Crete buses travel guide: Everything about KTEL intercity routes, city networks, bus stations, ticket prices and schedules - Complete practical overview for island transportation
Updated:
Only bus service is developed in Crete. Besides buses, you can only move around here by taxi or rented car.
In this article, I’ll tell you about the main bus routes in Crete and travel costs, as well as where to buy public transport tickets in Crete and, directly, in the island’s capital, Heraklion.
City and intercity buses in Crete
Buses in Crete are divided into city buses running within one city, and intercity buses running between the capital Heraklion and the cities of Agios Nikolaos, Ierapetra, Sitia and Rethymno, with intermediate stops in other places on the island.
Intercity buses run in the northern part of the island daily, from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
Previously we distinguished them by color; intercity buses were most often green, city buses – blue and white. Now this method doesn’t work very well, since city buses can have advertising, and of any color. We’ve seen completely white city buses.
And intercity buses, lately, we see: green, white-green, and simply white.
In general, first of all, intercity buses differ from city buses in that they have only seats. Also, they have a spacious luggage compartment under the cabin, which is convenient when moving between cities, or from the airport/port with suitcases.
Intercity buses in Crete are comfortable and air-conditioned. However, note that on busy routes, for example, Heraklion – Chania or Heraklion – Sitia, you may simply not get a seat and will have to travel standing.
If you plan to get to your destination with a transfer, note that due to frequent bus delays, you can easily miss the next one, and you’ll have to wait long and painfully.
Also, it’s worth considering that buses to Greek villages in Crete run much less frequently than to large cities.
Intercity bus Chania – Paleochora
City buses in Crete, as a rule, have low floors; besides seats there are also standing places, and luggage transport is physically possible only in the cabin.
City bus in Chania
KTEL buses: in eastern and western Crete
Buses in Crete are served by two bus carriers of one company – KTEL:
- Ktelherlas – serves the east of the island;
- Ktel – serves western Crete.
Buses on routes in the northern part of the island depart every hour. Buses to towns in the island’s interior and in its southern part depart less frequently.
Ktelherlas carrier buses run in the eastern part of Crete. You can find the bus schedule from point A to point B, for the dates you need, at this link.
Don’t forget to consider the specifics of Greeks’ mentality; they’re not in a hurry anywhere and buses can easily be 10-20 minutes late, and sometimes even longer. Once, we waited for a bus for an extra 45 minutes!
KTEL (Crete) travel prices
Travel costs on buses in Crete are regulated by the state and, by European standards, are moderate.
Approximate travel costs on popular routes and travel time:
Ktel company bus ticket
By bus you can reach Crete’s main tourist attractions: Knossos Palace, the cities of Phaistos and Gortyna, Arkadi and Preveli monasteries, Omalos Plateau and Hora Sfakion.
If you’re traveling around Crete with a group of 4 people, it will be much more profitable to take a taxi or rent a car than for all four to pay for bus travel.
The Heraklion–Elounda port route (for visiting Spinalonga Island)
A trip to Spinalonga Island is a chance to immerse yourself in a more recent chapter of Crete’s history, explore the Venetian fortress and learn more about the unique and slightly haunting story of this place. The island can be reached in two main ways: by scheduled bus or as part of an organised excursion group.
Travelling to Elounda port by scheduled bus
The most popular departure point for a trip to Spinalonga Island is Elounda port, which can be reached by scheduled bus from Heraklion (there are also ferries from Agios Nikolaos and Plaka, but Elounda is the closest point to the island, so most people set off from there).
The journey to Elounda port takes around 2 hours each way, with a change in Agios Nikolaos. Buses run regularly, but you will need to account for possible delays, especially in the summer season (always leave yourself some extra time for these sorts of hiccups).
The bus ticket from Heraklion to Agios Nikolaos costs around €10 one way, and from there to Elounda costs a further €3. The total cost of transport both ways from Heraklion comes to €26. Do not forget that you also need to pay for the ferry to Spinalonga, which will cost an additional €10 one way.
The total journey time with all connections can be up to 6.5 hours return. This leaves limited time to explore the island, especially if you are travelling in season when queues for the boats to the island are unavoidable.
