KTEL Chania – Rethimnon Public Bus service in Crete
KTEL Chania – Rethymnon, the primary intercity bus provider in Western Crete, is based in the centre of Chania, on Kydonias Street, and serves as the island’s key transport hub.
Whether you’re travelling without a car or prefer to leave the driving to someone else, this is the most reliable and cost-effective way to explore Crete and beyond. Buses depart daily to destinations across the Chania and Rethymnon regions and cities on the Greek mainland, including Larissa, Thessaloniki, Patras and Ioannina.
About KTEL
KTEL stands for “Common Fund of Bus Proceeds” (in Greek: Κοινά Ταμεία Εισπράξεων Λεωφορείων) and refers to a system of privately owned bus cooperatives under state supervision. Crete has two main KTEL networks: KTEL Chania – Rethymnon and KTEL Heraklion – Lasithi. These networks aim to provide safe, efficient, modern road transport across the island.
KTEL Chania – Rethymnon operates a fleet of modern buses with air conditioning, ergonomic seating and spacious luggage compartments. For the popular Chania to Kolymbari route, articulated buses run along the scenic northern coastline, stopping at tourist hotspots such as Stalos, Agia Marina, Platanias, Gerani, Maleme and more.
Chania Bus Station
The central bus station in Chania has significantly improved in recent years. It now offers a comfortable, air-conditioned waiting area, a mini market, a café-restaurant, ticket counters, an information desk, clean public toilets with regular cleaning staff, and secure baggage lockers. The locker service is perfect for storing your luggage for a few hours or even a whole day – it costs €4 for 8 hours or €6 for 24 hours, with additional charges applied if time is exceeded. If you lose the locker key, there’s a €25 replacement fee.
Another essential service is parcel delivery. KTEL allows you to send documents, luggage, boxes, bikes and other items safely to any destination it serves. This is especially helpful for locals and travellers transporting goods within Crete or the mainland. You can contact the relevant storage departments in Chania, Rethymnon or Heraklion for details and pricing.
Routes
Daily routes cover Rethymno, Georgioupoli, Kavros, Bali and Heraklion destinations. At the same time, long-distance connections include Lamia, Larissa, Thessaloniki, Patras and Ioannina. KTEL also runs regular services between Chania and Chania Airport. However, it’s worth noting that there’s no direct KTEL connection to the Port of Souda from Chania – that route is handled by Chania City Bus. There is, however, a KTEL route from Souda Port to Rethymno.
Some of the most popular routes include Chania – Rethymno – Heraklion, Chania – Kasteli, Chania – Paleochora, Chania – Airport, and Rethymno – Chania Airport.
If you need assistance or want to book tickets, call the reservation offices in Chania at +302821093306, in Rethymno at +302831306190, and in Heraklion at +302810246530 (ext. 2).
Ktel Chania - Rethimnon timetables
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DEPARTURES FROM CHANIA |
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FROM & TO CHANIA AIRPORT |
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›TIMETABLE VALID FROM 20-05-2025 |
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THESSALONIKI & PATRA-IOANNINA |
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FROM CHANIA TO HINTERLAND VILLAGES |
Tips for a smooth journey with KTEL Chania – Rethymnon
Advance booking is mandatory to guarantee a seat on any KTEL route. You can reserve your seat online at www.e-ktel.com or in person at the ticket offices. This is not just a suggestion – it’s a strict policy. Each Chania – Rethymno – Heraklion line bus has exactly 50 seats. Once those are booked, no additional passengers can board. That means even if you arrive at the station early, you might not be allowed to travel on your preferred departure without a valid reservation.
Having a reservation is even more critical if you plan to board from a mid-route stop outside a bus terminal. The driver cannot allow boarding at intermediate locations unless your seat is confirmed in the system. Booking in advance ensures that the bus will stop for you, and you’ll have a guaranteed seat for the whole trip.
Tickets sell out quickly during high season and busy periods, especially in summer. Booking a few days in advance is strongly recommended. If you’re using the parcel service, call the relevant department beforehand to ask about packaging requirements, delivery times and costs, which vary depending on the destination and item.
Ticket price
Prices for the bus tickets
Chania to Airport: 2.50€
Chania to Kissamos: 5.10€
Chania to Palaiochora: 8.30€
Chania to Rethymnon: 7.10€
Rethymnon to Chania Airport: 7.30€ – Duration: 00:30′
Chania to Heraklion: 16€ – Duration: 02:45′
Chania to Elafonisi 10.90€ – Duration: 02:10
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Luke L'sk
2 weeks agoCentral bus station in Chania. Right in the middle of the city center. Staff are informative and welcoming. I don't speak Greek, but they speak fine and clear English on supporting and guiding the passengers. The board has clear from and route for the business and the time of departure for the bus with the bus #. Ticket office with staff taking payment on numerous major payment methods, including credit cards.
Javier Rodriguez
2 weeks agoThe screen information system should be enhanced. I got confused due to Platform Bus was one column, and I could not find the right platform. After asking someone at the information desk, I realized that Platform and Bus are two separate columns. How to avoid this confusion? Simply: add more space between both column in order that the mind can understand it at first sight (This is a design principle).
Avery Best
a week agoStation is too small considering it is tourist place, chaotic as it is normal in Greece. People can smoke right beside the ticket office. Driver asked all backpacks (big and small) have to be stored under the bus, most tourists did, but locals don’t care and bring backpacks on the bus. We took express bus to Heraklion, bought tickets in advance on website, but there are at least 7 empty seats when bus left. no toilet on the bus, bus has good wifi. Air conditioning works well.
V R
a month agoEasy to catch a bus to the airport, Heraklion etc. You can book the tickets online. Bus parking slots are allocated as per the destination. A digital board is displayed with the destination, bus number and departure time on each slots. Super easy to identify. I travelled to the airport from there. AC was not working on the bus though.
Piotr
in the last weekMain bus station localized just in the neighborhood of the Old Town. Nice service. 2025.08.25 We took a trip from Chania to Rapaniana SeaView. We paid 2.8euro for adult ticket, the travel lasted about 40 minutes. The bus arrived punctually on time. I recommend. When you get on the bus by front door, the conductor approaches you and you pay cash or by card, very convenient.