Chania Port Transfers

Chania port transfers meet the ferries from Piraeus and the cruise ships that berth at Souda, the deep harbour east of Chania town, and take passengers in a private car, minivan or taxi to the airport, a hotel in the old town, a resort on the west coast or Rethymno and Heraklion. Private rides across the rest of Greece are listed on Greece Tours.

The sections below cover the meeting point at the Souda terminal, each route from the quay, the ferries met, cruise days, journey times, vehicles, booking, late ships, the bus and taxi options and the shore tours with port pickup, with links into the Chania pages. The transfers and tours shown are checked on GetYourGuide and Viator.

What are Chania port transfers?

Chania port transfers link the port of Souda with a hotel, villa, airport or town anywhere on Crete, in a car, minivan or taxi reserved before arrival. A driver meets passengers as they come ashore and drives them straight to the address on the booking.

Souda serves as the passenger port of Chania, also called the New Port of Chania, at the head of Souda Bay, 6.5 km east of the town centre. Chania port transfers start and end at this harbour, and the ride is fixed to an address before the ship docks, so the passenger skips the taxi queue.

The service works both ways. Arriving passengers ride from the ship to their room, and departing passengers ride from the hotel or villa back to the port. Chania port transfers suit travellers who value privacy and a waiting driver: a couple fits a private car, while a larger group with bags moves up to a minibus.

Where do Chania port transfers meet passengers at Souda?

Chania port transfers meet passengers inside the Souda port area, on the ferry side or by the cruise ships, with the driver holding a sign that shows the passenger’s name. The booking voucher gives the exact meeting point, so nobody searches the quay.

The port sits in the north of the Chania municipality, at the far end of Souda Bay, a deep natural harbour about 15 km long and 2 to 4 km wide between the Akrotiri peninsula and Cape Drapano. It counts among the safest ports in Greece, and Chania port transfers serve its ferry berths and cruise calls.

Souda doubles as a naval station: the Crete Naval Base of the Hellenic Navy and NATO shares the bay. The port has ticket offices, cash machines, a taxi rank, car hire desks and nearby bus stops, yet Chania port transfers make none of them necessary, because the car is booked and waiting.

Which Chania port transfers run to Chania Airport?

Chania port transfers run between Souda and Chania International Airport (CHQ), 14 km apart, with the airport on the Akrotiri peninsula. The leg suits passengers who step off a ferry and catch a flight, or who land by air and board a ship at Souda.

The airport carries the name of Daskalogiannis, an 18th-century Cretan rebel against Ottoman rule, and works as a joint civil and military airfield, the sixth-busiest in Greece. Chania port transfers on this leg run both ways, from terminal to quay and from quay to terminal.

This leg fits a trip split between sea and air: a ferry from Piraeus into Souda and a flight home from Chania, or the reverse. Chania port transfers keep the luggage in one vehicle from the port to the departures hall. Resorts and hotel routes from the terminal are covered on our Chania Airport transfers page.

Which Chania port transfers run to the old town and the hotels of Chania?

Chania port transfers run from Souda to the old town and every hotel district of Chania, 6.5 km to the west across a largely built-up stretch. A private driver works door to door, so guests step out at their hotel, apartment or villa.

The Chania old town grew around the old harbour inside Venetian walls begun in 1538. Its quarters include Kasteli on a low hill by the sea, Splantzia to the east of it and Topanas to the west, where narrow alleys hold old buildings restored as hotels. Chania port transfers to these quarters are booked to the hotel’s exact address.

Outside the walls lie Nea Hora to the west, Koum Kapi just east of the old town and Halepa further east, while Halidon Street links the modern centre with the old town. Chania port transfers cover all these districts, plus the suburbs that have spread across the Akrotiri peninsula around Kounoupidiana.

Which Chania port transfers run to Platanias, Kissamos and the west?

Chania port transfers run west from Souda, past Chania town and along the A90 north-coast road, to Platanias, Agia Marina, Kolymvari and Kissamos. Kissamos lies 41 km west of Chania town, and a booking covers any hotel or villa on the coast between them.

Platanias stands about 10 km west of Chania on Chania Bay, beside Agia Marina, and both villages run a busy season of hotels, restaurants and bars from April to October. Chania port transfers to this strip suit ferry passengers who booked a beach hotel outside the town.

