The Greek islands have long been a favorite tourist destination. Visitors to Crete often want to explore the island of Santorini, which is 145 kilometers away. You can get on it as part of a group, but there are several ways to get there on your own.
On a ferryboat
Sea links connect the city of Heraklion in Crete and the new port of Athenos in picturesque Santorini. The road will take about an hour and a half. There is a second route option along which the starting point of the journey will be the Cretan city of Rethymno. In this case, the duration of the trip will be a little over two hours.
A comfortable Sea Jets-MegaJet ferry and a Hellenic Seaways-Flying Cat 4 catamaran run from Crete to Santoria. Two ships leave the port of Heraklion every day: in the morning and in the afternoon. There is only one ferry from Rethymno and not always regularly. Each vessel has a capacity of 1000-1150 people. The ferry service operates all year round and is distinguished by comfortable transportation conditions. There are rows of soft armchairs in the halls, spacious cabins are provided for greater comfort. The cost of the trip will be from 60 to 90 euros, depending on the level of convenience and the transport company. Tickets can be bought at the port office one hour before the departure of the ship. Online booking is possible, the site works in several languages, including Russian. This method will be especially convenient in July-August, when the largest flow of tourists is observed.
With excursion
The most curious tourists wishing to see the local sights can join the tour. A lot of them are organized by travel companies from Greece, Russia and Western Europe. The route can take from 12 hours to 2 days at the discretion of vacationers. Santorini is famous for its sunsets, especially in the city of Oia. Therefore, if you decide to admire them, be sure to stay on the island for an overnight stay. Noteworthy is the town of Fira and the beaches with black volcanic sand. In addition, you can stock up on souvenirs and capture the beauty of the places in the photo. The cost of the excursion, including guide services, transfer and hotel accommodation, will be 140-195 euros. Those who know a lot about travel, argue that an independent trip is more economical than as part of an organized excursion. But if you are visiting the Greek islands for the first time, the latter option is worth choosing.
By plane
Direct flights connecting the two islands do not exist regularly. So much so that they may not be available during the season. You might be lucky enough to buy a connecting ticket in Athens. But taking into account check-in and flight, air travel will take longer than ferry and will cost more.
For autotourists
According to tourists, the fastest and most comfortable travel option will be sea transport, where the comfort conditions are close to air travel. But there is also one negative point. Tourists traveling by car should be aware that the Crete-Santorini catamarans only serve passengers. Vehicles accept small ferries on board, but they only carry out this option during a certain season. There is a huge Greek liner ANEK Lines-Prevelis in the schedule of shipping on this route. The ship leaves Crete 1-2 times a week. It is capable of loading up to 1,500 passengers and 450 vehicles on board. The ticket price is three times cheaper than on a catamaran, but the duration of the boat trip will increase to 6-7 hours.
Experts recommend booking tickets and hotels in advance, even if the trip is scheduled for May or September - at the time of the decline in the tourist flow. There are many opportunities to travel the Greek islands on your own. Have a nice rest and new impressions!
