The Festival
The Big Blues is the first international blues dance festival in Greece and aims to consolidate and become a meeting point of blues lovers from all around the world, for their summer vacation!
We invite you to Chania (Crete) to share in our love during six hours of quality lessons across three levels from four great international teachers.
Enjoy relaxed dances in picturesque locations, music from six special international musicians in three nights of Blues Parties and side events connecting us with territory!
Getting there
How to travel to Paleochora, Crete
Paleochora is a seaside village located on the southern coast of the Chania region inCrete. To reach Paleochora, you will first need to travel to Crete and then continueby road to the south of the island.Below you will find the main travel options, including recommended routes, transferdetails, estimated travel times and useful transport contacts.
Option A - Fly to Chania airport (recommended route)
The easiest and most convenient way to reach Paleochora is to fly to ChaniaInternational Airport “Ioannis Daskalogiannis” (CHQ), which is the closest airport tothe Chania region. We recommend checking whether direct flights are available fromyour departure city. If there are no direct flights, the most practical connection isusually via Athens International Airport (ATH).Chania Airport is located approximately 15 km from Chania city center.
From Chania airport to Chania city center
By bus (KTEL Chania-Rethymno)
Duration: approximately 25 minutes
Cost: €2.70 Tickets: Tickets can be purchased on board or online through the official KTELticket platform [here].
Please select the route “Chania Airport → Chania”.
Schedule: Updated timetables are available on the official KTEL timetablepage [here].
Please select the option “From and to Chania airport”. As schedules may change frequently depending on the season, we recommend checking the timetable a few days before your arrival. Further information: Additional information is available on the official website KTEL
Chania-Rethymno [here].
The bus terminates at Chania Central Bus Station.
View location on Google Maps:[here].
By taxi Licensed taxis are available directly outside the airport arrivals terminal.
Duration: approximately 20 minutes
Cost: approximately €30-35Taxi information - ChaniaFor taxi services in Chania, you may contact:
Radiotaxi ERMIS: +30 28210 98700
Radiotaxi KYDON: +30 28210 94300
Option B - Fly to Heraklion airport and travel to Chania
You may also fly to Heraklion International Airport “Nikos Kazantzakis” (HER), thesecond major airport of Crete. Please note that Heraklion is approximately 140 kmfrom Chania and the road journey takes around 2 hours and 15 minutes.
From Heraklion airport to Heraklion central bus stationHeraklion Airport is located about 6 km from the city center. To travel onward toChania, you must first reach Heraklion Central Bus Station, located near HeraklionPort.
By city bus Bus Number: 6 or 12
Duration: approximately 15-20 minutes
Cost: €1.60 Frequency: around every 10 minutes, with fewer services on Sundays
By taxi Duration: approximately 10-15 minutes
Cost: approximately €20-25
From Heraklion central bus station to Chania
By bus (KTEL Heraklion-Lasithi)
Duration: approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes
Cost: €17.60
Tickets: Tickets can be purchased at the bus station ticket offices or onlinethrough the KTEL Heraklion–Lasithi website [here].
Schedule: Buses usually depart every hour.
Please check the latest timetablebefore travelling and look for Express bus routes from Heraklion to Chania[here].
Further information: Additional information is available on the officialwebsite KTEL Heraklion-Lasithi [here].
By taxi Duration: approximately 2 hours
Cost: approximately €150-200
For taxi services in Crete, you may also check: crete.cab
Option C - Fly to Athens and take the ferry to Chania
As another alternative, you may fly to Athens International Airport “EleftheriosVenizelos” (ATH) and then take a ferry from Piraeus Port to Souda Port, near Chania.You can check ferry routes and tickets [here]. The ferry journey takes approximately9 hours, with both daytime and overnight departures available depending on theseason.
From Athens airport to Piraeus port
By metro (underground)
Line: Blue line 3 Duration: approximately 85 minutes
Cost: €9
Frequency: Trains usually depart every 36 minutes.
Please check the latest timetable before travelling [here].
Airport station access: approximately 5 minutes on foot from the main terminal via the elevated pedestrian bridge.
Further Information: Additional information is available on the official website
By city bus:
Bus Number: X96
Duration: approximately 100 minutes
Cost: €5.50
Frequency: available 24/7, approximately every 20 minutes
Further Information: Additional information is available on the official website [here].
By taxi
Duration: approximately 75 min
Cost: approximately €65-70
From Souda port to Chania city center
Souda Port is located approximately 4 km from Chania city center.
By bus:
There is a small kiosk at the port named “Αστικό ΚΤΕΛ Χανίων / Chania Urban Bus”, where you can purchase a ticket to the city center.
Bus number: 13
Duration: approximately 20 minutes
Cost: €1.80
Further Information: Additional information is available on the official
By taxi
Duration: approximately 15 minutes
Cost: approximately €20
Taxis are usually available in front of the arriving ship.website [here]
Final step - Travel from Chania to Paleochora
Once you have reached Chania, you will need to continue south to Paleochora.
By bus (KTEL Chania-Rethymno)
Duration: approximately 100 minutes
Cost: €9.10
Tickets: Tickets can be purchased at Chania Central Bus Station or online through the official KTEL ticket platform [here]. Please select the route “Chania → Paleochora”.
Schedule: Updated timetables are available on the official KTEL timetable page [here].
Please select “Departures from Chania” and locate the Chania-
Paleochora route.
As schedules may change seasonally, we recommend
checking again a few days before your arrival.
Further information: Additional information is available on the official KTEL Chania-Rethymno website [here].
By taxi
Duration: approximately 80-90 minutes
Cost: approximately €110-135
Taxi information - Chania
For taxi services in Chania, you may contact:
Radiotaxi ERMIS: +30 28210 98700
Radiotaxi KYDON: +30 28210 94300
For further information or assistance, please feel free to contact us at:
