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Crete by public bus · an independent, source-led guide

Crete by bus, from Kissamos to Sitia.

Two KTEL companies split the island, east and west, and Heraklion and Chania run their own city buses. This guide shows the corridors they publish, where each stops short, and links the operator for current times.

Find a journey Read the island
Skip the map Crete, with the corridors this guide covers Shaded relief of Crete from Copernicus elevation data, with the bus corridors the KTEL companies and the Heraklion city operator publish drawn between the places their pages name. Solid lines are corridors whose page marks no change, no day dependence and no suspension; dotted lines need a change, depend on the day, can be suspended or follow the city operator’s own itinerary, and their titles say which. The Samaria Gorge walk is a fine dotted line and the south-coast ferries are dashed. Balos and Vai, drawn as open rings, have no bus corridor this guide could verify. KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi: Heraklion – Agia Galini KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi: Heraklion – Anogia — no Sunday departures Heraklion Urban Buses: Heraklion – Heraklion Airport — check the city operator’s current airport-area itinerary KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi: Heraklion – Hersonissos Heraklion Urban Buses: Heraklion – Knossos KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi: Heraklion – Matala KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi and KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Rethymno – Heraklion KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Rethymno – Agia Galini — some departures carry day-of-week footnotes KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Rethymno – Anogia — Monday to Friday only KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Rethymno – Arkadi Monastery KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Rethymno – Chania Airport KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi and KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Chania – Rethymno KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi: Hersonissos – Malia KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Rethymno – Plakias — some departures carry day-of-week and routing footnotes KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Rethymno – Preveli KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi: Agios Nikolaos – Malia KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Chania – Chania Airport KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Chania – Chora Sfakion KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Chania – Elafonisi KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Chania – Kissamos KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Chania – Omalos KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Chania – Paleochora KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Plakias – Preveli Samaria Gorge, on foot: Omalos – Agia Roumeli KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi: Agios Nikolaos – Elounda KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi: Agios Nikolaos – Ierapetra KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi: Agios Nikolaos – Sitia KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Chora Sfakion – Frangokastello ANENDYK south-coast ferry: Chora Sfakion – Loutro KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Elafonisi – Kissamos KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Falassarna – Kissamos — every journey changes at Kasteli (Kissamos) KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Sougia – Omalos ANENDYK south-coast ferry: Loutro – Agia Roumeli ANENDYK south-coast ferry: Agia Roumeli – Sougia Heraklion Heraklion Chania Chania Rethymno Rethymno Agios Nikolaos Agios Nikolaos Sitia Sitia Matala Matala Chora Sfakion Elafonisi Elafonisi Elounda Elounda Balos Balos Knossos Hersonissos Malia Vai Palm Beach — no verified bus Plakias Preveli Falassarna Kissamos Paleochora Sougia Frangokastello Arkadi Monastery Loutro Agia Roumeli Agia Galini Anogia Omalos Heraklion Airport Chania Airport
Fly over in 3D
Skip the map Crete, with the corridors this guide covers Shaded relief of Crete from Copernicus elevation data, with the bus corridors the KTEL companies and the Heraklion city operator publish drawn between the places their pages name. Solid lines are corridors whose page marks no change, no day dependence and no suspension; dotted lines need a change, depend on the day, can be suspended or follow the city operator’s own itinerary, and their titles say which. The Samaria Gorge walk is a fine dotted line and the south-coast ferries are dashed. Balos and Vai, drawn as open rings, have no bus corridor this guide could verify. KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi: Heraklion – Agia Galini KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi: Heraklion – Anogia — no Sunday departures KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi: Heraklion – Hersonissos KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi: Heraklion – Matala KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi and KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Rethymno – Heraklion KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Rethymno – Agia Galini — some departures carry day-of-week footnotes KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Rethymno – Anogia — Monday to Friday only KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Rethymno – Arkadi Monastery KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Rethymno – Chania Airport KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi and KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Chania – Rethymno KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi: Hersonissos – Malia KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Rethymno – Plakias — some departures carry day-of-week and routing footnotes KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Rethymno – Preveli KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi: Agios Nikolaos – Malia KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Chania – Chania Airport KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Chania – Chora Sfakion KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Chania – Elafonisi KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Chania – Kissamos KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Chania – Omalos KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Chania – Paleochora KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Plakias – Preveli Samaria Gorge, on foot: Omalos – Agia Roumeli KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi: Agios Nikolaos – Elounda KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi: Agios Nikolaos – Ierapetra KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi: Agios Nikolaos – Sitia KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Chora Sfakion – Frangokastello ANENDYK south-coast ferry: Chora Sfakion – Loutro KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Elafonisi – Kissamos KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Falassarna – Kissamos — every journey changes at Kasteli (Kissamos) KTEL Chania–Rethymno: Sougia – Omalos ANENDYK south-coast ferry: Loutro – Agia Roumeli ANENDYK south-coast ferry: Agia Roumeli – Sougia Heraklion Heraklion Chania Chania Rethymno Rethymno Agios Nikolaos Agios Nikolaos Sitia Sitia Matala Chora Sfakion Elafonisi Elounda Balos Hersonissos Malia Vai Palm Beach — no verified bus Plakias Preveli Falassarna Kissamos Paleochora Sougia Frangokastello Arkadi Monastery Loutro Agia Roumeli Agia Galini Anogia Omalos Chania Airport

