Travel To Crete, Greece: Airport Accessibility And Convenience

The Greek island of Crete is home to several airports, including two international airports: Heraklion Airport (HER) and Chania Airport (CHQ). Heraklion Airport is the larger of the two and is located in the northeastern part of the island, while Chania Airport is in the northwestern part. Crete also has a small airport close to Sitia (Lassithi) that offers domestic flights to and from Athens and Karpathos during the summer.

Heraklion Airport (HER)

Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" (IATA: HER, ICAO: LGIR) is the primary airport on the island of Crete, Greece. It is located about 5 km (3.1 mi) east of the city of Heraklion, near the municipality of Nea Alikarnassos. The airport is named after the Greek writer and philosopher Nikos Kazantzakis, a Heraklion native.

Heraklion Airport is the second-busiest airport in Greece, serving millions of travellers every year. It is the larger of the two international airports on Crete, the other being Chania Airport (CHQ). It is a civil/military facility, with a single terminal building and two runways. The airport has a range of facilities, including currency exchange, shops, restaurants, luggage storage, a lost and found office, and a hotel reservation service. There are also a few cafes and bars serving classic Greek food and American fare.

Heraklion Airport offers regular flights to Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as other Greek islands such as Rhodes and Kos during the summer. It also receives charter flights from abroad, mainly from European cities. The airport is easily accessible from the city centre by bus, taxi, or car rental.

A new airport is currently under construction at Kasteli, located southeast of Heraklion, and is expected to replace the current Heraklion International Airport by 2027. The new airport will serve as a central hub for Crete and provide international links for the entire island.

Chania Airport (CHQ)

Chania International Airport "Daskalogiannis" (IATA: CHQ, ICAO: LGSA) is located near Souda Bay on the Akrotiri peninsula of the Greek island of Crete, serving the city of Chania, 14 kilometres (8.7 miles) away. It is a joint civil-military airport, named after Daskalogiannis, an 18th-century Cretan rebel against Ottoman rule. Chania Airport is one of two international airports on Crete, the other being Heraklion Airport (HER).

Chania Airport is a gateway to western Crete for tourists, with regular flights to Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as domestic flights to other Greek destinations. Local airlines such as Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines service these routes. The airport also receives charter flights from abroad, particularly European cities, with carriers including Ryanair and easyJet.

The airport has undergone modernisation and expansion in recent years, with Fraport Greece taking over operations in 2017. The terminal has a surface area of 14,650 square metres (157,700 sq ft) and a design capacity of 1.35 million passengers annually. Fraport's improvements included expanding the passenger safety area, increasing hand baggage scanners, and trebling duty-free store space.

Chania Airport can be easily accessed via car, bus, or taxi. The local bus service frequently departs from outside the terminal to Chania's centre, with a travel time of around 30 minutes and a cost of €2.30. The trip from the airport to Chania's centre by car is approximately 20 minutes, covering a distance of 14-15 kilometres.

Sitia Public Airport

Yes, Crete has several airports, including the Sitia Public Airport, a small community airport in the Mponta region of Sitia Municipality, on the eastern side of the island. The airport has been in operation since 1984, serving as an alternative entry point to Crete for locals and visitors alike.

Location

Sitia Airport is located just 1 kilometre north-northwest of Sitia's city centre. It is easily accessible by car via the main road along the north coast, which turns into the National Road of Crete when heading west from Aghios Nikolaos.

Facilities and Services

Sitia Airport is equipped with modern civil aviation systems and facilities, including check-in counters, baggage handling, and security checks. The airport also offers free parking just a 2-minute walk from the airport building. In addition, there is a small cafe available for passengers. The airport is fully accessible for passengers with disabilities.

Airlines and Destinations

Multiple airlines serve Sitia Airport, offering connections to major hubs and leisure destinations across Europe and beyond. In 2024, the airport offered direct flights to Milan, Naples, Copenhagen, Athens, Rhodes, Karpathos, Kassos, Preveza (Aktio), and Alexandroupolis.

Ground Transportation

The easiest way to get to Sitia Airport from the city centre is by taxi, which takes approximately 5 minutes and costs around €5-10. Alternatively, a bus service is available, with a journey time of approximately 10-15 minutes and a cost of €1-2.

Crete's airports: travel to/from Athens

Cretes's Airports: Travel to/from Athens

Crete is the biggest and one of the most popular Greek islands. It boasts natural wealth, wonderful beaches, and a buzzing island life. There are three airports in Crete: Heraklion, Chania, and Sitia. All three airports are directly connected to Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos year-round. Flights to Chania, Heraklion, and Sitia last between 45 and 60 minutes.

By Plane

The quickest way to travel from Athens to Crete is by plane. The Athens International Airport (AIA) is located just 12 miles (20 km) outside the centre of Athens and is easy to reach via train, taxi, or rental vehicle. The flight takes around 50 minutes, and each Cretan airport is located close to the city centre.

By Ferry

Another option is to travel from Athens to Crete via ferry. While the trip can be long, you can sleep through the 8-10 hour transfer if you choose the overnight ferry. If you opt for a fast ferry during the day, you can catch a glimpse of the Cyclades islands as you sail across the turquoise Aegean Sea.

There are almost two direct ferry connections per day from the port of Piraeus to Heraklion. The ferry trip lasts 8.5-10 hours, with standard tickets ranging from €36 to €82.

There are up to two daily ferry routes from Piraeus to Chania. This route is usually served by Anek Lines, Blue Star Ferries, and Minoan Lines year-round. Most crossings are scheduled at night, with the duration of the ferry trip being 8-9 hours. A standard ticket costs around €48.

The route from Piraeus to Sitia is usually active once a week throughout the year by the ferry company Aegeon Pelagos. The ferry trip from Piraeus to Sitia lasts between 12 and 20 hours, and a standard ferry ticket costs around €44.

There are also occasional crossings to the ports of Kissamos in Western Crete and Rethymnon.

Crete's airports: travel within Greece

The Greek island of Crete is home to several airports, including both public and military options.

Heraklion International Airport (HER)

Heraklion Airport is the larger of the two international airports in Crete, with a higher volume of flights. It is located in the northeastern part of the island, approximately 3km from the city centre of Heraklion. The airport offers regular flights to Athens, Thessaloniki, Rhodes, Kos, and other Greek islands. It also receives charter flights from abroad, mainly from European cities. Heraklion Airport is easily accessible by taxi, public bus, rental car, or airport shuttle.

Chania International Airport (CHQ)

Chania Airport is located in the northwestern part of the island, on the 'Akrotiri' peninsula, about 14km east of the city of Chania. The airport has been recently modernised and expanded, allowing for more direct flights in the future. Chania Airport offers regular flights to Athens and Thessaloniki and also receives charter flights from European cities. Similar to Heraklion, transportation options include taxis, public buses, rental cars, and airport shuttles.

Sitia Public Airport

Sitia Airport is a small airport located close to Sitia (Lassithi) in Crete. It offers only domestic flights to and from Athens and Karpathos during the summer season.

When travelling within Greece and choosing an airport in Crete, consider factors such as flight availability and frequency, departure and arrival times, your accommodation location, travel plans, and transfer options.

Frequently asked questions