Heraklion Airport (HER): the guide to arriving in Crete
Heraklion “Nikos Kazantzakis” (HER) is Crete’s main airport, 5 km east of the city, and in 2025 it handled just over 10 million passengers. Here is how to get out of it fast, what each option costs, and when to come back for your flight.
- Local time in Crete--:--
- Weather at HER— °C
- Airport codesHER · LGIR
Photo: Jcornelius, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Everything you need at Heraklion Airport
The pages travellers open most, from the arrivals hall to your hotel door.
Arrivals
Passport control, bags, the exit doors and what to do in your first ten minutes on Crete.
Arrivals guideDepartures
How early to arrive, Schengen or non-Schengen gates, and where the queues build up in summer.
Departures guideCar rental
Desks, meet-and-greet, deposits and insurance: what to check before you sign anything.
Compare car rentalTransfers
Taxi, KTEL bus, shuttle or private driver: prices and times to every resort.
Compare transfersAirport taxi
Fares to the city, Hersonissos, Malia, Elounda and Chania, and how the rank works.
See taxi faresHotels near HER
Where to sleep before a 6 am flight or after a midnight landing.
See hotels- 5 kmfrom Heraklion city centre
- 15 minby taxi to the centre
- A + B gatesone terminal, two zones
- 10.0 Mpassengers in 2025 (HCAA)
Live arrivals and departures at HER
Flight times change fast in summer, when evening delays of 20–60 minutes are common. Check the live boards before you leave for the airport: Heraklion Airport arrivals today for anyone you are collecting, and departures today for your own flight, with gates and delays.
Leaving Heraklion Airport: the four options
Everything leaves from the same forecourt, a minute from the arrivals doors. The taxi rank is straight ahead: about €20–25 to the city centre, more to the resorts. The city bus stops on the left as you walk out and costs under €2 into town. Rental cars are either at the desks in the arrivals area or handed over in the car park by a company rep. And a pre-booked transfer means a driver holding your name at the door.
Our rule of thumb: bus if you are alone with one bag and heading into Heraklion before 10 pm; taxi for the city with two or more people; transfer for the resorts, especially at night or with children; car if you plan to see more than one beach. The details, prices and times are on our transfers comparison.
From the airport to the resorts
| Destination | Distance | By car / taxi | Taxi fare | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heraklion city | 5 km | 10–20 min | €20–25 | to the centre |
| Hersonissos | 25 km | 25–30 min | €40–55 | Hersonissos |
| Malia / Stalis | 30–35 km | 30–40 min | €50–70 | Malia |
| Agios Nikolaos | 63 km | 50–60 min | €90–120 | Agios Nikolaos |
| Elounda | 72 km | 65–75 min | €100–130 | Elounda |
| Rethymno | 80 km | 70–80 min | €100–135 | Rethymno |
| Chania | 140 km | about 2 h | €150–220 | Chania |
Indicative day fares, October 2026; every resort is on taxi prices to every resort.
What the airport is like
One terminal, busy and a bit cramped in July and August, perfectly fine the rest of the year. Departures are split into two zones: A gates for Schengen flights (most of Europe) and B gates for non-Schengen flights (the UK, Israel and other non-Schengen countries). Since autumn 2025 non-EU passengers are also registered in the EU Entry/Exit System on arrival, which adds a few minutes at passport control in peak hours.
The airport is old and squeezed between the city and the sea, which is why Greece is building its replacement at Kastelli, 40 km to the south-east. Until that opens (currently projected for 2028), this is the airport you will use. Our airport guide has the layout, the lounges and our honest review.
Heraklion Airport at a glance
| Official name | Heraklion International Airport “Nikos Kazantzakis” |
| Codes | IATA HER · ICAO LGIR (explained) |
| Location | Nea Alikarnassos, 5 km east of Heraklion city centre |
| Terminal | One terminal: A gates (Schengen), B gates (non-Schengen) |
| Passengers | 10,033,151 in 2025 (HCAA), second in Greece after Athens |
| Operator | Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) |
| Time zone | Greek time: UTC+2 in winter, UTC+3 in summer |
| Replacement | New Kastelli airport, opening projected for 2028 |
How early to get there for your flight
Two hours before a Schengen flight, two and a half to three hours before a UK or other non-Schengen flight in summer. The slow part is the bag drop on charter-heavy Saturdays and Sundays, not security. Full timings and the quiet hours are in how early to arrive at Heraklion Airport.
There is no McDonald’s or Burger King at Heraklion Airport: the fast food is Greek (Goody’s) and Italian-style (Forno Luca). Eat in town if you have time; see restaurants and shops.
Crete has three airports: are you at the right one?
Heraklion (HER) serves the centre and the east: Hersonissos, Malia, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda. Chania (CHQ) is better for the west and Sitia (JSH) is a small regional airport in the far east. If your hotel is in Chania or Rethymno, read Chania or Heraklion airport before you book flights.
Heraklion Airport: quick answers
What is the code for Heraklion Airport?
HER is the IATA code you see on tickets and bag tags; LGIR is the ICAO code used by pilots. Both mean Heraklion “Nikos Kazantzakis” International Airport.
How far is Heraklion Airport from the city centre?
About 5 km, or 10–20 minutes by taxi depending on traffic. The city bus takes 20–30 minutes and costs under €2.
Is Heraklion Airport the main airport in Crete?
Yes. It is Crete’s busiest airport and the second-busiest in Greece after Athens, with 10,033,151 passengers in 2025 according to HCAA figures.
How much is a taxi from Heraklion Airport to the city?
Plan on €20–25 to central Heraklion in 2026, a little more at night. Greek taxis must carry a card terminal, but keep some cash in case it “doesn’t work”.
Is there a new airport replacing Heraklion?
Yes, Kastelli airport, about 40 km south-east of the city. Construction was well advanced in 2025 and opening is currently projected for 2028; until then all flights use HER.
Land, walk out, get driven
A fixed-price transfer booked before you fly: your driver tracks the flight and waits in arrivals.
Book a transfer