Also keep in mind the cost of food. If the independent trip takes up the entire day, you should either bring a snack or budget another €15–20 for lunch at a café.
In my view, organised bus excursions to Spinalonga are the most comfortable way to travel, saving time and allowing you to enjoy all the highlights of the route. Such excursions often include a hotel transfer (even if you are staying well outside Heraklion), lunch or light snacks, and a guide who is happy to share all the fascinating history of the island.
Here too I found several organised tours to Spinalonga from Heraklion that I liked most, and I am happy to share them with you:
- Excursion to Spinalonga with lunch and a visit to Agios Nikolaos costs €48 for adults and €24 for children, the same price in both high season (May–September) and off-season. Includes transfer, a cruise to Spinalonga, a visit to Agios Nikolaos, departure by ferry from there and lunch on board. Duration: a full day, approximately 9–10 hours. This excursion is great value thanks to the included meal and the opportunity to visit several places (backed up by a large number of reviews — 293 in total — and a rating of 4.2 out of 5).
- Full-day tour and cruise to Spinalonga costs €45 in season when booked with a transfer from Heraklion and a grill lunch on board. The price is the same year-round, though many variations of this tour exist at different price points. Duration: 6–10 hours. Includes hotel transfer from Heraklion (transfers from other locations available at an additional charge), a grill lunch with a choice of meat on board and a visit to Spinalonga. A well-organised trip with a barbecue on deck and additional stops at Kolokytha Beach.
- Tour to Elounda and Spinalonga Island with a coffee stop in Agios Nikolaos costs €48 for adults and €25 for children. Duration: 10 hours. The price includes a private transfer, a packed lunch on board and an individual guide. The main advantage is the flexibility of the itinerary and a fairly exclusive approach.
Organised excursions provide comfort and convenience, allowing you to devote more time to sightseeing without worrying about logistics — which, in my opinion, is the biggest advantage over travelling independently by public transport.
The Heraklion–Knossos route (Knossos Palace)
Knossos Palace, situated 5 km south-east of Heraklion, is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Greece. The palace is famous for its labyrinthine layout and its rich history spanning over 4,000 years. A trip to Knossos Palace is a captivating opportunity to immerse yourself in the history of the Minoan civilisation — something we all heard about back in school.
How to get to Knossos Palace
The most convenient way to reach Knossos Palace is by bus or car. Buses depart from Heraklion’s central bus terminal every 20–30 minutes. The journey takes about 20 minutes and costs €2. The drive takes approximately 15 minutes.
A few words about tickets to Knossos Palace
Entrance tickets to Knossos Palace cost €18 for adults and €8 for students and pensioners. Children under 18 can visit free of charge. You can pay at the entrance on the day or purchase one of the ticket options online in advance (which I recommend), allowing you to skip the queues and receive an audio guide to the palace. The palace is open daily from 8:00 to 20:00 in summer (May–September) and from 8:00 to 17:00 in winter (October–April).
An excellent alternative to visiting Knossos independently is an organised tour with transfer and guide services. What is more, such trips usually include not only Knossos Palace but also other equally interesting landmarks of Crete located nearby (such as the Cave of Zeus). Julia and I selected several tours that we liked most:
1. Excursion to Knossos Palace and the Lasithi Plateau
- Price: €40 + entrance tickets.
- Season: year-round.
- Highlights: transfer from hotels in 14 resort villages around Heraklion (important, since getting to Heraklion by bus is not always straightforward — sometimes you end up waiting by the roadside), a visit to Knossos Palace, the Lasithi Plateau, the Cave of Zeus and the Kera Monastery.
- Entrance tickets to Knossos Palace, the Cave of Zeus and the Kera Monastery are not included and must be paid on site — €18, €6 and €2 respectively.
2. Excursion to Knossos Palace, the Cave of Zeus and Kera Monastery
- Price: €40 + entrance tickets.
- Entrance ticket prices: Kera Monastery — €2; Cave of Zeus — €6; Knossos Palace and Archaeological Museum — €18 and €12.
- Season: year-round.
- Highlights: transfer from resort villages around Heraklion, visits to Knossos Palace, the Cave of Zeus, Kera Monastery and the Archaeological Museum. Also includes a stop in the small village of Tzermiado with a snack break and free time.
