r/crete • u/Illustrious_Ad7775 • Mar 30 '24

Travel Advice/Ταξιδιωτικές Οδηγίες From Sitia to Chania but not traveling all day... how?

Hello everyone ...

I miscalculated a bit about the plane flights and didn't really pay attention to the distance in Crete ... so I need help ... what is the fastest and best way to get from Sita (airport) to Chania ... it will land in Crete around 9am... it seems that the ferry to Heraklon runs only on Fridays... renting a car for 300 euros for one day is too much for me... is there BlaBlaCar or some other ride sharing platform Crete?

Thank you

7 Upvotes

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11

u/paeria Mar 30 '24

You can take the intercity public bus (KTEL) from Sitia to Heraklion and from there take another public bus from Heraklion to Chania. Be warned, it's going to be a long trip, but even with a car it would take you at least 4-5 hours to go straight from Sitia to Chania and the road can be challenging for quite a few parts of the drive.

2

u/Illustrious_Ad7775 Mar 30 '24

thx ... lunch in Heraklion (or somewhere else during the layover?!) then dinner in Chania ... that seems ok to me.

5

u/paeria Mar 30 '24

Honestly you wouldn't have much time during the layover to leave Heraklion, so plan for lunch there. If you plan to take a later bus to Chania and have a bit more time for your layover, it might be a good chance to visit the Archeological Museum in Heraklion, it's a very good one if you're interested in history. In general, do not underestimate the distances on the island, even if they seem short, they usually take more time than you would think, especially if you have to go through the mountains from North to South.

2

u/Dazvsemir Mar 30 '24

Yep if I were you I would definitelly take a long break in Heraklion, get some food and walk around.

I suggest you message wherever you will be staying in Chania and ask them about late check in. You will probably be fine to stay in Heraklion until 4-5pm.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 03 '24

It takes about 3 hours from Sitia to Heraklion and 2.5 hours from Heraklion to Chania. At least the buses from Heraklion depart hourly, until late at night.

The road from Sitia westward is a nightmare of serpentine roads - but it has spectacular views. (Make sure that you are sitting on the right-hand side.) Enjoy the bus ride with an experienced driver in an air-conditioned bus.

It´s relatively cheap. Last time I took the trip from Heraklion to Chania it was around 15 Euros.

Heraklion central bus station is a perfect location for a stop-over. They have a really cool canteen with good food, outside places in the courtyard. There´s a McDonalds and some restaurants around the corner. You could even spend half a day in Heraklion and take a late bus to Chania.

2

u/toocontroversial_4u Chania Mar 30 '24

No there's no BlaBlaCar. I think there are some Facebook groups where people post all types of requests but this is going to be very unreliable. Also 300 a day for a rental sounds crazy. Better call up some more rental companies to get a quote, but don't make your situation sound so dire to them haha. Just say you'll be traveling.

1

u/Illustrious_Ad7775 Mar 30 '24

thanks ... I'm a hell of a negotiator ... but the car rental can't be very cheap because I'll be leaving the car in Chania ... and what about the buses? do you have any experiences?

5

u/toocontroversial_4u Chania Mar 30 '24

Yes you can take a bus from Sitia to Chania. You pay one ticket but you have to change bus in Agios Nikolaos and again in Heraklio. Sometimes again to change in Rethymno. The change in Heraklio has a half hour wait time, the other changes have no time delay usually. The whole trip lasts around 7 hrs. If you were traveling by car it'd maybe take 4 and a half hours though. So it's not that much of a difference. If you want an affordable and reliable option the bus is ok. Decent seats, air condition and you can take in water (but they won't let you eat inside, only in the stops).

1

u/paeria Mar 30 '24

This is the link to the KTEL website (there might be more buses scheduled in the summer) : https://www.ktelherlas.gr/en/online-%CE%B5%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%B9%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%B1-135/%CF%8E%CF%81%CE%B5%CF%82-147

1

u/Illustrious_Ad7775 Mar 30 '24

I'm traveling in mid-April ... I don't need to buy in advance? all the lines on the island are carried by that KTEL...right?

