Back to newsCrete serves as an excellent base for exploring nearby islands across the Aegean and Ionian seas. Day trips and short ferry journeys connect visitors to destinations like Santorini, Milos, Rhodes, and smaller islets such as Gavdos, the southernmost point of Europe. Ferries depart mainly from Heraklion and Chania ports, with routes operating most frequently between June and September. Some islands are reachable in under two hours by high-speed catamaran. Gavdos, just south of Crete, offers remote beaches and minimal crowds. Santorini and Rhodes attract larger volumes of tourists and require advance booking in peak season. Travelers should check ferry schedules through local port authorities or booking platforms, as timetables shift seasonally. Combining a Crete stay with one or two island excursions is a practical way to experience the broader region.
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Crete ferries make Aegean's top islands just hours away
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Getting around Crete by bus
- Bus Agia Galini to Heraklion
- Bus Agia Galini to Matala
- Bus Agia Galini to Rethymno
- Bus Agios Nikolaos to Heraklion
- Bus Agios Nikolaos to Hersonisos
- Bus Agios Nikolaos to Ierapetra
- Bus Agios Nikolaos to Siteia
- Bus Chania to Heraklion
- Bus Chania to Kissamos
- Bus Chania to Paleochora
- Bus Chania to Rethymno
- Bus Heraklion to Hersonisos
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