3. Private tour “Land of Zeus”
- Price: €210 for two people.
- Season: year-round.
- Highlights: transfer from villages around Heraklion and from more distant locations such as Elounda and Plaka, a visit to Knossos Palace, a Cretan village and lunch.
- Route: departure from Heraklion in the morning. After visiting Knossos Palace, the group returns to Heraklion for a city tour including a visit to the Archaeological Museum, followed by an authentic lunch at a local restaurant.
In my view, these excursions offer a far more enriching way to visit Knossos Palace and a broader opportunity to learn about the history and culture of Crete.
Our website has a large dedicated article about Knossos Palace that will help you prepare for the trip and understand what to expect there.
Bus stations in Crete and their coordinates
There are several large bus stations in Crete, in a sense, starting points from where intercity buses go to different cities and villages of the island. Below we provide coordinates of the most significant ones:
Popular bus routes from Chania and their alternatives in the form of group bus excursions
Travelling to Balos Bay from Chania can be a real adventure, especially if you decide to use public transport. At the same time, organised bus excursions can offer a great deal more comfort and convenience. I decided to compare these options to help you plan your holiday in the most practical and comfortable way possible.
1. The Chania–Balos Bay route by public transport
To get to Balos Bay from Chania by public transport, you will need to prepare for several connections and a considerable amount of time on the road.
- First, you need to take a bus to Kissamos (ticket price: around €3–5 one way). The journey takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes.
- Once you reach Kissamos, you will need to wait for the next form of transport — a ferry to Balos (ferry ticket: €25–35 per person one way), which adds another 2 hours to your journey.
If you are planning to eat independently during the trip, factor in the cost of food — roughly €10–15.
The downsides of this approach include limited time at the destination, the need to coordinate transport schedules and a fairly lengthy journey overall (not ideal, as you constantly have to think about getting around and finding somewhere to eat along the way).
Alternative: group bus excursions to Balos Bay
To avoid the complications of travelling by public transport, organised bus excursions are an excellent alternative. For example, one of the popular excursions from Chania to Balos Bay includes a transfer to Kissamos port, from where tourists board a boat directly to Balos and Gramvousa Island.
Advantages of this option:
- The excursion costs €50 in season (May to September) and includes ferry tickets, a transfer from Chania to Kissamos and back, and guide services. Out of season, prices may be slightly lower, but the reduced number of tourists makes the trip even more comfortable.
- The trip is accompanied by a professional guide who shares the history and interesting facts about Balos Bay and Gramvousa Island.
- During the excursion, lunch is usually provided or you are given the opportunity to dine at a chosen restaurant without any additional hassle.
This excursion, while it may at first seem similar to simply travelling by bus, genuinely saves time on transfers and offers much more comfort — no need to find the ferry boarding point and wait for the next one, or to search for somewhere to eat along the way. In my view, those who simply want to enjoy the trip to Balos without unnecessary stress should seriously consider the organised excursion options.
The tour to Gramvousa Island and Balos Lagoon from Chania lasts around 11 hours and costs €28 (ferry tickets are paid on site in cash; for an additional charge you can order lunch, which on a full-day trip like this is well worth it), including a stop on the island and time to relax in the Balos Bay lagoon. At the far end of the bay at Balos, you can marvel at a striking geological phenomenon created by catastrophic earthquakes in 66 and 365 BC.
Price: €73 from Chania (€78 from Rethymno). The day begins with a morning bus ride to Kastelli port (the other name for Kissamos port). From there you board a boat to Gramvousa Island, where you can visit the historic Venetian castle — a relic of the 18th century that pirates once used as their hideout. The trip then continues to Balos Bay for a swim and some time on the beach.
By the way, on our website you will find more detailed information about the excursion to Balos Bay that Julia and I went on — we wrote a separate full article about that trip.
2. The Chania–Elafonisi Beach route: by public bus or organised excursion
The journey to one of Crete’s most beautiful beaches — Elafonisi — can be made in several ways. Let us compare the scheduled bus option and organised excursions in terms of convenience, price and comfort.
