The local and regional bus services in Crete are run by regional collectives known as Kino Tamio Eispraxeon Leoforon (KTEL). This means that many of the coaches are owned by the driver and his family. This creates a real pride of ownership and excellent service from Cretan coaches. Most of the buses play Cretan music (Kritiki musiki), on loudspeakers during the trip which certainly adds character to the memorable rides!

There are two KTEL services in Crete:
KTEL of Chania-Rethymno
KTEL of Heraklion-Lassithi.
There are daily and regular schedules between the four main towns of Crete (Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos). Also from the main towns, there are regular buses to the largest villages and main tourist places of the prefecture. For example, from Chania Town there are regular buses to Kissamos, which pass through all the tourist places on the northern coast of Chania.

Urban buses in the four largest towns of Crete (Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos) are blue and serve the suburbs of each town. These buses may have itineraries that cover up 4 miles from the town. For example, the bus from Heraklion Town to Knossos is blue.

Depending on the length of your trip, fares can range anywhere from 2 EUR ($2.50 USD) to 13 EUR ($17 USD). Service between major cities in the north is more frequent than those heading south since there are no major roads on the southern coast; Timetables vary between quiet and busy season, so check your route and timetable at the Cretan Bus service. Timetables are displayed at www.ktel.org and each regional website. Bus Stations

Most bus stations are fairly basic and central in each town, except for Heraklion which has two regional bus stations for KTEL buses and then the town bus stops for town buses.

Heraklion Bus Stations:

Bus Station A
Near the port between the old harbor, the new port and the town and serves destinations along the north coast of Crete. Buses depart from here for destinations along the north coast of Crete including west to Rethymnon and Chania, and east to Agios Nikolaos in Lassithi.

Bus Station B
This station is located on the outskirts of town at Chanioporta (next to the buttress walls). Buses leave from here for destinations to the south in Heraklion prefecture such as Zaros, Mires and Matala and towns in between. From here you will also catch buses to Anogia, Gortys and Festos.
Our best advice is to get a taxi if you need to get to Bus Station B, especially if it is your first trip, as it will only cost €2-3 and save you a long walk or roundabout town bus trip.

Town buses in Heraklion
The local buses are cheap and good too, they can take you around the city and to Knossos archaeological site, which is only 3 miles from the center of the city. To get the bus to Knossos you must buy a ticket first, get this from one of the small kiosks. Bus Line 2 goes to Knossos. It is recommended that you board on the stop on 25 August St, near the Liondaria fountain.