Heraklion Nikos Kazantzakis International Airport (HER) is the second-busiest airport in Greece and the main gateway to Crete, welcoming over 8 million passengers every year.
Four convenient options for leaving the airport or exploring Crete. Compare prices and book online at the best available rates.
Over 310 vehicles available with free cancellation, no deposit and unlimited mileage. From €13/day in low season.
See offers →Official taxi rank right outside the terminal, or a private transfer at a fixed price. Heraklion centre from €30, Chersonissos from €41, Rethymnon from €84.
Rates and booking →Short-stay parking 50 metres from the terminal with a free option for drop-off. Private long-stay car parks nearby with shuttle service.
All car parks →The KTEL line connects the airport to Heraklion city centre in 20 to 30 minutes for under €2. Frequent departures throughout the day.
Timetables and prices →Check the live flight board. Status, any delays, flight number and airline are updated automatically.
Data is provided for guidance only. In case of a delay or cancellation, check your airline's website. For full details: arrivals board · departures board.
Located 4 kilometres east of Heraklion city centre, in the municipality of Nea Alikarnassos, the airport is Greece's second-busiest hub after Athens-Venizelos. It nonetheless ranks first nationally for charter flights, driven by the massive tourist influx to Crete during the summer season.
The airport is named after Nikos Kazantzakis, a Greek writer and philosopher born in Heraklion in 1883, best known for "Zorba the Greek" and "The Last Temptation". Opened to civil traffic in 1937, its passenger numbers grew tenfold over fifty years to exceed 8 million per year today.
The current infrastructure includes a single two-storey terminal and two runways: the main one (09/27) measures 2,680 metres and handles almost all landings and take-offs, while the second (13/31), at 1,574 metres, is used as a backup. The terminal is divided into two boarding areas: one for Schengen flights and one for non-Schengen flights.
A new Heraklion international airport is currently under construction at Kastelli, around forty kilometres southeast of the current site. It is expected to open in the coming years. Nikos Kazantzakis Airport will remain operational until the new terminal opens, at which point it is expected to absorb all commercial traffic.
Traffic seasonality is very pronounced. From May to October, the airport operates at full capacity, with peaks in July and August — waiting times at passport control for non-Schengen flights regularly exceed an hour during this period. Outside the season, traffic drops sharply, with activity kept up mainly by domestic routes to Athens and Thessaloniki.
With the airport just 4 kilometres from the city centre, the journey to Heraklion takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on the mode of transport and traffic. Four main options are available almost around the clock: the KTEL city bus, official taxi, pre-booked private transfer, and car rental.
| Mode | Duration | Price | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTEL bus to Heraklion centre |
20-30 min | €1.80 | every 15 min |
| Official taxi rank outside the terminal |
10-20 min | €15-25 | immediate |
| Private transfer driver with name sign |
10-20 min | from €30 | by reservation |
| Car rental pick-up at the terminal |
25 min + pick-up | from €13/day | 24/7 |
| KTEL long-distance bus to Chersonissos, Rethymnon |
30-90 min | €4-12 | several/day |
For an independent trip, renting a car at Heraklion Airport remains the best option for exploring Crete freely. For a direct transfer to Malia, Chersonissos or Rethymnon, a fixed-price taxi guarantees a stress-free ride after a long flight.
Heraklion Airport has a single two-storey terminal. The ground floor houses arrivals, the baggage claim area and information desks. The first floor is dedicated to departures, with check-in counters, security control and two boarding areas: one for Schengen flights and one for non-Schengen flights. Arrivals has four baggage carousels.
For a domestic flight to Athens or Thessaloniki, arrive 1.5 hours before departure. For an international flight, allow 2 to 3 hours, especially during the summer high season when queues at passport control can grow considerably. Online check-in saves 20 to 30 minutes.
Two convenient services to plan your trip before and after your flight: parking near the terminal or staying overnight before an early flight.
Short-stay parking is located just 50 metres from the terminal, with a free option for drop-off (unsupervised at night). For longer stays, several private car parks nearby offer attractive rates with a free shuttle to the terminal. Average rates: €3-6/day for private long-stay parking.
See all car parksFor an early flight or a late arrival, several hotels are located less than 10 minutes from the terminal: Metropole Urban Hotel, Aquila Atlantis Hotel, Kastro Hotel. Most offer an airport shuttle or included parking. Average rates: €70-140 per night depending on the season.
Coming soonNikos Kazantzakis Airport is accessible exclusively by road, with no rail connection. Its close proximity to Heraklion nonetheless makes it one of the easiest Greek airports to reach from a city centre.
Address: Leof. Ikarou, Nea Alikarnassos, 71601 Heraklion, Crete. GPS coordinates: 35.3396° N, 25.1725° E. Passenger information service: +30 281 039 7129. For passengers with reduced mobility, contact your airline at least 48 hours before the flight.
The terminal is open 24 hours a day. Check-in counters open 2.5 hours before each departure and close 30 to 45 minutes before take-off. Shops and restaurants mainly operate from 05:00 to 23:00.
Heraklion Airport is Greece's second-busiest airport with more than 8 million passengers a year, but its terminal remains relatively compact, spread over two floors. It is often crowded during the summer high season.
Arrive 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international flight, particularly in July-August when passport control queues can exceed an hour.
The airport is just 4 kilometres east of Heraklion city centre. The journey takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on the mode of transport and traffic.
In season, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Lille, Nice, Montpellier, Brest and Deauville offer direct flights to Heraklion with Aegean, Air France, Transavia France, Volotea and easyJet.
Yes, more than 310 vehicles are available at the terminal through numerous agencies: Sixt, Europcar, Hertz, Avis, Centauro, Goldcar and around ten local rental companies. Booking online can save 30 to 50%.