Travelling to Elafonisi Beach by scheduled bus
Bus routes from Chania to Elafonisi Beach offer a fairly accessible and budget-friendly way to get there. A one-way bus ticket costs approximately €11–13. The journey takes around 1 hour 30 minutes each way with no changes. However, due to the popularity of this route, especially in season, buses can be overcrowded — worth bearing in mind.
Bus departure times from Chania are limited to the morning hours, so it is important to set off early in order to make it back the same day. On arrival, you will also need to sort out food independently (meals can cost around €10–20 depending on the restaurant), and without a guide you will need to plan your route in advance.
Alternative: group bus excursions to Elafonisi Beach
If you would rather not spend time tracking down public transport stops and planning the trip yourself, I recommend opting for a more comfortable and organised experience — group bus excursions. For example:
Price: €37 (in season and out of season). A comfortable trip to the crystal-clear waters, the pink sandy beach of Elafonisi and the unique landscapes of Crete. A coffee and breakfast stop is included in the village of Elos, famous for its chestnuts. (The reviews are simply incredible.)
The advantages of organised excursions go beyond comfort and saving time on planning — they also include a guide who will make the whole experience far more interesting. You also get more time to relax, since all logistical matters are handled for you (in other words, you can stop thinking about anything else and simply enjoy the journey).
3. The Chania–Omalos route: to Samaria Gorge by scheduled bus and organised excursions
A trip to Samaria Gorge is a wonderful way to spend a day in nature and hike through one of Crete’s greatest natural landmarks. To begin, you need to reach the starting point of the route — the Omalos Plateau, from which the descent through the gorge begins. Here again, let us look at two main options: public transport and organised excursions.
Travelling to Samaria Gorge by scheduled bus
Buses to Omalos from the nearest major city — Chania — depart from the central bus station early in the morning. This is important, as you need to start the gorge hike early to avoid the heat and large crowds (it is better to depart no later than 7:00 a.m. if you are planning to travel independently by scheduled bus).
The journey by scheduled bus to Omalos takes approximately 1.5 hours. A one-way ticket costs around €10.00.
Buses run regularly, but during the high season (May to September) you should expect them to be crowded. After completing the hike through Samaria Gorge, you need to take a ferry from Agia Roumeli to Chora Sfakion (ticket: €13).
At Chora Sfakion you will need to change onto another bus back to Chania (ticket: another €10.00). In total, you will need to spend a significant part of the day travelling, as well as €33 on transport.
In addition to ticket costs, you should budget for food — approximately €10–15 for a snack or lunch at a café along the route.
Alternative: organised bus excursions from Chania to Samaria Gorge
In our view — Julia’s and mine — a more convenient and well-organised option compared to travelling independently by scheduled bus is a guided excursion to Samaria Gorge with transfer. Here are a few options we liked:
- Guided excursion through Samaria Gorge includes a transfer from Chania, an expert escort throughout the route and the ferry from Agia Roumeli, after which a bus will be waiting to take you back to Chania — allowing you to enjoy the hike without any hassle and in comfort, for €36 per person.
- Guided walking tour of Samaria for €35, with a focus on nature and culture, giving you the chance to learn more about the history of this place. Includes return transport and full immersion in the wild atmosphere of Samaria Gorge.
- Full-day excursion from Chania for €36 — helps you avoid the crowds at the start, includes a comfortable bus return from Chora Sfakion and is led by a professional guide who will reveal the wildest corners of Samaria Gorge.
By choosing an organised tour like one of these, we believe you will have more time to take in the gorge, and the guides will make sure everyone leaves satisfied — and in one piece.
By the way, Julia and I have already done a group tour to Samaria Gorge in Crete, which we wrote a separate full article about, complete with our impressions, photos and reviews.
Bus stations in Heraklion
KTEL Bus Station A (also designated as: Station at the port).
Central bus station where most intercity buses of eastern and western bus networks intersect, running on the most significant routes.
Buses departing from here connect Heraklion with such major cities, resorts and attractions of Crete as: Hersonissos, Malia, Agios Nikolaos, Ierapetra, Sitia, Rethymno, Chania, Arkalochori, Archanes, Kastelli, Mochos, Lasithi Plateau, etc.
