Heraklion Airport, Greece

Travel Guide to help tourists. Not the official website. Please read our terms.

Travel guide to help tourists arriving in Heraklion. The Heraklion airport code is HER and there are 2 airports in the island of Crete. The second one is located in Chania city.

Heraklion Airport is Crete’s Island main gateway to the world. Officially known as the Heraklion Nikos Kazantzakis International Airport, it is located about 5 km (3 miles) east of the main city of Heraklion, near the municipality of Nea Alikarnassos.
The airport is the second-busiest airport in Greece after Athens International Airport. It has been operating since 1937 and serves 5 million passengers a year flying to either domestic or international destinations. The airport is open 24 hours and travelers are allowed to sleep. There are 3 lounges currently operation in Heraklion Airport but they don’t offer sleeping facilities since they close in the evening.

All passenger flights are located in one terminal. Heraklion is a military airport and photography is generally not allowed.
Important Clarification: Heraklion is also spelled Iraklio, Iraklion, Heraclion, and other variations.

It is well connected by road to the rest of the island, and whilst taxis, public bus and car rental are available on arrival.

Flying from Europe

Domestic flights The Heraklion Airport serves as a hub for Volotea, Ellinair, Astra Airlines and Aegean Airlines with direct flights from the Greek cities of Athens and/or Thessaloniki. In addition to that, during summer Sky Express connects Heraklion with the Greek islands of Kos, Rhodes, Paros and Zakynthos. At the same time, charter Flights from all major European cities to Heraklion, Crete last 3 to 5 hours. Flights to Heraklion are available by many airlines including British Airways (BA), Easyjet, Lufthansa, KLM, TUI, Eurowings Vueling and many more. These charter flights come mostly from Russia, Italy, Germany, Holland and the United Kingdom.

Flying from non European Countries

Travelers from USA, Canada, Australia, China, India and other non-European countries that wish to come to Heraklion, must get a connecting flight in Athens, Thessaloniki or any another European country that operates charter flights to the Greek island. The distance from Athens is about 205 Miles and there are several flights a day (air time from Athens to Heraklion is about an hour).