Students in Heraklion will soon have a much cheaper way to get around the city, after the Municipal Council unanimously approved a €202,800 subsidy for student bus passes for the 2026–2027 academic year.
The deal with the city’s urban bus operator will cover up to 12,000 monthly travel cards for students of the University of Crete and the Hellenic Mediterranean University. Instead of paying the regular €45, eligible students will pay just €19 per month.
That is a subsidy of almost 60% — and unlike some student perks that come with enough small print to require a lawyer, this one is fairly straightforward.
€19 for unlimited city travel
The subsidized cards will provide unlimited journeys throughout Heraklion, not just trips to and from university campuses.
Students can use them for any route within the city during the academic year.
The Municipality says the measure is intended to provide permanent support for students studying in Heraklion, following another recent initiative that eliminated municipal fees for student housing.
Up to 12,000 cards available
The Municipality of Heraklion is committing €202,800 to the scheme, with the subsidy covering up to 12,000 monthly cards.
Importantly, the Municipality will reimburse the urban bus operator quarterly and based on actual usage. In other words, if fewer than 12,000 cards are taken up, the city will pay for the cards actually purchased rather than automatically handing over the full amount.
Mayor Alexis Kalokairinos said the student community will be informed about the measure and that the aim is to activate the agreement as quickly as possible.
He also left the door open for the scheme to be expanded if demand exceeds the initial estimate and the Municipality determines that additional funding can be supported.
Crete Region covers 35%
The initiative is being implemented in cooperation with the Region of Crete, which will cover 35% of the subsidy, while the urban bus operator will provide monthly cards throughout the academic year.
Deputy Mayor for Finance and Development Planning Tasos Tsatsakis noted that the Municipal Council unanimously approved the initiative on September 28.
The interesting part comes next
The Municipality still doesn’t know exactly how many students will use the subsidized cards.
That is why the quarterly reimbursement system matters. If demand is strong, the city can see real numbers rather than guessing from a spreadsheet—and potentially consider increasing the number of subsidized cards.
The scheme can also be expanded to other categories of beneficiaries in the 2027–2028 academic year.
Argophilia Takeaway
For Heraklion students, €19 instead of €45 is not exactly pocket change — it is €26 back in their pockets every month.
And for a city where getting around without a car can sometimes feel like an endurance sport, unlimited public transport at that price could prove popular very quickly.