Fly over in 3D

Terrain: Copernicus DEM GLO-30. © DLR e.V. 2010-2014 and © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH 2014-2018, provided under COPERNICUS by the European Union and ESA.

Guide checked 13 August 2026

Find a journey

Which published corridor joins both places?

Choose two places. The answer names the operator whose publication carries you from one to the other and links this guide’s page about it. No departure times here: they belong to the operator, in the edition for your date.

    All 66 published journeys

    From Heraklion

    • Heraklion to Heraklion Airport

      Conditions apply

      One operator publishes a corridor joining both places City bus

      And back? The same way back.

      Conditions apply The airport authority lists buses and taxis; the city operator publishes the airport-area itineraries, and onward KTEL travel is a separate check.

    • Heraklion to Chania

      Scheduled service

      One operator publishes a corridor joining both places KTEL H-L

      KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi publishes a regular pair through Rethymno and a separate express pair; compare both for your date and direction.

      And back? The same way back.

    • Heraklion to Rethymno

      Scheduled service

      One operator publishes a corridor joining both places KTEL H-L

      And back? A different way back:

      KTEL H-LKTEL C-R

    • Heraklion to Agios Nikolaos

      Scheduled service

      One operator publishes a corridor joining both places KTEL H-L

      And back? The same way back.

    • Heraklion to Knossos

      Scheduled service

      One operator publishes a corridor joining both places City bus

      A city bus, not a KTEL coach: the Heraklion urban operator publishes the itinerary that serves the palace site.

      And back? The same way back.

    • Heraklion to Hersonissos

      Scheduled service

      One operator publishes a corridor joining both places KTEL H-L

      And back? The same way back.

    • Heraklion to Malia

      Scheduled service

      One operator publishes a corridor joining both places KTEL H-L

      And back? The same way back.

    • Heraklion to Sitia

      Scheduled service

      One operator publishes a corridor joining both places KTEL H-L

      And back? The same way back.

    • Heraklion to Matala

      Scheduled service

      One operator publishes a corridor joining both places KTEL H-L

      And back? The same way back.

    • Heraklion to Agia Galini

      Scheduled service

      One operator publishes a corridor joining both places KTEL H-L

      And back? The same way back.

    • Heraklion to Anogia

      Conditions apply

      One operator publishes a corridor joining both places KTEL H-L

      And back? The same way back.

      Conditions apply

    From Heraklion Airport

    • Heraklion Airport to Heraklion

      Conditions apply

      One operator publishes a corridor joining both places City bus

      The airport authority lists buses and taxis; the city operator publishes the airport-area itineraries, and onward KTEL travel is a separate check.

      And back? The same way back.

      Conditions apply

    From Chania

    From Chania Airport

    • Chania Airport to Chania

      Scheduled service

      One operator publishes a corridor joining both places KTEL C-R

      KTEL Chania–Rethymno connects the airport with the city; the stop is opposite Departures, and tickets can be bought from the driver.

