In a nutshell
- Looking for a standout day trip during your Crete vacation? A day trip from Crete to Santorini is one of the most spectacular excursions you can do — Santorini is one of the most beautiful islands in all of Greece.
- Our verdict in a nutshell: If you already know Crete well and won’t be vacationing on Santorini separately, this day trip is absolutely worth it. We recommend booking a guided tour — it costs about the same as going it alone, with way less hassle.
- In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know: ferry options, prices, what to expect on the guided tour, and tips for doing it independently.
Is a Day Trip from Crete to Santorini Worth It?
It depends. If you’re visiting Crete for the first time, you’re better off exploring the most beautiful sights in Crete and the many wonderful places on Crete first.
There are plenty of exciting day trips on Crete and cool activities on Crete you can do during your vacation.
However, if you’re staying on Crete for longer or you already know the island well, a day trip to Santorini from Crete is a really great idea. It’s especially worth it if you don’t plan on taking a separate vacation on Santorini.
We ourselves have only been to Santorini for a day so far, but in those few hours we managed to get a really solid overview of this beautiful Greek island.
Just be aware from the start that you’ll be out for a full day — and it’s going to be a long one. You’ll spend a lot of time on the ferry and on the bus. In total, you’ll have about 4 hours of free time on Santorini for exploring and sightseeing.
Day Trip to Santorini on Your Own or with a Tour?
We recommend booking a guided tour for your day trip to Santorini. There are two reasons for that.
- With a tour, you barely have to worry about anything and you’ll have a much more relaxed day.
- A tour costs about the same as planning everything yourself and booking separately — if not less. You can find tours starting from 170 euros, and going it alone usually won’t get you a better price.
Book a guided day trip to Santorini
That said, we’ll still walk you through what a self-guided trip could look like — and after that, what a guided tour looks like.
Doing the Day Trip to Santorini on Your Own
You should start your day trip from Crete to Santorini early in the morning. We recommend taking the Santorini speedboat at 7:30 or 8 AM from Heraklion. You’ll arrive on Santorini between 9 and 10 AM.
On some days you can also take the slower ferry at 5:15 AM. You’ll already be on Santorini by 8:20 AM. We’ll give you more details about the ferries further below.
Once you arrive on Santorini, you can decide for yourself what you want to do. There are local buses on the island, but since you only have a few hours, we recommend simply taking a taxi.
The five most beautiful highlights on Santorini:
- Oia: The village with white houses and blue rooftops (about 40 minutes by taxi from the port)
- Fira: The main town with the famous three bells and the large dome (about 20 minutes by taxi from the port)
- Pyrgos: The oldest and highest-situated village on Santorini (about 12 minutes by taxi from the port)
- Ancient Thera: Ancient city with various ruins, perched on a steep mountain (about 30 minutes by taxi from the port)
- Akrotiri: Archaeological site of an ancient city (about 20 minutes by taxi from the port)
All the info on the ferry from Crete to Santorini
There are four ferry companies that regularly travel from Crete to Santorini: Blue Star Ferries, Sea Jets, Fast Ferries, and Anek Lines — though Anek Lines sails infrequently.
Which ferry you take should depend on departure time and price. The Direct Ferries website lets you compare all four companies in one place.
For a day trip, we recommend Sea Jets or Fast Ferries. Both operate speedboats from Crete to Santorini and take about two hours.
Blue Star Ferries is the cheaper but slower option, taking three to four and a half hours. On some days it departs at 5:15 AM, which can be worth it. However, the return departure times are usually very late and less suitable for a day trip.
What does the ferry from Crete to Santorini cost?
Ferry prices from Crete to Santorini vary quite a bit depending on the day, time, and ferry company.
Tickets are often a bit cheaper if you book further in advance. But you might also get lucky and snag a cheap last-minute ticket.
For the Santorini speedboats operated by Sea Jets and Fast Ferries, expect to pay between 150 and 220 euros for a round trip.
You can get Blue Star Ferries tickets significantly cheaper — as low as 32 euros for a round trip.
However, this is not a speedboat and takes about three to four and a half hours one way.
Our tip: When searching, try looking for a one-way outbound ticket and a one-way return ticket separately. You can also take the slow ferry one way and the speedboat the other — that way you can save some money.
