Heraklion mayor proposes €19 monthly bus pass for students, subsidized by city and region
Heraklion Mayor Alexis Kalokairinos has proposed a subsidized monthly bus pass for university students that would cut the cost of unlimited city travel from €45 to €19, with the Municipality of Heraklion and the Region of Crete covering the rest.
Under the plan, around 12,000 monthly passes would be made available, with the subsidy covering nearly 60% of their value. The total cost of the subsidy is estimated at €312,000, to be shared between the two authorities.
The Astiko KTEL of Heraklion, the city’s urban bus operator, currently issues about 3,500 student cards per month, a figure the proposal cites as evidence of strong demand among students for affordable transport. Passengers relying on bus services in Heraklion have also faced recent disruptions tied to roadworks in the region.
Still under negotiation
The proposal remains at the discussion and negotiation stage among the parties involved, including the Astiko KTEL, and has not yet been finalized. If approved, the measure is intended to take effect from October 2026 through June 2027, covering the academic year.
According to the plan, the subsidized pass would be available to all students at University of Crete and Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU) schools based in Heraklion. The cards would not be limited to routes to and from university campuses; they would allow unlimited travel across the entire city bus network.
Part of a broader package for students
The proposed transport subsidy would come in addition to a measure already implemented by the Heraklion municipal authority that eliminates municipal fees on housing rented by students within the Municipality of Heraklion, a step aimed at reducing living costs for students and their families.
