How to get to Gavdos: A complete Guide
Updated: Sep 29
Gavdos is only accessible by ferry from Crete, departing from the small harbours of Paleochora and Chora Sfakion. If you're not already on Crete, your trip consists of three parts: flying to Crete, traveling to Paleochora or Chora Sfakion, and finally, the ferry crossing to Gavdos. To go directly to the chapter "The ferry to Gavdos", click here.
#1: Getting to Crete
To get to Crete, you can choose form many cheap flight connections, especially in summer. I recommend the website "Skyscanner.com" to compare prices. If you are a bit flexible in terms of time and dont necessarily need an exact day or departure airport, you can find pretty cheap flights there. I usually enter "Germany" as the "departure airport" in the search bar and have the entire month in which my planned trip is located displayed. Then you can see directly which airports offer the cheapest connections. You can choose between Chania, Heraklion and Sitia as your destination airport on Crete. Heraklion is larger and more frequented, but not necessarily cheaper. Especially in summer it is worth considering Chania airport. Far to the east of Crete, there is a newly developed airport in Sitia. If you can find a cheap flight there, however, you must bear in mind that Sitia is very far from the rest. To get to Gavdos later, you would have to plan a long bus ride.
#2 Bus to Paleochora or Chora Sfakion
From Chania, you can take a bus or drive to either Paleochora or Chora Sfakion. Both routes take a similar amount of time. The local bus company KTEL offers regular services, especially during high season. To check bus schedules, visit KTEL's website.
To get to Chania, buses run very regulary from Heraklion and Rethymno, but also many other towns. Buses to Paleochora typically run three times a day in summer, and once a day to Chora Sfakion. In winter will be less times. To see the departure times for the connections to Paleochora or Chora Sfakion, select "With departure from Chania".
#3 The ferry to Gavdos
The ferry company is called "Anendyk". The ferry to Gavdos departs from the ports of Paleochora and Chora Sfakion. The ferry, operated by Anendyk, runs several times a week. You can check the Gavdos Ferry Schedule on my website for always up-to-date information. The ferry operates very regularly throughout the whole year, as the crossing to Gavdos is subsidized by the state. Bookings can be made conveniently online (only in summer!) or at the ticket office directly at the port area. Departure times can be viewed online. The duration of the journey to Gavdos takes about 4 to 5 hours, depending on the port of departure. You can also take a car with you! Before the ship leaves to Gavdos, it usually stops at small Cretan coastal towns such as Loutro, Sougia or Agia Roumeli. The total fare for the crossing is about 30 euros for adults in 2024. The crossing on the Anendyk ferry feels like a small cruise. During the stops on Crete, you can enjoy breathtaking views of Loutro, Sougia, Agia Roumeli and the White Mountains (Lefka Ori).
If you need to find a place to stay on Gavdos, you have a look here.
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