Heraklion [HER] | Nikos Kazantzakis Airport, Crete

Heraklion International Airport Guidance

Heraklion Airport is one of the busiest centres of transportation by air in Heraklion city, located in Crete. The other name for the facility - “Nikos Kazantzakis” - refers to the eponymous philosopher and writer who is famous in Greece.

Founded in 1939, the Airport can handle around 8 million travellers. It went through a renovation that lasted for nine months in 2018. Meanwhile, another Airport will be built in the Kasteli region. In the future, this new airport will replace HER and become an international travelling facility.

Crete Airport in Heraklion is situated 2 km away from the centre of the city and easily accessible with different kinds of transport. The facility is the biggest international Airport on the island, which also serves such districts as:

• Malia
• Agios Nikolaos
• Hersonissos
• Stalida
• Elounda

Contacts and address

The full address of the Airport is:

Leoforos Ikarou kai Senetaki, PC 71408, Heraklion Crete

Contact HER via:

• Phone number +30-2810-397-131

• E-mail [email protected]

Airlines that fly from Kazantzakis Airport

In the Airport of Heraklion, Crete, you can choose from a great variety of low-cost airlines, and they are as follows:

• Easyjet
• Germanwings
• Air Berlin

The other airlines provide better quality services and have higher costs, but are still good for travelling:

• Air Méditerranée
• Air One
• Iberworld
• Sky Express

Closest Airports

If you cannot book flights at the Airport of Heraklion, there is still the option of trying the other two facilities in Crete:

• Chania Airport (or CHQ for short)

It is located 93.9 km from HER and has consistent flights in the direction of Thessaloniki and Athens.

• Sitia Public Airport

It is situated 125 km away from HER and provides only domestic summer trips from and to Karpathos and Athens.

Airports outside Crete are:

• Santorini International Airport
• Paros National Airport
• Naxos Island National Airport

Heraklion Covid restrictions

The restrictions at this Airport in Crete are as follows:

• Clients who travel to Greece are not obliged to provide a filled-in Passenger Locator Form (since the 15 of March 2022).
• At the same time, the more simple version of PLF is still working. It is not obligatory to fill in the form. It allows passengers to receive an EU Certificate or COVID-19 positive or negative result of the test.
• No matter what kind of origin or country, all travellers no longer need to provide COVID-19 recovery or vaccination certificates (since the 1 of March 2022).
• There is no need to display negative results of the Rapid Antigen test.
• Wearing masks is no longer obligatory.

Heraklion Airport Terminal

According to the HER map, the Airport building consists only of one terminal. It has one level and several parts:

• The eastern sector - Domestic Arrivals Hall;
• The area near Domestic Arrivals - Domestic Departures Hall;
• The central part - Extra Schengen Departures;
• The western area - Intra Schengen Departures Hall.

There are also three halls for passengers at Heraklion International Airport:

• For the clients of domestic flights;
• For Schengen Departures;
• For Extra Schengen Departures.

New Kasteli Airport

Сrete Heraklion Airport is one of the major facilities on the island. However, another centre for air transportation is being built right now. It will be called Heraklion Airport Kasteli due to the region within which it is located.

The building began in 2019, and the airport will be situated 40 km from HER. There are many plans for the future facility:

• Construct a building with eight levels that will reach 90,000 sqm;
• Build 19 boarding gates, and 8 of them will be for Non-Schengen and Shengen trips.

About Heraklion

In Greece, the city’s name is spelled Irákleio. It plays a significant role in the life of the Cretan island as its administrative capital.

The history of Heraklion starts with the Minoan era, which occurred within the Bronze Age. The current location of the city borders the Palace of Knossos ruins, dated around 2.000 B.C.

Nowadays, Heraklion is one of the most often visited places in Greece. Venetian constructions adorn the city’s streets, and the large Kazantzakis Airport welcomes many travellers annually. Additionally, the authentic culture of Heraklion amazes everyone! Visit Heraklion to try various activities in aqua parks, enjoy rock climbing and horse riding, and relax on the nearby beaches. The city is waiting for you!

Heraklion Airport transportation

The transportation system provides HER clients with various ways to move around. Learn more about how to transfer from Heraklion Airport via the services listed below.

Bus

Some bus routes that go through the whole city start from the Airport. Getting to the stop where you can board one of the lines does not take much time and is easily accessible on foot.

Heraklion Airport buses are operated by KTEL - Greece's international bus transport provider. The departure area is Arrivals Hall. The price for a one-way ticket reaches €1.50.

Taxi

Taxi services are an alternative way to leave the Airport. To board a cab, HER clients should make their way to the waiting area. At the same time, it is a great option to reserve taxis at Heraklion Airport beforehand and then let the driver pick you up.

Car rental

Car hire at Heraklion Airport is accessible through the Arrivals section. Though you can book upon arrival, the best option for every traveller is to book their vehicle rental in advance. You will have a wide range of cars at a low price to choose from, and the variety of models will be more diverse.

Ridesharing and transfers

Nikos Kazantzakis Airport has shuttles and private transportation services, the majority of which are provided by Talixo.

Services at the Airport of Heraklion

Parking

Parking at Heraklion Airport is available with more than 500 spaces. There is an opportunity for both short-term and long-term parking. Find the area right near the Arrivals and Departure halls.

Currency exchange

International passengers can find counters where they can operate currency exchange in the Airport. Some ATMs are within the building HER, where you can also find the bank office. Passengers can also find currency exchange stations at Departures not far from passport control and at Arrivals near the baggage collection area.

Shopping

The total size of the shopping area reaches 2100 sqm. You can find it within and outside of Schengen hall. The shopping area is also located near passport control. Moreover, in the same part of HER, you can find cosmetics shops and a Duty-Free zone. It is located near Shengen hall as well.