      And back? The same way back.

    • Chania Airport to Rethymno

      Scheduled service

      One operator publishes a corridor joining both places KTEL C-R

      And back? The same way back.

    From Rethymno

    From Agios Nikolaos

    From Knossos

    From Hersonissos

    From Malia

    From Elounda

    From Sitia

    From Matala

    From Plakias

    • Plakias to Rethymno

      Conditions apply

      One operator publishes a corridor joining both places KTEL C-R

      And back? The same way back.

      Conditions apply

    • Plakias to Preveli

      Scheduled service

      One operator publishes a corridor joining both places KTEL C-R

      And back? The same way back.

    From Preveli

    From Chora Sfakion

    From Falassarna

    • Falassarna to Chania

      Conditions apply

      One operator publishes a corridor joining both places KTEL C-R

      And back? The same way back.

      Conditions apply

    • Falassarna to Kissamos

      Conditions apply

      One operator publishes a corridor joining both places KTEL C-R

      And back? The same way back.

      Conditions apply

    From Elafonisi

    From Kissamos

    From Paleochora

    From Sougia

    • Sougia to Chania

      Scheduled service

      One operator publishes a corridor joining both places KTEL C-R

      And back? The same way back.

    From Frangokastello

    From Arkadi Monastery

    From Agia Galini

    From Anogia

    • Anogia to Heraklion

      Conditions apply

      One operator publishes a corridor joining both places KTEL H-L

      And back? The same way back.

      Conditions apply

    • Anogia to Rethymno

      Conditions apply

      One operator publishes a corridor joining both places KTEL C-R

      And back? The same way back.

      Conditions apply

    Most asked

    Every corridor guide (7)

    Each guide explains the journey shape and points you to the current operator source.

    Browse every published place and arrival guide (30)

    Arrival guides

    Journey guides

    Place guides

    • Heraklion

      Planning note: Use the matching guide for a published intercity or airport corridor, then confirm current details with the responsible operator.

    • Chania

      Planning note: Use the matching guide for a published intercity or airport corridor, then confirm current details with the responsible operator.

    • Rethymno

      Planning note: Rethymno sits between separately published KTEL networks. Read the guide for the direction you need and check each leg.

    • Agios Nikolaos

      Planning note: Use the published corridor guide for the Heraklion side of the journey, then confirm current details with the operator. Onward Lasithi travel remains a separate check.

    • Knossos

      Planning note: A step-by-step journey guide is not yet published. Use the official urban operator link below for the current itinerary.

    • Elafonisi

      Planning note: A step-by-step journey guide is not yet published. Use the dated official KTEL publication and confirm the return.

    • Matala

      Planning note: A step-by-step journey guide is not yet published. Use the official KTEL link below for the current corridor.

    • Hersonissos

      Planning note: A step-by-step journey guide is not yet published. Use the official KTEL link below for the current corridor.

    • Malia

      Planning note: A step-by-step journey guide is not yet published. Use the official KTEL link below for the current corridor.

    • Sitia

      Planning note: A step-by-step journey guide is not yet published. Match the origin and date to the current operator grid.

    • Elounda & Spinalonga gateway

      Planning note: The bus leg and the separate boat leg to Spinalonga are not covered by one verified journey guide. Confirm each with its responsible operator.

    • Chora Sfakion

      Planning note: The roadless coast needs a separate ferry leg that the bus source does not cover. The Samaria guide shows how independently published legs fit together.

    • Balos

      Planning note: The verified KTEL corridor ends at Kissamos Port. Lagoon access is a separate leg and is not covered by the bus publication.

    • Falassarna

      Planning note: A step-by-step journey guide is not yet published. Read the current KTEL edition and its Kasteli change marker.

    • Vai Palm Beach

      Planning note: The current Sitia edition, valid from 21 September 2026, has no Sitia–Vai row. Check the edition covering your date.

    • Preveli

      Planning note: The current KTEL timetable publishes Rethymno–Preveli with no change marked. The current drop-off point and final walk are not verified in this guide.

    • Plakias

      Planning note: A step-by-step journey guide is not yet published. Use the current Rethymno–Plakias grid and read its footnotes.

