North coast · Port to townVerified listing
Souda port to Chania after your ferry.
- Road distance
- 7 km
- Drive time, no traffic
- 11 min
- Public bus
- KTEL Chania–Rethymno
- Checked
Quick answer
Chania centre is about 7 km from Souda port, roughly 11 minutes by car. The private listing we checked is a menu of point-to-point rides, so choose the option that starts at Souda and ends in Chania. Alternatives are a licensed taxi, a local bus into the city (check the current stop when you land) or a rental car. Chania Airport is about 14 km from the port if you fly on.
Key points
- Road distance 7.0 km, about 11 minutes to Chania centre (OSRM, free-flow, no stops).
- Verified private menu listing: select Souda as the start and Chania as the end.
- ANEK sails Souda–Piraeus daily; Chania’s Venetian harbour is not where those ships dock.
- Chania Airport is 13.6 km from Souda port, about 25 minutes by road.
From the Souda Bay ferry quay into Chania
Souda is the ferry port on Souda Bay, east of Chania, and it is where the ANEK ships from Piraeus come in. The ride into the city is short and direct: you leave the port area and head west into Chania, arriving within minutes. Many first-time visitors expect the ferry to tie up at the Venetian harbour in the old town, but that is a different place altogether.
OSRM routing gives 7.0 km and about 11 minutes to Chania centre, free-flow with no traffic or stops. When a large ferry unloads, cars, coaches and foot passengers all leave at the same time, so getting out of the port can take longer than the drive itself. If you are going straight to the airport instead, Chania Airport is 13.6 km and about 25 minutes away.
Drop-offs in Chania old town and the KTEL station
Chania’s old town wraps around the Venetian harbour, and cars are restricted in many of its lanes. If your accommodation is inside the old town, ask the driver for the nearest drop-off point and expect a short walk with your bags. Message your host before the crossing for that spot, because a booking that just says "old town" leaves the driver guessing.
Local buses connect Souda with Chania; check the current stop at the port and where it leaves you in the city. The KTEL intercity station, on the corner of Kydonias and Partheniou Kelaidi streets in central Chania, is where you pick up onward buses west to Platanias and Kissamos or east to Rethymno, so it is a useful first stop if you are not staying in town.
Ferry luggage, children and the trip back to Souda
Coming off a ferry you often carry more than a flight allows: shopping, bikes, a pushchair or extra bags. A private driver or taxi is easiest with bulky bags. On a KTEL bus, each passenger may put two pieces of luggage in the hold free and extra items are charged. If you are travelling with small children, request child seats when you book a car rather than at the quayside.
The private listing we checked is a point-to-point menu covering Chania Airport, Souda, Chania, Heraklion Airport, Heraklion port, the Rethymno area and Plakias. Pickup is included, the driver speaks English, and bottled water, fuel and parking are listed. Pick the Souda-to-Chania option for arrival day and, for the return to the ship, look for an option that starts in Chania and ends at Souda.
Souda Port to Chania
Pickup and drop-off points
Souda port passenger exit
Pickup is included in the menu listing; confirm the meeting point with the operator. Local buses into Chania also serve the port, so check the current stop.
Chania old town
Cars cannot reach many of the lanes. Agree the nearest drop-off point with your driver and expect a short walk to the door.
Chania KTEL station
Central Chania, where Kydonias meets Partheniou Kelaidi. Use it for onward buses west to Platanias and Kissamos or east to Rethymno.
Chania Airport (CHQ)
Flying out the same day? The airport is 13.6 km from Souda, about 25 minutes by road, and the menu listing includes it.
Compare your options
Ways to make this trip
Private transfer (menu listing)
Select Souda as the start and Chania as the end. Pickup, fuel and parking are listed, with an English-speaking driver and bottled water. Useful with heavy ferry luggage or a family.
Licensed taxi
Quick for the 7 km ride into town. Agree the fare or check the meter, and say if you need the nearest old-town drop-off point rather than a hotel door.
Local bus to Chania
The low-cost way into the city. Check the current stop at Souda and the route before you travel. On KTEL buses, two pieces of luggage per passenger go in the hold free.
Rental car
Worth it if you are heading west or south straight away. Stay out of the old-town lanes, which are restricted for cars, and ask your accommodation about parking.
Souda Port to Chania
Local tips
Booked a hotel "by the harbour"? In Chania that means the Venetian harbour in the old town, not Souda port where your ferry arrives.
Old-town stay? Ask your host for the nearest point a car can reach and send it to your driver or taxi before you sail.
Catching the ferry back to Piraeus? Leave enough time to cross from Chania to Souda and get aboard, especially in summer traffic.
Flying out after the ferry? Chania Airport is about 25 minutes from Souda by road, so you can skip the city entirely.
FAQ
Questions about this route.
How far is Souda port from Chania town?
About 7 km. OSRM routing gives 7.0 km and roughly 11 minutes from Souda port to Chania centre, free-flow without traffic. Leaving the port while a big ferry unloads can take longer than the drive itself, so avoid planning anything tight for straight after you land.Do ferries from Piraeus arrive in Chania’s old harbour?
No. ANEK ships from Piraeus use Souda port on Souda Bay, east of Chania, and sail the route daily. The Venetian harbour in Chania’s old town is not a ferry port for those ships, so plan a short road trip into the city.Can I book a private transfer from Souda port to Chania?
Yes. The private GetYourGuide listing we checked is a menu of point-to-point rides. Choose the option that starts at Souda and ends in Chania, as other combinations are sold on the same page. Pickup is included and the driver speaks English.Is there a bus from Souda port to Chania?
Yes, local buses connect Souda with Chania, but stops and routes can change, so check the current stop when you arrive. Buses are the low-cost choice; a taxi or private driver is easier if you are carrying heavy bags or travelling with children.How do I get from Souda port to Chania Airport?
The airport is 13.6 km away, about 25 minutes by road. A taxi or private driver takes you direct, and the menu listing includes Chania Airport, so look for the option that starts at Souda and ends at the airport rather than the Chania one.Can a taxi drop me inside Chania old town?
Often not at the door. Many old-town lanes are restricted for cars, so drivers stop at the nearest point they can reach. Ask your host for that spot in advance and pass it on to your driver, then expect a short walk.