If you have any questions or wishes, contact the Airport shops:

• Heraklion Airport duty-free

Phone number: +30-2810-300-170

Fax: 2810-244-808

• Cosmetics shop

Phone number: +30-2810-2470-512

Food

If you need Heraklion Airport restaurants services, then you can try the food in the local dining facility. Moreover, there are four grocery shops provided by Everest, and one shop canteen operated by Flocafe. If you like ice cream, then you can visit Air Rolo.

Baggage storage

Find the luggage storage area within the HER car park. The baggage service working hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

For a small luggage locker, you need to pay:

• €3,00 for every 6 hours
• €9,00 per single day
• €23,50 per week

And for a large:

• €6,00 for every 6 hours
• €11,50 per day
• €42,50 for a single week.

Contact the facility via these phone numbers:

+30-2810-397-349

+30-2810-336-693

Or via their e-mail:

[email protected]

Lost and Found

Heraklion Nikos Kazantzakis provides three services for lost and found baggage:

• Goldair Handling

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel: +30-2810-397-345

• Skyserv

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel: +30-2810-397-384

• Swissport

Tel: +30-2810-397-384

The alternative way to find your belongings is to submit your claim for the lost luggage here.

In case of a loss of baggage on board, you need to contact the airline.

VAT refund

Contact the Customs office to receive a VAT refund. The service is situated within the Departures zone. When you get to the office, be prepared to fill in the required form for the Tax Refund. After that, the Customs service will stamp the form.

If you need to issue a VAT refund, keep the items you have bought as proof. For your information, the process of tax money return is held at the Global Blue office within the Duty-Free area.

Lounges

There are two Heraklion Airport lounges that passengers can use.

The first one is the Filoxenia lobby. Find it on the first floor of HER in the Departures area, near the Swissport offices. The entrance cost for one person starts from €45/passenger.

Among the facilities you can use in Filoxenia, there are:

• Free Wi-Fi
• TV
• Air conditioning
• Snack station
• Flight monitors
• Magazines and newspapers
• Telephone service

The working hours of the lounge are as follows:

• 5:00 a.m. till 10:30 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays.
• 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• 06:00 a.m. till 10:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
• Closed on Sundays.

Contact the service via an email: [email protected]

The other option is the Goldair Handling Lounge at the Departures in the Extra Schengen segment. The lobby is closed from October to May. No smoking is allowed.

There you can enjoy:

• Various delicious snacks and cold dishes
• Panoramic sea views
• Free Wi-Fi
• TV

The working hours of the Goldair Handling Lounge are:

• 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
• 7:00 a.m. till 9:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

Contact the service via phone number: +30-2103-543-000

Other facilities

Wi-Fi

Access wireless Internet within Duty-Free zones and dining rooms.

Baby room

You can find it on the first floor of the Departures area.

Information booth

The booth is situated at the Arrivals, next to the luggage area. The facility works 24/7.

Contact via phone numbers:

+30-2810-397-129

+30-2810-397-136

ATMs

They are provided by the National Bank and Piraeus Bank, and can be found everywhere within the HER terminal. If you would like to use ATMs, check your withdrawal limit in advance and be ready to pay additional fees.

Baggage wrapping

Find this facility at the Departures.

Contact via phone:

+30-2810–223-218

Medical Station

It is open 24/7.

If you have questions, contact the Airport Medical Centre via the following phone numbers:

+30-2810-397-280

+30-2810-397-721

Phone charging

To use the chargers, go to the A1-A7 gates and baggage drop-off. On the walls, you will see some sockets. Moreover, you can find some chairs with places to charge not too far from the baggage drop-off.

Tickets offices

At the Airport, the following ticket offices work:

• Skyserv. Contact via tel: +30-2810-347-394/397-213
• Aegean Airlines. Contact via phone number: +30-2810-330-475
• Skyexpress
• Aeroflot.

Disabled passengers

The Airport has no lifts, but there is a toilet for disabled passengers. Clients who need special assistance should make a request to the airline in order to receive it.

Heraklion Airport rules

At HER, you are not allowed to:

• Bring sharp objects such as knives, scissors, nail clippers, etc.
• Carry dangerous liquids and similar items (chemicals, explosives, poisons, etc.).
• Leave the baggage unattended.

At the same time, you can:

• Bring Companionship Animals or other pets. However, make sure to fulfil the Ministry of Rural Development’s requirements.
• Smoke in specific areas.
• Consume alcohol in the dining zones.

Please, contact your airline if there is a need to transfer pets or liquids.

Also, consult the Customs Authority to get more information about the transportation of the following objects:

• Tobacco
• Valuables
• Alcohol
• Household appliances

Weather in Heraklion

Crete is situated in the Mediterranean climate area. This means that the summers are usually dry and hot, and the sky is cloudless most of the time. Meanwhile, the winters are gentle, arriving at the island with pleasant rains.

See the current forecast below.

Cost of living in Heraklion, Crete

If you are looking for a low-budget trip, then travelling to Crete might be perfect. The total cost for the monthly primary living needs, such as petrol, coffee, shopping, etc., usually reaches €1000/person.

Top routes from Heraklion Nikos Kazantzakis Airport

Among the best things to do in Heraklion, Crete is to go sightseeing. The island offers many famous places to visit, which is why we prepared a list of top routes you can try. They are not only popular but easily accessible from the Airport of Heraklion. Here they are:

• The ruins of the Palace of Knossos
• Rocca al Mare, or Koules Fortress
• Lions Square
• Agios Minas Cathedral

Also, if you are looking for the top places to travel from Crete, you can try these top 3 locations:

• Athens
• Santorini
• Thessaloniki

Heraklion hotels