a rough unpaved track that rental companies often restrict.
- Samaria Gorge day trips are easiest via organized tour; DIY requires timing buses with ferry return from Agia Roumeli.
- Kissamos Port (41 km west) offers ferry routes to Kythira and Gythio; useful for island-hopping or mainland access.
- Peak season (July–August) makes airport/ferry transport crowded; book transfers and ferries 2–3 days ahead.
Domestic Routes
Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air
- Destination
- Athens
Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air
- Destination
- Thessaloniki
Transport From Airport
Cheapest option; frequent departures
- Cost
- €2.50
- Operating Hours
- 6:00-23:45
- Duration Minutes
- 20-30
30
- Cost
- €25
- Note
- Metered fares; surge pricing during peak hours (10 am–6 pm summer); queues exceed 20 minutes in summer
Fixed pricing; flight tracking; convenient for groups
- Duration Minutes
- 30-45
- Note
- Multiple agencies on-site (Avis, Budget, Kydon); book online to avoid peak-season queues
Day Trip Access
Nearby Attractions
Elafonisi Beach
- Distance Km
- 75-80
- Transport Options
- Car rental recommended (parking sometimes limited); organized day tours; KTEL bus (longer journey with multiple stops)
- Travel Time Minutes
- 90+
Balos Lagoon & Gramvousa Island
- Distance Km
- 60
- Transport Options
- Ferry from Kissamos Port (1 hour from Chania); day tours; car rental
- Travel Time Minutes
- 60
Samaria Gorge
- Distance Km
- 50
- Transport Options
- Early morning KTEL bus to Omalos; organized day tours (most convenient)
- Travel Time Minutes
- Bus to Omalos trailhead, then hike; ferry return from Agia Roumeli
Rethymno
- Distance Km
- 56
- Transport Options
- KTEL bus; daily service; frequent stops
- Travel Time Minutes
- 60
Heraklion (Knossos Palace)
- Distance Km
- 138
- Transport Options
- KTEL regional bus (no-stop service except Rethymno); organized day tours recommended
- Travel Time Minutes
- 3 hours by bus
Santorini
- Distance Km
- ferry only
- Transport Options
- High-speed catamaran ferry from ports; day trip possible (7 hours on island); organized tours recommended
- Travel Time Hours
- 4 hours each way
Ferry Connections
- Main Port
- Souda Port
- Secondary Port
- Kissamos Port (41 km west)
- Distance From City Km
- 7
Routes
Anek Lines (Conventional Ferries Only)
- Frequency
- 1-2 daily (summer); all-year operation
- Destination
- Athens (Piraeus)
- Ticket Price Range
- €37
- Journey Duration Hours
- 8-9.5
- Note
- Overnight crossings typical; cabins and onboard amenities available
Kythira (From Kissamos)
- Frequency
- 2-3 weekly
- Ticket Price Range
- €14
- Journey Duration Hours
- 3.5
Gythio (Peloponnese, From Kissamos)
- Frequency
- 1 weekly (Wednesday)
- Ticket Price Range
- €22
- Journey Duration Hours
- 6.83
Antikythera (From Kissamos)
- Frequency
- 2-3 weekly
Port To City
- Bus
- Line 13 connects Souda Port to downtown Chania; ~20 minutes
- Taxi
- Taxi rank at port; ~15-20 minutes to city center
- Bus Operating Hours
- 6:00-23:00
Name
Chania International Airport (Daskalogiannis)
IATA Code
CHQ
Airlines Count
30
Distance From City Km
14
International Routes Note
Seasonal charter flights from major European cities (April-October); direct flights to destinations across Europe
Ground Transport
Taxis
- Metered
- Yes
- Availability
- 24/7
Booking Numbers
- 0030 28210 98700
- 0030 28210 94300
Stands Locations
- Chania Airport
- Souda Port
- KTEL bus station
- 1866 Square (Platia 1866)
- Platia Sofokli Venizelou
- Halepa district (near Evangelistria Church)
- Old Venetian Harbor
Public Buses
- Zones
- 2
- Routes Count
- 13
- Urban System
- Chania Urban Buses
- Monthly Pass Zone A
- €60
- Monthly Pass Zone B
- €82
- Ticket Prices Zone A
- €1.10
- Ticket Prices Zone B
- €1.50
- Note
- Buy tickets from kiosks before boarding to get lower fares; on-bus tickets cost €2–2.50; children under 6 travel free
Regional Buses
- Serves
- Rethymno, Heraklion, Kissamos, Sfakia (summer only), and surrounding villages
- Operator
- KTEL Chania-Rethymno
- Station Location
- Kidonias & Parth. Kelaidi Street, central Chania
- Note
- Frequent during summer season; reliable and affordable for day trips across Crete
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Chania
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.