Heraklion Airport Nikos Kazantzakis

Heraklion Airport

Heraklion Airport is Crete’s main gateway to the world. Officially known as the Heraklion Nikos Kazantzakis International Airport, it is one of the largest airports in Greece. It is also the second-busiest airport in the country, servicing millions of tourists to Crete, especially in the summer months.

*Scroll the image to the right or left:
No 1 = Heraklion airport terminal, No 2 = road to the highway, No 3 = road to Heraklion centre

map of heraklion airport

Travelling To and From the Heraklion Airport

The Heraklion Airport is a short, five-kilometre drive from the city centre of Heraklion. Aside from its close proximity to the city of Heraklion, the airport has a very accessible location that makes it easy for visitors going to and coming from other parts of Crete to pass through.

The exits of the Heraklion Airport can be found along Makariou Street. The west exit allows travellers to go directly to the city of Heraklion. The east exit, on the other hand, takes travellers to the national highway, from which they can drive on west to Rethymno and Chania, and east towards Sitia Hersonissos or Agia Nikolaos.

To go to Heraklion Airport, on the other hand, one can drive from Eleftherias Square in Heraklion to Ikarou Avenue. It is also possible to reach the airport from the national highway coming from east Crete.

Airlines and Destinations Serviced by Heraklion Airport

heraklion airport airplane

The IATA airport code for Heraklion Airport is HER, while its ICAO airport code is LGIR. The Heraklion Airport serves as a hub for Olympic Airways, Sky Express and Aegean Airways. Airplanes make use of the airport’s sole runway, which is 2,680 metres long. Operations in the airport run round-the-clock, 24 hours daily.

In addition to the three airlines mentioned above, Heraklion Airport also services domestic flights to and from the other Greek islands, such as Santorini, Rhodes, Mykonos and Paros. The airport is also connected to the major airports on Athens and Thessaloniki.

Charter flights are also serviced by the Heraklion Airport. These charter flights come mostly from Romania, Italy, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom.

Services Provided at the Heraklion Airport

Travellers can expect the following passenger services at the Heraklion Airport.

  • ATM and Exchange. There are ATM kiosks all over the airport’s premises, not to mention a currency exchange counter.
  • Disability access. The Heraklion Airport is friendly to disabled persons. It is fitted with disability access and other such accommodations.
  • Information. An information desk is found near the baggage reclaim area in arrivals. This desk is open 24 hours.
  • Internet connectivity. Wi-Fi access is available at the airport lounge. Visitors can also use the Internet for free at the Everest restaurants.
  • Hotels. Most hotels in the vicinity of the Heraklion Airport are found in Heraklion and in Karteros, a suburb two kilometres away from the airport. The nearest hotel is in Nea Alikarnassos, a one-kilometre drive from the airport.
  • Luggage lockers. Luggage lockers can be rented for a low fee (5.5€ in 2012). The lockers are located at the airport car park and are open 24 hours daily.
  • Parking. The Heraklion Airport runs a free car park for visitors, open only when the airport itself is open. For short- and long-term parking, there are many privately operated car parks located across the airport.
  • Shopping and dining. There are many small shops and a duty-free shop in Heraklion Airport that allows for any last-minute shopping. There are also a restaurant and five snack bars for those who want to dine at the airport.

Contacting the Heraklion Airport

Below are the contact details of the Heraklion Airport:

International Airport of Heraklion “Nikos Kazantzakis” (IATA airport code = HER)
70601 Heraklion, Crete
Telephone: +30 2810 397800
Fax: +30 2810 221700

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