Public transport

[Alex&fran G]

Hi, We are due in PLakias on 7th June for 2 weeks,I am looking for some tips on where we could travel on public transport without too many changes,last year we booked on several coach trips which we enjoyed but most of them were to several destinations with not very long in each place this year we are hoping to spend longer in certain places.I never drive while so we are limited to buses or taxi's
so any advice would be most welcome.   regards     Alex&fran G

[Greecemad]

Alex & Fran,

You can obviously get to Rethymnon. By changing there you can get to places on the north coast between Chania and Iraklion, e.g. Georgoupolis or Bali.

With one change (at a place called Bale in the middle of the country), you can get to Spili and Aghia Galini.

I think that in high season, there are a couple of buses a day from Plakias to Chora Sfakion, calling at Frangokastello so it would be possible to do a day trip to either of those.

This webiste might be useful, but I don't think the summer service is on there yet:

www.bus-service-crete-ktel.com

Greecemad

[harribobs]

Alex & Fran,

I think that in high season, there are a couple of buses a day from Plakias to Chora Sfakion, calling at Frangokastello so it would be possible to do a day trip to either of those.

Greecemad
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and if you can get to Chora Sfakion, you can get the ferry to loutro, agia roumelli, sougia and paleohora!

[John R]

and if you can get to Chora Sfakion, you can get the ferry to loutro, agia roumelli, sougia and paleohora!
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True and well worth the adventure. One bit of advice after a couple of our Stella Pensioners went a bit astray in that very direction is to always take a tooth brush and enough money for a room overnight.

They thoroughly enjoyed thier unintended adventure.

John R

[harribobs]

True and well worth the adventure. One bit of advice after a couple of our Stella Pensioners went a bit astray in that very direction is to always take a tooth brush and enough money for a room overnight.

They thoroughly enjoyed thier unintended adventure.

John R
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good advice John

we often go off roaming and in the past have cursed our short-sightedness in not bringing the wherewithall to stay over

now we pack a small case  

sougia was a case in point for us several years back, we were staying in the north west and were driving around the area when we came across the place and loved it, unfortunately we didn't even have enough cash with us for an evening meal (i wonder if there's an atm there now?)

live and learn eh?

[Greecemad]

and if you can get to Chora Sfakion, you can get the ferry to loutro, agia roumelli, sougia and paleohora!
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True, but you would have to stay overnight. I was limiting things to possible day trips. Obviously if you are prepared to stay overngiht then much longer trips become possible, i.e. you could get to anywhere on Crete via Rethymon.

One trip possible is to go by bus from Plakias to Rethymon, Chania and Paleochora (or Sougia), stay overnight then take the boat to Chora Sfakion and bus back to Plakias.

Greecemad

[harribobs]

One trip possible is to go by bus from Plakias to Rethymon, Chania and Paleochora (or Sougia), stay overnight then take the boat to Chora Sfakion and bus back to Plakias.

Greecemad
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how long do you think that would take by bus? i'm guessing around 5-6 hours?

hania to paleohora is 2 1/2 at least

[Greecemad]

Harribobs,

Plakias to Rethymnon is about 40 minutes
Rethymnon to Chania is about an hour (at least every hour)
Chania to Paleochora, as you say, is about 2.5 hours I think, but it's a scenic drive through the mountains.
So about 4.5 hours plus waits in between. You would have to plan to meet a specific bus from Chania to Palochora.
The boat from Paleochora leaves about 8.00 or 8.30 and gets to Chora Sfakion about mid-day. The bus back to Plakias would be about 5.00 pm.

In June I am planning to do most of this more leisurely, i.e. fly to Heraklion, bus to Chania - stay overnight - bus to Paleochora - stay a few nights - boat to Sougia - stay a couple of nights - boat to Chora Sfakion - maybe stay overnight, maybe not - bus to Plakias - stay a few nights - various buses to Matala - stay a few nights - bus back to Heraklion.

Greecemad.

