The distance from the port of Santorini (Athinios) to the port of Heraklion is 65 nautical miles (120 km).
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The fastest and most practical way to hop between Santorini and Crete is by ferry. Many different ferry companies operate the line between the Santorini Thira Port and the Heraklion Port on Crete. If you don't wish to travel by water, it is possible to fly from Santorini to Crete.
The Aegean Sea can be unpredictable when it comes to weather, and while the summer months (July, August) often see the meltemi winds, which can result in rough seas and ferry cancellations, the end of October is generally calmer. However, weather conditions can still vary.
All boat tours will take you inside the caldera. But you can also take longer tours that will allow you to also admire the colors of South coast, as you can see on the picture below. In my opinion, a boat tour is a must-do in Santorini to fully appreciate the unique landscape.
Generally speaking, hotels in Crete are slightly cheaper than those in Santorini because they're popular among locals, and there are simply more. Crete's high supply and high demand keep prices relatively low, while Santorini's limited supply and extremely high demand increase rates significantly.
Crete is Greece's largest island—just driving from one end to the other makes for a five-hour journey, and there's much to do and see in between. If you want to experience all Crete has to offer, plan to spend a full week exploring its monasteries, olive groves, towns, and coast.
Santorini is the top tourist destination in Greece and is world-famous for its unique natural beauty. The caldera with the white villages on top, the sunken volcano, and the charming sunset make it a popular place for vacation. In brief, we recommend staying 3 to 5 days in order to visit as many places as possible.
Spending 2 days in Santorini allows enough time to do a quick tour around the island, sightsee in a couple of villages, and spend an afternoon on the beach or on a boat. If you want to take it slow, you should add a third day to your Santorini weekend to relax poolside at your villa and stroll around the nearby towns.
The fastest ferry from Athens to Santorini is with SeaJets. There is a high speed ferry from Athens to Santorini via Champion Jet 1 and Superjet, both available with SeaJets. This Athens fast ferry ensures that passengers reach their destination in the quickest time possible.
The most affordable Greek Islands to visit include Crete, Andros, Tinos, Corfu and Naxos. These cheap Greek Islands don't get nearly as many visitors as others, making everything from transportation to food and accommodations more affordable. And often, they're not even very far from the more popular islands.
You can spend as much or as little as you want in Crete. At the budget end of the spectrum, you're aided by the island's size and popularity, which means options are many. With some planning and shopping around, you can get good deals on transport and accommodation.
Ferries connect Chania and Heraklion with the majority of the island's major cities. The ferries are an excellent method to get about the island and are also extremely inexpensive. The bus is another way to get around Crete. All of the major towns on the island have buses that run between them.
Chania Town is probably the most beautiful town in Crete. The Old Town of Chania, with the evident Medieval style, is a wonderful place to walk around, lined up with elegant Venetian mansions.
You are not crazy to skip seeing Santorini, although if you want to see what all the fuss is about, you could take a day trip by ferry from Naxos. If I were you, I'd spend 5 nights on Naxos (with that day trip to Santorini, and/or possibly a day trip to Mykonos to see the island of Delos). Spend 3 nights in Athens.