Heraklion Airport (HER): Crete's Main International Gateway
Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" (IATA: HER) is located 5 km east of Heraklion city centre. It handles around 8–9 million passengers per year — the second busiest airport in Greece after Athens. In peak season (July–August), it operates near capacity with hundreds of daily movements.
Airlines serving HER: Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air, Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, TUI, and a wide range of seasonal charter operators covering most of northern and western Europe. Year-round connectivity is strong, including domestic routes to Athens (40 min) and Thessaloniki.
- Bus (line 1): departs every 15–20 minutes in summer, €1.50–1.80 flat fare, reaches the city terminal in approximately 20 minutes
- Taxi: €12–18 to the city centre; metered, expect night surcharges after midnight
- Car rental: Hertz, Avis, Budget, Europcar and numerous local firms have desks in arrivals — book well ahead for July and August, stock disappears fast
From HER, the E75 motorway connects east toward Agios Nikolaos and Elounda, and west toward Rethymno and Chania. Before you land, read our Getting Around Crete in 2026: Car Rental, Buses and Transport Tips for practical road and bus details.
Chania Airport (CHQ): Gateway to Western Crete
Chania International Airport "Ioannis Daskalogiannis" (IATA: CHQ) sits 14 km northeast of Chania city, on the Akrotiri peninsula. It handles roughly 3–3.5 million passengers annually and is the right choice if your base is anywhere in western Crete — Chania old town, Rethymno, the Sfakia coast, Kissamos, or the Samaria Gorge trailhead.
Airlines serving CHQ: Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air, Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2, and seasonal charters from Germany, Scandinavia and the UK. Winter schedule is thin — frequencies drop sharply from November to March.
- Bus (KTEL Chania): runs to Chania central bus station in 30–40 minutes, fare around €2.30
- Taxi: €25–35 to central Chania; €70–90 to Rethymno — confirm the fare before departure as some drivers negotiate rather than meter
- Car rental: on-site desks available; strongly recommended if you plan to explore villages or hike the gorges, as western Crete's public transport is limited outside main towns
If gorge hiking is on your agenda, our Gorges in Crete 2026: Complete Hiking Guide with Routes, Prices and Seasons covers Samaria, Imbros and seven other routes with full logistics.
HER vs CHQ: How to Choose
The two Crete airports are 145 km apart by road — roughly 1h45 to 2h on the E75 motorway depending on traffic. The choice is straightforward once you know your base:
- Central or eastern Crete (Heraklion, Malia, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, Ierapetra): fly into HER
- Western Crete (Chania, Rethymno, Sfakia, Kissamos, Paleochora): fly into CHQ
- Island-wide itinerary: fly into one airport and out of the other — most car rental companies offer this, with a one-way drop fee of €20–50 depending on the operator
Price differences between the two airports can be significant depending on your departure city. Always check both before booking. HER has more year-round frequency; CHQ is strong May–October, then drops off.
Kastelli: Crete's Future Airport
A new international airport at Kastelli, in the Heraklion prefecture, is currently under construction. Designed for a maximum capacity of 18 million passengers per year, it is expected to open around 2028 and will eventually replace the existing Heraklion airport entirely. Until then, HER remains the primary hub for central and eastern Crete. If you are thinking longer-term — for example, buying property in Crete — Kastelli will substantially improve access to the island's eastern half and is a meaningful factor in the area's real estate outlook.
