Most people that visit Chania usually come directly by plane. Chania has an International Airport with schedule flights to Chania all year round. The airport of Chania is the second biggest of the Crete airports and is situated in Sternes, Akrotiri approximately about 14 km east of the town centre.
Most visiting from some time in April until the end of October have the big advantage and are usually linked to charter flights as there are quite numerous flights to Chania available from all over Europe. Visitors should keep in mind though, that charter flights are not always cheaper than schedule flights (of course there is the case and exception that one will find far better and cheaper deals) as they give you less options and flexibility in choosing your travel dates and some might not give you a better price reduction, especially if you travel with children.
Most of the schedule International flights to Chania transit through Athens, where you will then have to take a domestic flight to either Chania or Heraklion, the Crete capital, which is 140km away.
Note that there are a lot more flights to Heraklion airport than Chania, making these fairly cheaper. There is usually more availability, also, especially during the summer months.
At the Crete airports there are buses, but they are slow. You can find car rentals from various offices, and if you are not driving you can always take a taxi. Taxis to the centre of Chania will cost around 10 Euro, which includes a small airport surcharge.
The check-in time is usually 45 minutes for domestic flights and 90 minutes for charter flights. We recommend that during the high season months one should check-in slightly earlier than the times given above avoiding the long waiting in line.
Chania has daily sea connection with Piraeus via ferry boats. The bay of Souda serves as the port of Chania, and is considered to be the largest and safest bay in the East Mediterranean situated 7 km east of the town. Schedules take place to and from Athens (Piraeus) daily, and during the summer months an extra schedule is added sailing at noon also.
There are two lines serving the sea connection between Piraeus and Chania: ANEK Lines ferries and Hellenic Seaways ferries. The trip is about 6 hours long. In summer, Hellenic Seaways employs a high speed catamaran that takes about 4 hours.
Be aware that, in rare occasions, the wind in the Aegean Sea might make Crete temporarily inaccesible by sea. If that's the case and you're in a hurry (this situation generally lasts 1 to 2 days maximum), you can always find a range of flights to Chania – especially during the summer months.
