Crete Island Travel Forum

We are planning to arrive H/Iraklion by boat from Santorini (mid-May). Then take a bus to base in Chania for 4 nights (thanks to everyone's suggestion). At the end, we will fly to ATH from Chania.

However, we would love to visit both Knosos and Iraklion in the east (in addition to Chania and Samaria Gorge etc at the west). With the distance between them and Chania (120km? We do NOT plan to rent a car), would it be a good idea for us to stay in Iraklion for the first 2 nights, then move onto Chania for another 2?

Or, if we still base at Chania, is there any fast bus to take to Iraklion/Knosos? What is the frequency of such bus and how long will it take one-way?

Thanks in advance for any tip!

If you are doing it by bus is will be far simpler to just stay in Iraklion 2 nights, then Chania for 2 nights. There is only a local bus from Iraklion to Knossos. Buses Iraklion <> Chania are at least hourly takes about 2.5 hours.

http://www.bus-service-crete-ktel.com/timetable.php
http://www.ktel-heraklio-lassithi.gr/courses/heraklion/heraklio-en.htm

Going to Chania and backtracking to Iraklion just to see Knossos is a huge waste of time. I believe when you've arrived in Iraklion from Santorini you might change your mind about exploring such a large city since it will take a lot of time and there's not much there of interest, especially with the museum being closed. I suggest you spend just one night there and go to Knossos the following morning by bus. That will leave you the rest of the day to get to Chania, and there are frequent daily buses so you won't be stranded another day. The trip to Chania requires a change in Rethymnon. Here's the schedule website:


http://www.bus-service-crete-ktel.com/timetabledet.php?line=1&lg=2

Hi - one night in Heraklion should do it - OR depending on what time you arrive from Santorini, put your luggage into the Store at Heraklion bus station and get the bus outside to Knossos. You could then pick your luggage up and continue on a late afternoon bus to Chania (most of the buses go straight through, no need to change in Rethymnon - in busy periods they might put 2 buses on at the same time - 1 to Rethymnon and 1 to Chania)

Personally I like a night in Heraklion - there are some very good cheap restaurants with very few tourists, but it's probably not ideal as an intro to the island especially as they are carrying out major remodelling works at present.

The only thing to see in Iraklio is the museum if they opened it already ( it was closed last summer). So stay one night in Iraklio, see museum and Knossos, and the rest spend in CHania.
Iraklio is not very nice town to stay in. Chania on the other hand is a paradise if you are booking your hotel in the old town (see my tips on Crete, Chania and Rethymno)