    • Kissamos

      Planning note: A step-by-step journey guide is not yet published. Use the current Chania–Kasteli rows; Kissamos Port has rows of its own.

    • Paleochora

      Planning note: A step-by-step journey guide is not yet published. Use the current Chania–Paleochora rows and read the Sunday group.

    • Sougia

      Planning note: A step-by-step journey guide is not yet published. Use the current Chania–Omalos–Sougia rows and their ferry footnote.

    • Frangokastello

      Planning note: A step-by-step journey guide is not yet published. The published rows run to and from Chora Sfakion only.

    • Arkadi Monastery

      Planning note: A step-by-step journey guide is not yet published. Use the current Rethymno–Arkadi rows; the first departure each way is weekdays only.

    • Loutro

      Planning note: A step-by-step journey guide is not yet published. Use the current ANENDYK table for your date; the bus stops at Chora Sfakion.

    • Agia Roumeli

      Planning note: A step-by-step journey guide is not yet published. The Samaria Gorge page covers the walk; use the current ANENDYK tables for the boat out.

    • Agia Galini

      Planning note: A step-by-step journey guide is not yet published. Use the current Heraklion or Rethymno rows and read the weekend groups.

    • Anogia

      Planning note: A step-by-step journey guide is not yet published. Use the current Heraklion or Rethymno rows; neither prints a Sunday bus.

    Browse every published destination guide

    Choose the right official source

    Who publishes your corridor

    1. Intercity coaches · EAST + SOUTH

      KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi

      Publishes intercity routes from Heraklion towards the east and south — including Agios Nikolaos, Ierapetra, Sitia and the resort corridor through Hersonissos and Malia.

      Open KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi Opens in a new tab

    2. Intercity coaches · WEST

      KTEL Chania–Rethymno

      Publishes intercity routes for western Crete — Chania, Rethymno and Kissamos — including the north-coast trunk corridor towards Heraklion.

      Check live departures Opens in a new tab

    3. City networks · HERAKLION CITY

      Heraklion Urban Buses

      The city operator publishes urban itineraries, ticket information and a telematics service for Heraklion and its suburbs.

      Open Heraklion Urban Buses Opens in a new tab

    4. City networks · CHANIA CITY

      Chania Urban Buses

      The Chania city operator publishes urban route information and service announcements for the city and nearby communities.

      Open Chania Urban Buses Opens in a new tab

    Recently checked guides

    Operators remain the final source for current routes, times, fares and disruptions. Meet Crete’s bus operators

    The island at a glance

    Crete

    The island in the order you meet it

    Five stretches of a long island, from the airport most visitors land at to the far west, the roadless south coast and the far east. Each place says whether a published corridor reaches it, reaches it with a caveat, or does not.

    The Koules fortress standing at the entrance to Heraklion’s Venetian harbour.
    Use Heraklion Urban Buses inside the city, and KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi when the journey leaves it eastward or south; the two are separate systems with separate tickets. Photo: Moonik, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons

    Where most journeys start

    Heraklion, two networks in one city

    Heraklion keeps two layers apart: the city’s own operator runs the urban buses, including the itineraries for the Knossos area and the airport, while KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi publishes the coaches that leave the city — east along the resort coast through Hersonissos and Malia, and south to Matala. A city ticket and a KTEL ticket are separate products.

    • Heraklion Scheduled service

      Published by KTEL H-LKTEL C-RCity bus

    • Heraklion Airport Conditions apply

      Published by City bus

    • Knossos Scheduled service

      Published by City bus

    • Matala Scheduled service

      Published by KTEL H-L

    The old Venetian harbour of Rethymno and its lighthouse in silhouette against a pink evening sky over still water.
    Rethymno is where the two KTEL networks meet. KTEL Chania–Rethymno publishes the departures from here, and the Heraklion-side timetable is KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi’s, so a cross-island trip reads both companies’ publications. Photo: Jules Verne Times Two, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons

    The trunk

    Along the north coast to Rethymno and Chania

    Both KTEL companies publish the north-coast trunk: KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi a regular Heraklion–Rethymno–Chania pair and a separate express pair, KTEL Chania–Rethymno its namesake corridor and the departures from Rethymno. Rethymno is where the two networks meet, so a cross-island trip reads both companies’ publications. Chania Airport has its own KTEL connection with the city.