[Alex&fran G]

Thank you all you have been very helpful. regards Alex.  

[harribobs]

In June I am planning to do most of this more leisurely, i.e. fly to Heraklion, bus to Chania - stay overnight - bus to Paleochora - stay a few nights - boat to Sougia - stay a couple of nights - boat to Chora Sfakion - maybe stay overnight, maybe not - bus to Plakias - stay a few nights - various buses to Matala - stay a few nights - bus back to Heraklion.

that sounds absolutely fantastic! the last time we stayed over at chora, we stayed at one of the hotels right on the front (livicon i think) and the view when you open your balcony doors on to the harbour was breath taking, worth the extra few euros it cost!

i doubt if we'll see paleohora this year, but we've penciled in a few nights at matala, and i'd love to see sougia as well (we might walk the gorge there)

    god i can't wait

[Mike G]

Hi, We are due in PLakias on 7th June for 2 weeks,I am looking for some tips on where we could travel on public transport without too many changes,last year we booked on several coach trips which we enjoyed but most of them were to several destinations with not very long in each place this year we are hoping to spend longer in certain places.I never drive while so we are limited to buses or taxi's
so any advice would be most welcome.   regards     Alex&fran G
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Currently the first bus to Rethymnon is at 12.15pm on weekdays, if you exclude the 7.00 am one. However on Sat/Sun there is one at 9.30 am.

Mike

[Noopsy]

Currently the first bus to Rethymnon is at 12.15pm on weekdays, if you exclude the 7.00 am one. However on Sat/Sun there is one at 9.30 am.

Mike
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Fortuitously, in the course of planning my own trip today, I had a look at the ktel website, and see that after the 0700 bus the timetable shows the next as being at 1015.  (There is no sign of a 1215 bus.)  However, as the bus operator himself indicates (and I know from personal experience) the times shown are not set in stone, and can be quite different to the ones the buses actually operate to.

Incidentally, I would say that if the bus makes the journey from Plakias to Rethymnon in the time indicated by Greecemad, you would be very lucky.  I suppose it depends on which bus you take but the norm for the trip would be nearer an hour...or more, if that particular bus took the scenic route!

Noopsy

[roger]

Incidentally, I would say that if the bus makes the journey from Plakias to Rethymnon in the time indicated by Greecemad, you would be very lucky.  I suppose it depends on which bus you take but the norm for the trip would be nearer an hour...or more, if that particular bus took the scenic route!

Noopsy
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[/quote]

I thought that the normal timetable allowed for a journey time - or rather a turnround time  - between Rethymnon and  Plakias of 45 minutes so that would mean about 40 minutes journey and 5 minutes slack -though some nuses go on to Preveli or Chora Sfakion . And the buses seem to keep more or less to the timetable -though I too have noticed discrepancies between the published timetable and the timetable shown at the Plakias bus stop - and the latter is usually right
roger

[Mike G]

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Fortuitously, in the course of planning my own trip today, I had a look at the ktel website, and see that after the 0700 bus the timetable shows the next as being at 1015.  (There is no sign of a 1215 bus.)  However, as the bus operator himself indicates (and I know from personal experience) the times shown are not set in stone, and can be quite different to the ones the buses actually operate to.

Noopsy
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Last month the times at the bus stop seemed to agree with what was running. On travelling to Rethymnon the bus went direct, but on the return journey it went via Preveli Monastery, which added quite a bit to the time taken. Nice views though.

It may be that the times in the Ktel timetable are those which will operate in high season. 10.15am is a much more useful time for the majority of tourists than 12.15pm.

Mike

[TomandLiz]

Does anyone know the best way to go by public transport from Heraklion airport to Plakias. As far as we can work out it's to the town centre, change bus to go to Rethymnon and then change again to Plakias. Anyone know any more interesting but quickish roots. We see there is a bus from the airport to irepetra. Got the bus timetable sites but what's written down and what's possible aren't always the same thing.