Where does the ferry depart from on Crete?
As a rule, the Crete–Santorini ferry departs from the port of Heraklion. Sea Jets ferries occasionally also depart from Rethymno.
You’ll see the exact departure port when you book.
Where does the ferry arrive on Santorini?
All ferries from Crete to Santorini dock at the new port of Fira. That’s also where you’ll depart from on your way back to Crete. The town of Fira itself is still 8 kilometers from the port.
Taking a Guided Tour to Santorini
- Duration: About 11 to 15 hours
- Cost: Adults 170 euros, children ages 3–11 85 euros, under 3 free
On the guided tour, you’ll also take the ferry at 7:30 AM from Heraklion. Shortly beforehand, you’ll either meet your tour guide at the port or arrange to be picked up from your hotel for an extra charge of around 10 euros.
A bus will be waiting for your group at the port on Santorini. The highlights of the trip are the village of Oia and the main town of Fira.
Unlike a self-guided trip, you can’t decide for yourself where you go. That said, we’d always recommend Oia as a must-see stop anyway.
First, you’ll head to Oia. You’ll have just under two hours of free time there. Honestly, that’s not a lot, so don’t dawdle. After that, you’ll have about two hours in Fira.
In Fira, if you feel like it, you can also take a wooden boat out to the volcano and the hot springs. That trip costs an additional 20 euros — and apparently it’s pretty cool!
In the afternoon, you’ll board the speedboat back to Crete. For the day trip including the ferry, bus transfer, and guide, you pay 170 euros. Hotel pickup costs an extra 10 to 15 euros.
Book a guided day trip to Santorini
Our tip: Since you really don’t have that much time on Santorini itself, we recommend skipping a sit-down meal. Instead, pack some snacks beforehand that you can eat on the boat ride, or grab something quick to eat on the go.
Note: Hotel pickups are not available from all vacation spots on Crete. Check when booking whether your resort is included — otherwise, you’ll need to make your own way to Heraklion port.
Our Verdict on the Day Trip from Crete to Santorini
Santorini is one of the most beautiful islands in Greece. If you know you’ll never spend a full vacation there, a day trip during your Crete vacation is absolutely worth it.
For visiting Santorini from Crete for just a day, we’d always go with the guided tour. At the end of the day, it’s the more affordable option and a lot more relaxed too.
Just be clear about the fact that you’ll spend most of the day sitting on a ferry or a bus. You’ll only have about 4 hours in total to explore Oia and Fira.
But Santorini is truly stunning, and we still look back fondly on that one day there and are so glad we went. Especially since a full vacation on Santorini can be seriously expensive.
Book a guided day trip to Santorini
Frequently Asked Questions About the Day Trip from Crete to Santorini
What does a day trip from Crete to Santorini cost?
A day trip to Santorini from Crete costs around 170 euros with a guided tour.
If you’re planning the trip on your own, you’ll likely need to budget more — speedboat ferry tickets alone run between 150 and 220 euros for a round trip.
How long does the ferry from Crete to Santorini take?
If you take the speedboat from Crete to Santorini, the crossing takes about two hours — sometimes two and a half.
The slow ferry takes about three to four and a half hours one way.
What does the ferry from Crete to Santorini cost?
Ferry prices from Crete to Santorini vary quite a bit depending on which day, what time, and which company you travel with.
The Santorini speedboat operated by Sea Jets or Fast Ferries costs between 150 and 220 euros for a round trip.
The slower but much cheaper Blue Star Ferries option is available from as little as 32 euros for a round trip.
What's the cheapest way to get from Crete to Santorini?
The cheapest option is the Blue Star Ferries service from Crete to Santorini.
You can get tickets starting at 32 euros for a round trip — though keep in mind the crossing takes three to four and a half hours each way.
Can you fly from Crete to Santorini?
Currently, there are no direct flights from Crete to Santorini.
You could fly via a stopover, but in our opinion it’s not worth it for a day trip. The ferry is a much better option.
How long do you need for Santorini?
On a day trip to Santorini from Crete, you’ll naturally only get to see a fraction of this beautiful island.
To truly explore everything, you’ll need more time — we’d say at least a week.
That said, a day trip from Crete to Santorini still gives you a great first impression of the island and its most iconic spots.