    • Rethymno Scheduled service

      Published by KTEL H-LKTEL C-R

    • Chania Scheduled service

      Published by KTEL H-LKTEL C-R

    • Chania Airport Scheduled service

      Published by KTEL C-R

    Aerial view of the Elafonisi lagoon: turquoise shallows and a pale sandbar running out towards a low islet, with bare hills behind.
    The return from Elafonisi is a row of its own in the KTEL Chania–Rethymno edition, so confirm it before settling onto the sand. Photo: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons

    The far west

    Kissamos, Falassarna and the lagoons

    West of Chania the corridors are KTEL Chania–Rethymno’s. Chania–Kissamos Port is published in both directions; Chania–Falassarna changes at Kasteli on every journey; the current edition prints Chania–Elafonisi every day. Balos is not on a bus corridor: the published one ends at Kissamos Port, and the lagoon is a separate leg.

    • Falassarna Conditions apply

      Published by KTEL C-R

    • Elafonisi Scheduled service

      Published by KTEL C-R

    The floor of the Samaria Gorge: a dry, stony riverbed between steep reddish rock walls with pines on the ledges.
    The gorge walk is one-way and ends at Agia Roumeli, a south-coast village with no road; the way back is the ANENDYK ferry and then a KTEL coach, each published separately. Photo: Irini Tzagournisaki, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons

    The south coast

    The gorge, the roadless coast and Plakias

    The Samaria Gorge day is four separately published legs: a KTEL coach from Chania to Omalos, the one-way walk down to Agia Roumeli, which has no road, the ANENDYK ferry to Chora Sfakion or Sougia, and a KTEL coach back. Further east, KTEL Chania–Rethymno publishes direct Rethymno–Plakias and Rethymno–Preveli service, and a Plakias–Preveli row.

    • Omalos Scheduled service

      Published by KTEL C-R

    • Chora Sfakion Scheduled service

      Published by KTEL C-R

    • Plakias Scheduled service

      Published by KTEL C-R

    • Preveli Scheduled service

      Published by KTEL C-R

    Lake Voulismeni in Agios Nikolaos, with the town rising around its deep water.
    KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi publishes the Heraklion–Agios Nikolaos corridor and a separate departure list from the Agios Nikolaos bus station itself; each prints the date it is valid from. Photo: Cayambe, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons

    The east

    Agios Nikolaos, Elounda and Sitia

    Everything east of Heraklion is KTEL Heraklio–Lasithi’s. Agios Nikolaos is the hub town, with its own bus station and a departure list that includes Elounda both ways; Sitia, the far end of the eastern corridor, is published from both Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos. The current Sitia edition has no Vai row.

    • Agios Nikolaos Scheduled service

      Published by KTEL H-L

    • Elounda Scheduled service

      Published by KTEL H-L

    • Sitia Scheduled service

      Published by KTEL H-L

    All destinations

    When to go

    The year at Heraklion, Chania and Sitia

    Monthly averages from published climate tables, read on the date shown beneath each figure: past years, not a forecast. Daylight is computed from latitude. Bus timetables come in dated editions; the operators’ editions say from when.

    Monthly normals at Heraklion (port station)

    Daytime high Rainfall

    Monthly normals at Heraklion (port station): Daytime high (°C), Rainfall (mm).

    Daylight

    1. 10 h Jan
    2. 10.9 h Feb
    3. 11.9 h Mar
    4. 13 h Apr
    5. 14 h May
    6. 14.5 h Jun
    7. 14.3 h Jul
    8. 13.5 h Aug
    9. 12.3 h Sep
    10. 11.2 h Oct
    11. 10.2 h Nov
    12. 9.8 h Dec

    Day length is computed from the latitude for the middle of each month.