Coordinates: 35°20’20.4″N, 25°08’27.4″E (35.338999, 25.140942).
Note: This information needs to be clarified, since until 2018 the bus station was located at the following coordinates: 35°20’27.9″N, 25°08’21.2″E (35.341072, 25.139218)
KTEL Bus Station B (also designated as: Station at Chanioporta).
Heraklion’s second bus station, used for bus service to the central and southern part of Heraklion region (or nome) (partially, Rethymno region).
From this bus station, buses depart to: Agia Galini, Matala, Mires, Timbaki, Anogia, etc.
Bus station coordinates: 35°20’13.1″N, 25°07’23.9″E (35.336968, 25.123311).
Bus station in Rethymno.
From this bus station, buses depart to: Kavros, Georgioupolis, Chania city, Chania airport, Bali, Heraklion, Plakias, Agia Galini, Panormo, Margarites, Arkadi, Anogia, Mili (here is located Mili gorge of the same name), Agia Irini (Agia Irini monastery), etc.
Coordinates: 35°21’59.8″N, 24°28’07.5″E (35.366609, 24.468739).
Bus station in Chania.
From this bus station, buses depart to: Chania airport, Georgioupoli, Kavros, Rethymno, Heraklion, Paleochora, Hora Sfakion, Sougia, Almyrida, Kalives, Stavros, Kato Stalos, Agia Marina, Platanias, Gerani, Maleme, Tavronitis, Kolymvari, Kastelli (Kissamos), etc.
Coordinates: 35°30’42.4″N, 24°01’00.1″E (35.511787, 24.016697).
Note: Directly from Chania airport by bus you can get not only to Chania city, but also to Rethymno with a stop at Souda port.
Bus station in Agios Nikolaos.
From this bus station, buses depart to: Elounda, Sitia, Ierapetra, Kritsa, Kroustas, Istron, Malia, Hersonissos, Heraklion, etc.
Coordinates: 35°11’34.9″N, 25°42’42.8″E (35.193038, 25.711882).
Bus station in Agios Nikolaos
Bus station in Sitia.
From here buses depart to: Agios Nikolaos, Heraklion, Ierapetra, Makrigialos, Palekastro, Zakros (here is located one of the Minoan palaces – Zakros palace), etc.
Coordinates: 35°12’16.1″N, 26°06’16.0″E (35.204457, 26.104438).
Bus station in Ierapetra.
From here buses depart to: Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos, Sitia, Myrtos, Makrigialos, etc.
Coordinates: 35°00’44.5″N, 25°44’31.3″E (35.012367, 25.742037).
In large cities of Crete, bus stations have covered premises with waiting room, toilet and shops. In small towns there are no bus station buildings, but there are small ticket sales kiosks located on the road. If there’s no kiosk, or it’s closed, you can buy a ticket right on the bus.
This is what a typical bus station looks like in a Greek city (though in this photo – in Thessaloniki)
Map of bus stations in Crete
City transport in Crete: city bus networks
City buses run in large cities of Crete, and also connect these cities with their nearest surroundings.
Unfortunately, we haven’t yet managed to find websites of all city bus networks. Therefore, we’ll periodically supplement this list:
City buses in Heraklion
On this website you can find bus route numbers and directions in Heraklion and surroundings, and also study intermediate stops.
But information about which terminal stops in Heraklion buses depart in one direction or another can’t be found on this site. Such data can be clarified on the official Heraklion city website in the “By Bus” section.
City buses in Chania
Information about terminal stops, routes, as well as current city bus schedules, on this site, can be found in the Πρόγραμμα δρομολογίων (Timetable) section.
Note: Not on all sites did we manage to find bus schedules regarding some specific intermediate stop (more often schedules indicate departure time from terminal stops). Therefore, staying at a hotel at one or another resort (and this, as a rule, will be at some intermediate stop), we find out the bus schedule at the hotel reception or on the notice board (if it’s there at all, of course).
Where to buy a bus ticket in Crete?
In Crete, bus tickets can be bought in several places, which is very convenient. Here are the ticket purchase methods we managed to use:
- at the bus station at the ticket office;
- on the bus – from the conductor or from the driver;
- in a machine at the terminal stop (this way, we’ve only bought a ticket for a city bus so far; we don’t know if such a possibility exists for intercity buses);
- in large supermarkets;
- at the reception of some hotels.
