Students living and studying in Heraklion could soon see a substantial reduction in the cost of getting around the city, with the Municipality proposing to subsidize monthly urban bus passes by almost 60%.
The proposal, which will go before the Heraklion Municipal Council on September 28, would reduce the monthly cost of a student bus pass from €45 to €19.
The municipality says it plans to subsidize 12,500 monthly passes during the academic year, in cooperation with the Region of Crete and the city’s urban bus operator.
That would make public transport considerably more affordable for students who rely on buses to get to university, work and around the city.
€19 instead of €45
Under the proposal:
| Current price | Proposed student price | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly urban bus pass | €45 | €19 |
| Municipality subsidy | — | Almost 60% |
| Passes covered | — | 12,500 |
The mayor said the measure would form part of the municipality’s wider effort to support people studying in Heraklion. It follows the municipality’s decision to eliminate municipal fees for students, according to the announcement.
The Municipality of Heraklion and the Region of Crete would jointly fund the subsidy, with the urban bus operator making the monthly passes available during the academic year.
The important bit: this is still a proposal
Students should not rush to the bus station expecting €19 passes just yet.
The proposal is scheduled to go before the Municipal Council on Monday, September 28. The €19 price therefore becomes a confirmed measure only if the council approves the plan and the arrangements with the Region and bus operator are finalized.
For students already paying €45 a month, however, the difference would be significant: €26 less every month, or €312 over a full 12-month period if the same price applied year-round.
Argophilia Takeaway
Heraklion is a university city as well as a tourist destination, and affordable public transport matters to the people who actually live there.
If approved, a €19 monthly pass would make getting around Heraklion substantially cheaper for thousands of students, while potentially easing pressure on household budgets during the academic year.
For now, though, €19 is the proposed price, not the ticket-counter price yet.