    The figures as a table
    Month Daytime high (°C) Night low (°C) Rainfall (mm) Daylight (h)
    Jan 15.7 10.5 61.7 10
    Feb 16.1 10.8 49 10.9
    Mar 17.2 11.9 31.4 11.9
    Apr 19.9 14.5 13 13
    May 23.1 17.8 12.8 14
    Jun 26.2 21.9 4.1 14.5
    Jul 28.3 24.9 0.2 14.3
    Aug 28.3 25.1 1.6 13.5
    Sep 26.4 22.4 15.2 12.3
    Oct 23.1 18.7 43.8 11.2
    Nov 20.8 15.9 32.4 10.2
    Dec 17.5 12.5 53.4 9.8

    Source: National Observatory of Athens Monthly Bulletins — Wikipedia, "Heraklion", climate table (Weather box) · Normals 2007–2024 · read 2026-10-03 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Long-term averages from the published record. They describe a typical year, not a forecast for your dates.

    Monthly normals at Chania (Souda airport station)
    Monthly normals at Chania (Souda airport station)

    Daytime high Days with rain

    Monthly normals at Chania (Souda airport station): Daytime high (°C), Days with rain.

    Daylight

    1. 10 h Jan
    2. 10.8 h Feb
    3. 11.9 h Mar
    4. 13 h Apr
    5. 14 h May
    6. 14.5 h Jun
    7. 14.3 h Jul
    8. 13.5 h Aug
    9. 12.3 h Sep
    10. 11.2 h Oct
    11. 10.2 h Nov
    12. 9.8 h Dec

    Day length is computed from the latitude for the middle of each month.

    The figures as a table
    Month Daytime high (°C) Night low (°C) Rainfall (mm) Days with rain Sunshine (h) Daylight (h)
    Jan 14 8.1 126.4 17 118.1 10
    Feb 14.3 8 101.9 14.7 135.6 10.8
    Mar 16.1 8.9 81.2 12 188 11.9
    Apr 19.9 11.7 26.9 7.8 240.9 13
    May 24.5 15.2 11.2 3.9 303 14
    Jun 29 19.2 2 1.4 355.4 14.5
    Jul 30.5 21.4 1.4 0.2 376.7 14.3
    Aug 30 21.3 1.4 0.6 355.7 13.5
    Sep 27.5 19.1 15.2 2.6 281.9 12.3
    Oct 23.4 15.9 61.5 9.8 208.7 11.2
    Nov 19 12.4 86.7 10.8 138 10.2
    Dec 15.6 9.7 98.9 15.8 111.7 9.8

    Source: Climate Atlas-Hellenic National Meteorological Service. — Wikipedia, "Chania", climate table (Weather box) · Normals 1971–2000 · read 2026-10-03 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Sunshine — Source: Climate Atlas-Hellenic National Meteorological Service. · Normals 1971–2000

    Long-term averages from the published record. They describe a typical year, not a forecast for your dates.

    Monthly normals at Sitia
    Monthly normals at Sitia

    Daytime high Days with rain

    Monthly normals at Sitia: Daytime high (°C), Days with rain.

    Daylight

    1. 10 h Jan
    2. 10.9 h Feb
    3. 11.9 h Mar
    4. 13 h Apr
    5. 14 h May
    6. 14.5 h Jun
    7. 14.3 h Jul
    8. 13.5 h Aug
    9. 12.3 h Sep
    10. 11.2 h Oct
    11. 10.3 h Nov
    12. 9.8 h Dec

    Day length is computed from the latitude for the middle of each month.

    The figures as a table
    Month Daytime high (°C) Night low (°C) Rainfall (mm) Days with rain Daylight (h)
    Jan 15.2 9.7 92.6 13.1 10
    Feb 15.3 9.5 71 11.3 10.9
    Mar 16.9 10.5 49 8.8 11.9
    Apr 19.9 12.8 23.3 5 13
    May 23.5 15.9 12.1 3 14
    Jun 27.1 19.9 2.2 0.8 14.5
    Jul 28.4 22.6 0.2 0.1 14.3
    Aug 28.4 22.7 0.8 0.3 13.5
    Sep 26.5 20.4 16.2 1.7 12.3
    Oct 23.5 17.3 50.2 5.7 11.2
    Nov 20.1 14 59.5 8.2 10.3
    Dec 16.9 11.4 91.8 12.4 9.8

    Source: Hellenic National Meteorological Service — Wikipedia, "Sitia", climate table (Weather box) · Normals 1960–2010 · read 2026-10-03 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Long-term averages from the published record. They describe a typical year, not a forecast for your dates.