1

u/paeria Mar 30 '24

To be specific, there are two KTELs, one is Heraklio-Lasithi (East part of the island) and the other is Chania - Rethymno (West part of the island) but they work together, so you should be able to just go to the KTEL counter in Sitia and tell them you need a ticket to Chania or you can do it online from the site. The only think I'm not sure about is how you will get from the Sitia airport to the local KTEL, as I'm from Chania and I've been to Sitia only by car.

1

u/Illustrious_Ad7775 Mar 30 '24

Thank you. one ticket for two KTEL ... I understand ... I'll hurry though, I won't miss the buses in Heraklion or anywhere ... maybe catch some day light in Chania ... the city seems nice and I have accommodation in the center ... my last day in Greece.

1

u/Electronshaper Mar 30 '24

Where are you flying from? Sitia is about six hour drive from Chania. If you’re flying from Athens a flight to Chania is like $50… after you factor the cost of rental, fuel, food and your time, it might be an option to just book another flight.

We that said, the drive from Sitia to Chania is beautiful and well worth the experience. Maybe make it a feature of the trip… stop at Agios Nikolaus, Lasithi Plateau, visit the city center at Heraklion… If anything I would even break it in two days and hit some wineries south of Heraklion, and on day 2 go from Heraklion to Chania stopping at Rethymno… Make it a journey, not a destination.

2

u/Illustrious_Ad7775 Mar 30 '24

thanks for the advice ... but I only found a 100 euro ticket for Aegan ... good price ... but I already travel with them that morning from Rhodes to Sitia (2 stops) ... so I would continue to Chania (5 hours and 1 more stop) it's too much for me. ... the bus seems to me to be the best solution ... especially since I have a flight to Thessaloniki the next day

1

u/toocontroversial_4u Chania Mar 30 '24

Maybe a flights change penalty is cheaper than booking an entirely new flight and paying in full? You could call their support to find out.

1

u/Illustrious_Ad7775 Mar 31 '24

Thats option! It will cost me 100e more if I fly to Chania via Athens ... but I will still leave it as it is now: Rhodes-Karpatos-Kasos-Sitiya ... flying adventure

1

u/Professional_Wolf804 Mar 30 '24

Take the bus, to heraklion and from there to chania (same station). You will waste one day of your trip but hopefully at the evening you will be ready to enjoy your first night out to chania !

1

u/Illustrious_Ad7775 Mar 30 '24

that's my plan! I'm even thinking of canceling my accommodation because I have an early flight! Yep! from nightlife to the airport! ... (what is the age limit for 'party animal' status there?)

2

u/Professional_Wolf804 Mar 30 '24

I didn't understand.. is this all a one day visit ? I don't think there is an age limit as long as you don't look weird haha

0

u/Illustrious_Ad7775 Mar 30 '24

nop. this is a two week round trip ... Thessaloniki is the starting and ending point ... just one day (ie part of a day) in Crete ... flight to Thessaloniki in the morning

2

u/Professional_Wolf804 Mar 30 '24

Hm that's bad , it's not worth it doing all this for 1 day ! Practically wou will spend the day at the bus amd you will arrive at chania tired! So consider the the following:

  • Canceling the whole crete visit
  • reschedule so that you will have at least one more day
  • stay in Sitia and see of you can fly the next day from there or fly directly to chania

-1

u/Illustrious_Ad7775 Mar 30 '24

That's how it happened.The flight schedule dictated everything and I will still visit many Greek islands and coasts...Obviously I have to visit Crete in particular one dayI will console myself with a glass of wine more in Chania

1

u/Professional_Wolf804 Mar 30 '24

OK mate !! Have a nice trip anyway !!

1

u/okantos Mar 30 '24

I just paid 350 Euros to rent a car for 15 days in June

1

u/Illustrious_Ad7775 Mar 30 '24

can you send me a link for the rentacar house in a message? Thank you.

1

u/okantos Mar 30 '24

I just looked at the prices for a one day rental for your trip and it is about $300. I realized mine is cheaper because I am picking the car up from Heraklion and dropping back off there.

1

u/Illustrious_Ad7775 Mar 31 '24

Leaving the car somewhere else if the pick-up location is not that popular is always expensive ... the car rental company has to return the car, pay the driver or find a customer who needs a reverse route the next day ...