Further west, Kolymvari sits at the south-eastern end of the Rodopou peninsula, 30 km from Souda port, near the resorts of Maleme and Platanias. Kissamos, also known as Kastelli, is the head town of its municipality in the north-west of Crete and keeps its own ferry harbour. Chania port transfers reach both towns.

Which Chania port transfers run to Rethymno, Heraklion and the rest of Crete?

Chania port transfers run east from Souda along the north coast to Georgioupoli, Rethymno and Heraklion, and on request to any address on Crete. Rethymno lies 54 km from the port, while Heraklion sits 145 km east of Chania town, linked by the A90 road.

East of Chania the first resorts sit in Apokoronas, whose biggest beach villages are Kalyves, Almyrida and Georgioupoli. Chania port transfers reach all three, and listings for the port route also name Bali, Plakias, Damnoni and Spili in the Rethymno area. Our Rethymno transfers page covers that region.

Heraklion has its own airport, 5 km east of the city, and a ferry port with sailings to Santorini, Ios, Paros, Mykonos and Rhodes. Chania port transfers link Souda with both, for travellers who land from Piraeus at Chania and sail on from Heraklion. For rides that start at that harbour, see Heraklion port transfers.

Which ferries do Chania port transfers meet?

Chania port transfers meet the ferries of the Piraeus line, which carries the regular passenger traffic into Souda, plus the ships that call at Souda on longer routes. At Kissamos, the second port of Chania, drivers also meet ferries from the Peloponnese, Kythira and Antikythira.

The Piraeus line links Souda with the port of Athens all year round. Its crossings run mainly at night, and cabins and garages feature on the majority of its ships, so Chania port transfers wait for passengers who come ashore after an overnight sailing. Souda gets busier in summer, when the timetable adds extra departures.

Ferry booking listings also show Chania connections with Milos, Santorini and Folegandros, on ships that stop at Souda as part of a longer route, and Chania port transfers meet these arrivals the same way. For all the ways into the town by sea and air, see how to get to Chania.

Kissamos port, also called Kavonisi, lies 41 km west of Chania town and takes ferries from Piraeus, Gythio in the Peloponnese, Kythira and Antikythira. Chania port transfers from this harbour run to Chania town or hotels across the west, with the driver waiting at the quay.

Which Chania port transfers serve cruise passengers?

Chania port transfers for cruise passengers at Souda take three forms: a private car or minivan whose driver meets you on arrival, a shore excursion with pickup at the port, and the city bus that leaves from outside the vessel and brings you back.

Souda hosts cruise ships through the whole season and is busiest in summer, when sailings run far more frequently. On cruise days, Chania port transfers start at the ship itself, and tourist information and city maps wait inside the port terminal.

Private Chania port transfers give a group its own timetable: the driver collects you at the port and waits for the return leg at the agreed pickup point. Shore excursions with port pickup last 4 to 7 hours, so pick one that ends well before all-aboard. For rides from a hotel, see Chania transfers.

How long do Chania port transfers take?

Chania port transfers into Chania Town take around 20 minutes over the 6.5 km from Souda, while longer private rides across Crete last from 30 minutes to 2 hours, with the time set by the distance, the traffic and the number of stops.

Souda sits 6.5 km east of central Chania, and the land between is almost all built up, so Chania port transfers into town run on urban streets. The city bus needs about 24 minutes to cover the same stretch of road.

Shared shuttles make up to 8 stops, or up to 4 on the speedier type, and quote an estimated time that shifts with traffic and drop-offs. Private Chania port transfers go straight to one address, with rides between Cretan ports, airports and resort hotels lasting 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Which vehicles do Chania port transfers use?

Chania port transfers run in taxis for up to 4 passengers, Mercedes Vito minivans, minibuses for larger groups, coaches for big parties, Mercedes E or S Class cars for luxury rides, and wheelchair-accessible vehicles fitted with a ramp or a rear tail lift.

The vehicle class follows the size of the party and its luggage. Private Chania port transfers carry one party door to door, while shared shuttles mix passengers and stop at the hotel or the nearest accessible point, never at a private address.

Wheelchair-accessible Chania port transfers use a ramp or rear tail lift, so the passenger stays in the wheelchair and the driver helps with boarding when needed. A local radio taxi firm in Chania also runs VIP luxury cars to destinations throughout Crete.

How do you book Chania port transfers?