    Conditions

    What kind of day is it

    Current readings at Heraklion and Chania. On the gorge and the boat legs of the south and west coasts, the weather is part of the plan.

    Heraklion

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    Chania

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    What the weather decides here

    • The Samaria Gorge day The park can suspend access when conditions require it, and the boat legs on this coast are weather-dependent. Read the current park notice before choosing a bus.
    • Balos, beyond Kissamos Port The bus corridor ends at the port; the lagoon is a separate boat or road leg, and weather and other providers can affect it.

    These are measured weather readings, not a service status. We do not infer from a reading whether a bus, a ferry or the gorge is running; the operators’ and the park’s own notices are the source for that.

    With a bus, with a car

    Where the published corridors reach, and where they do not

    Where the published corridors reach

    The four cities, the resort coast through Hersonissos and Malia, Elounda, Sitia, Ierapetra, Kissamos, Elafonisi, Chora Sfakion, the Samaria trailhead, Preveli and Matala; and Plakias, where footnotes decide some departures. Each page links the operator’s current edition.

    Where it does not

    Balos, where the corridor ends at Kissamos Port, and Vai, which the current Sitia edition does not list; Falassarna is a change at Kasteli away. For those, a hire car, a taxi or a guided trip is the honest answer.

    Car rental: we have not verified a rental programme for Crete yet, so none is linked here; the corridors in the first column above are the ones the operators publish.

    Experiences

    Booked separately, for where the corridor is thin

    Selected options for Knossos, Samaria Gorge and Elafonisi keep the public-transport context nearby. An organised trip carries its own transport, which matters where a corridor ends short of the place. These are affiliate links; the note below says how they work.

    How these links work

    Marked GetYourGuide links are affiliate links. If you book after following one, this independent guide may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

    • Ruins of the Minoan palace of Knossos

      GetYourGuide Knossos, near Heraklion

      Palace of Knossos entrance ticket

      Pre-book entry to the Minoan palace site just south of Heraklion and explore at your own pace.

      Getting there: Knossos is reached from Heraklion; check Heraklion Urban Buses for the current city route before booking a time slot.

      Check availability on GetYourGuide Opens in a new tab

      Photo: Cayambe, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons

    • The floor of the Samaria Gorge: a dry, stony riverbed between steep reddish rock walls with pines on the ledges.

      GetYourGuide Samaria Gorge, west Crete

      Samaria Gorge guided trek from Chania

      A guided one-way walk through the gorge, with the operator handling the road transfer up and the return chain back to Chania.

      Getting there: Doing this independently means a bus to Omalos, a walk down, and a separate boat leg out of roadless Agia Roumeli before you rejoin a KTEL Chania–Rethymno corridor. Read the Samaria guide first, then decide whether an organised trip suits you better.

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      Photo: Irini Tzagournisaki, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons

    • Aerial view of the Elafonisi lagoon: turquoise shallows and a pale sandbar running out towards a low islet, with bare hills behind.

      GetYourGuide Elafonisi, west Crete

      Elafonisi day trip from Chania

      A full-day organised trip to the south-west beach, with transport included from Chania.

      Getting there: KTEL Chania–Rethymno publishes a Chania–Elafonisi corridor; check the edition covering your travel date before relying on the independent option.

      Check availability on GetYourGuide Opens in a new tab

      Photo: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons

    Browse the experiences guide

    Crete Bus app

    Take Crete Bus with you

    Keep Crete Bus on your phone as a companion while you travel.

    Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

    Choose your device and check the current store listing.

    Crete Bus is an independent app from SD2 Studio. Transport operators remain the source for current service information.

    Read about the app first

    • A map of Crete in the Crete Bus app, shown on an iPhone.
    • The explore screen of the Crete Bus app, shown on an iPhone.
    • The opening screen of the Crete Bus app, shown on an iPhone.

    Screens from the App Store listing, as captured on 3 October 2026.