We certainly won’t assert for sure, but when we bought tickets in different ways, the price was the same everywhere (of course, provided that the cost of identical trips on the same route is compared).
Useful tips: how to use buses in Crete
What's the best way to travel around Crete by bus?
How to get from point A to point B in Crete by bus? Periodically, traveling non-standard routes, we developed an approximate algorithm for ourselves that roughly allows us to understand how to get to the desired resort or attraction and where, possibly, we’ll need to make a transfer:
- We take a map of Crete and first (in the primitive version) in the Heraklion area mentally divide the island into 2 parts (from north to south). After all, it’s in Crete’s capital that the main bus station is located, where western and eastern KTEL buses intersect.
- We assess which part of the island, relative to Heraklion, our hotel is located and where we want to go by bus. If we’re traveling from the eastern part of Crete (for example, from Hersonissos), to the western (say, to Rethymno), then at the bus station in Heraklion we’ll need to transfer from an eastern KTEL bus to a western network bus.
- If a longer trip around Crete by public transport is planned, then we refer to the island map again. In the same way, we mentally divide it in the areas of: Sitia, Agios Nikolaos, Heraklion, Rethymno, Chania. That is, through those cities where there are bus stations.
- If a long trip is ahead, for example, from Hersonissos, Stalida or Malia (located east of Heraklion) to Balos, Falassarna or Elafonisi (which are located west of not only Heraklion but also Chania), then we’ll need to make two transfers: the first in Heraklion, the second in Chania.
By the way, it’s extremely important to understand that such routes, as in the example given, are better planned for several days. Crete is a large island and such a bus trip, there and back, will be very tiring and practically impossible: neither physically, nor from the point of view of logistics (transfers, schedules, etc.).
Bus stops in Crete: how to understand which one to get off at?
Ideally, we always ask the driver or conductor (if the bus is served by a conductor) to inform us about our stop: we either name the resort and hotel we’re going to, or (if we know the exact stop name), name it and ask to warn us about arrival at it.
This method has always helped us, although someone on the forum told the opposite story.
Several times we encountered the bus driver himself announcing stops.
Names and numbering of bus stops in Crete
We noticed that east of Heraklion, stops of buses going toward Agios Nikolaos are numbered. Numbering starts from Heraklion. For example:
- in Kato Gouves there are 5 stops: No. 10-15;
- stop No. 16 is located in the Analipsi area;
- in Hersonissos, Stalida and Malia are stops No. 19-33.
We often look at stop numbers on the map. Staying in those parts, we often use this map; we simply take it and, virtually traveling along the road, look for the nearest stop to our resort and hotel.
This is how stop No. 4 at Kokkini Hani resort is marked on “OpenStreetMap”
West of Chania, bus stops are numbered slightly differently. If there are several stops in one or another settlement, then the numbering includes the settlement name and stop number.
For example: Agia Marina 1, Agia Marina 2, etc. (numbering is done from Chania and further, westward).
Do city and intercity bus stops coincide?
We won’t say exactly regarding the entire island of Crete, but just last year in the Kato Daratso area we accidentally encountered the fact that intercity bus stops and city bus stops are located in different places there.
That is, the intercity bus we were really waiting for drove past the city bus stop where we mistakenly stood.
So, it makes sense to ask locals once more whether you’re standing at the right stop, indicating the bus and direction of your trip.
What to pay attention to in Crete: nuances of bus trips
- It’s better to come to the bus stop in advance, as in personal practice we had two cases when the bus left right before our arrival at the stop, a couple of minutes earlier;
- this doesn’t happen often, but a couple of times we got into such a situation: if the intercity bus is already overcrowded with passengers, it may drive past our stop without stopping, as there may be no free seats;
- don’t count on the last bus; if possible, it’s better to try to leave on the second-to-last one – once we waited in advance for the last bus to Agios Nikolaos, and it didn’t come for some reason (we had to order a taxi);
- considering the previous point, you should definitely have money with you in case you miss the bus (or other force majeure), in case you need to call a taxi, or rent a hotel room for the night.