Travel by KTEL for a Change
the Regular Bus Service on Crete,

When living in Crete or just visiting the island, and you want a break from driving the car, BritsinCrete suggests you use public transport for long distances. Plan ahead and take KTEL, the regular intercity bus service in Crete. (There are no trains on Crete, unlike mainland Greece.) KTEL Western Crete Service in Greek is known as ΚΤΕΛ Τακτικά Δρομολόγια Χανιά - Ρέθυμνο - Ηράκλειο.

Remember that while distances may look short on a map of Crete, they can be deceptive for journey times, especially when travelling on country roads away from the motorway and the new super fast north-south highways.

The busiest bus service is along the North coast highway network. KTEL Public buses run between Kissamos - Hania - Rethymnon - Heraklion - Malia - Agios Nikolaos - Sitia and Ierapetra and to the villages of the mountainous heartland and Southern Crete.

Longest direct journey time can be 4 hours+ and sometimes a change of vehicle at Rethymnon when travelling Heraklion - Rethmnon - Hania is required. Often though, it is a through coachservice between Heraklion and Hania, and vice - versa. Fare: Heraklion - Hania is approximately Euros 12-13 one way.

From Heraklion, Crete's capital, to travel eastwards, it takes 3 hrs+ to Sitia via Neapolis and Aghios Nikolaos. The fare is just 13.00 Euros. Heraklion to Ierapetra (south Coast), also via Neapolis and Aghios Nikolaos costs 9.00 Euros. (Jan 2007).

During the Visitor Season

Travel in Style

KTEL Crete SA is operated by Minoan Lines, one of the major ferry companies serving Crete. The coaches are a joy to travel in. The buses/coaches are fast, efficient, safe and reliable.

The fleet is air conditioned and only some coaches pre-date the year 2000. The past six years, the whole fleet has been modernised. Just a few of the older coaches remain to serve the more remote routes. On the Heraklion to Agios Nikolaos - Ierpetra route you may be lucky enough to have the chance to take one of the double-decker coaches giving a panoramic view of the drive.

KTEL Long Distance Buses Run to Time

If you just wish to take a day off, a break from driving the car on the more mountainous routes, this is the way to do it. For the most part, the Crete routes are operated to time. In the quieter periods of the year, coaches are known to run ahead of schedule. So always be at the bus stop ahead of time. Even in summer the early morning coaches also run very much to the scheduled departure times. But this is Crete, and sometimes the crew, can be, well, Cretan.

Even to Mainland Greece

Interestingly, for few days break off the island of Crete, KTEL operates a service to Mainland Greece from Rethymnon via Xania (Hania) to Thessaloniki (Salonika) and Ioannina via Souda (Hania's port), Piraeus (Athens port) and Attika market town of Larissa. The fare is around 40 Euros one way including a reduced fare for the seaward part of the journey.

The KTEL services are one of the best surprises of being on Crete. They also operate to most villages in localised services. Those are a bit like the Swiss postal bus services that mean so much; more than just a bus service to the mountain communities. The same in Crete, isolated and remote mountainous villages are connected to mainstream life.

KTEL as a Reliable Delivery Service

The KTEL services are also used for shipping packages between towns and an excellent means of distribution for the newspapers and periodicals. KTEL operates its own KTEL parcel courier service. For Brits in Crete you can for example obtain spare parts from, say Iraklio and it will be delivered by KTEL to your village or town. Of course, your supplier has to drop the items off at the bus station and you would have to collect them when they arrive in your village or town. It is surprisingly uncomplicated to do. The local people do it all the time.

The KTEL bus stations always have pocket timetables handy at the counter, unless of course it nears the end of the Summer when they just happen to run out when you need one. The stations are also clean, a good place for an inexpensive snack and a necessary pit-stop. Bring loo paper with you just in case. Remember, do not flush it, drop it in the bin.

BritsinCrete recommends you take KTEL, the regular Intercity bus service in Crete, and leave the driving to Yorgos. Kalo Taxide. Happy travels! Always bring along sun glasses. Έχετε ένα καλό ταξίδϊ.

© Copyright Gerald Brown, BritsinCrete 2007

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