You book Chania port transfers online in advance by entering the pickup point at Souda, the drop-off hotel, resort or town, the date, the number of adults, children and infants, and whether you want a return ride on the same booking.

Listed private Chania port transfers ask for the booking at least 10 hours ahead and carry free cancellation. Children count from 3 to 11 years and infants from 0 to 2, and the booking voucher explains how to find your driver at the port.

A route outside the standard search, such as a stop at Aptera inside the Souda municipal unit, goes to a tailor-made team for a bespoke quote. A local radio taxi firm takes online bookings for Chania port transfers with round-the-clock support.

What happens to Chania port transfers when a ship is late?

When a ship runs late, Chania port transfers follow the travel details on the booking, because the driver sets the pickup by those details, so send the new arrival time to the provider and keep the voucher with the meeting details to hand.

Shared shuttles run to a schedule, so a delayed ship can mean a wait at the pickup point. Private Chania port transfers carry one party only, and a free-cancellation listing lets you cancel the ride if a sailing is called off.

Night arrivals narrow the options: no night buses run in the low season and only a handful in summer, so the taxi is the preferred ride after dark. A local radio taxi call centre operates 24 hours, and pre-booked Chania port transfers keep a driver waiting at the port.

How do Chania port transfers compare with the bus and a taxi?

Next to Chania port transfers, the city bus is the cheapest way out of Souda and reaches Chania Town in about 24 minutes, while a taxi from the port rank takes up to 4 passengers and the fare rises with the length of the ride.

Line 13 links the port with Chania Town every hour. On cruise days the city bus picks passengers up outside the vessel, runs to the Municipal Market, known locally as the Agora, and brings them back. Tickets are sold at a kiosk beside the port terminal.

A KTEL bus through Souda continues to Rethymno and Chania airport. A taxi from the rank reaches town in around 20 minutes, while Chania port transfers add a pre-arranged pickup. Car hire firms also offer the port as a pickup point; see Chania car hire.

Which tours include Chania port transfers?

Shore excursions with port pickup build Chania port transfers into the tour: listed options from Souda run 4 to 7 hours and pair the Old Town and the Venetian harbour with a monastery, a beach, a museum or olive oil and honey tastings.

• 4 hours: the old town of Chania and the Agia Triada Tzagaroli Monastery.
• 5 hours: a private guided tour of the Archaeological Museum, Old Town and Municipal Market.
• 5 hours: a private wheelchair-accessible tour for up to 5 by ramp-equipped minibus.
• 6 hours: Agia Triada Monastery, Stavros Beach and the Old Venetian Harbour.
• 7 hours: olive oil and honey tastings with free time in the Old Town.

Other listings include a deluxe highlights tour for cruisers from Souda port and a Chania shore excursion with a beach visit; both fold Chania port transfers into the booking with pickup at the port. A Souda Bay outing adds swimming and exploring.

Passengers who ride the city bus to the Municipal Market can explore the lanes on foot with a Chania walking tour. Cruise calls long enough for a trip beyond town suit the outings listed in day trips from Chania, with Chania port transfers booked for each end.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a taxi rank at Souda port?

Yes. Souda port has a taxi station, and each taxi carries up to 4 passengers to any location, with the fare rising on longer rides. Radio taxi services in Souda also take advance requests for travellers who skip full Chania port transfers.

Do hotels arrange Chania port transfers?

A number of hotels around Chania run a shuttle service for their guests, so contact the hotel before you travel and ask whether it covers Chania port transfers from Souda. Where no shuttle exists, a pre-booked private car or a port taxi fills the gap.

Can Chania port transfers stop at the Souda Bay War Cemetery?

A local radio taxi firm in Chania runs war cemetery visits as an excursion. The Commonwealth cemetery lies on the shore northwest of the port, 5 km from Chania Town, and holds 1,527 graves: 447 New Zealanders, 197 Australians and a British majority.

Is Kissamos the same port as Souda?

No. Chania has two ports: Souda, also called the New Port of Chania, 6.5 km from town, and Kissamos, 41 km west of town. Kissamos takes ferries from Piraeus, Gythio, Kythira and Antikythira, so confirm the port before booking Chania port transfers.

What facilities does Souda port offer before a transfer?

Souda port has ticket offices, ATMs, a taxi station, car rental desks and boat rental, with multiple bus stops close by. Souda itself is a large village of over six thousand residents, with tavernas, restaurants and rooms near the port for travellers whose Chania port transfers start later.